Somalia - Puntland Demography and Dhulbahante´s fate

My latest article titled ´Puntland Parliament Appoint Pirate President´ about manner that president was elected and demography in Puntland. I highlighted the Majeerteen tribe makes about 60% of total population of "Puntland", which triggered anger between the readers and many emails criticized the statistics demanding correction of number of population in "Puntland".

However, after these angry emails on the "Puntland" demography, I did research on the matter and referred many books, including surveys by foreign writers like John Anthony Hunt – Geologist and Writer in beginning of 20th Century. Hunt, was Governor of Somaliland Protectorate and traveled across land called today "Puntland". Hunt surveyed the population of both British Somaliland and "Puntland" between 1940 and 1950. Britain ruled "Puntland" during aforesaid period after defeating Italy.

Also, there was other population counting in Somalia during Siyad Barre rule, but the results were kept secret because of the results did not please the policies of the dictator. Deputy of Siyad Barre, Mohamed Ali Samatar said the result put rebellious regions on top of the list and regime kept it secret and top confidential. The Somalia demography remained secret due to similar reasons.

Britain´s survey of demographic trends, led by John A. Hunt relied on tribal estimates.

Hunt produced numbers that were generally accepted by colonial administrators. The main focus of his research was the "Dia-paying group"--the smallest tribal unit that shared the payment of blood money.

He estimated the number of people that constituted each Dia-paying group and from that figure extrapolated the total number of the clan, and concluded that the population of the country doubled in the late colonial period. He produced, based on Dia-paying group;

In his final and official publication, however, Hunt's figure was widely accepted and circulated in all colonial reports, and even in scholarly papers. They were accepted not because the figures were scientific, but because there was a general and visible increase in the population of the former Somalia.

Hunt´s survey included other areas of today´s Somaliland and "Puntland" like environment, plants, animals, etc. He produced the population of tribes that occupies these areas like Gadabuursi, Issa, Harti and Isaaq. The survey showed that population of Dhulbahante and Majeerteen of Harti are 120,000 each. Along with, Sacad Muuse and Habar Yonis of Isaaq tribe are 120,000 each, according to Dia-paying Group System.

This makes Majeerteen tribe less than 50% of the population of "Puntland" and equal to number of Dhulbahante tribe. If we review power sharing in the government and parliament, we discover that Majeerteen owns 31 seats and Dhulbahante has 17 seats, which is completely unjust. Also, we can observe that Majeerteen tribe is always presidential, and other tribes have zero chance in leading "Puntland", although the constitution of "Puntland" guarantees equality of tribes.

Here, we unveil that Dhulbahante is minority tribe in "Puntland" and bigger brother – Majeerteen – take lion´s share in all occasions.

At recent Puntland Presidential election, Dhulbahante and Warsangali tribes, collectively, tried their best to nominee kinsman to "Puntland" President post, but they failed as usual because the seat is reserved for bigger brother always.

We know strong tribes take the top post in undemocratic administrations around the world like "Puntland". However, question remains, is Dhulbahante minority in "Puntland"? Can Dhulbahante win President Seat? And how long will Dhulbahante sacrifice its share in protecting so-called Hartism ideology?

Moreover, Dhulbahante is loosing share in Transitional Parliament of Somalia via the illegitimate system of (4.5) adopted in Imbaghathi, Kenya. The majority share of Harti tribe in the transitional parliament goes to Majeerteen by default, because Dhulbahante believes that Majeerteen has bigger demographically, but true is that both Dhulbahante and Majeerteen are equal in number.

Unfortunately, Dhulbahante believes the 19th Century propaganda of Majeerteen that says "Majeerteen iyo Wixii Madaxmadow baa siman" which means Majeerteen population is equal to rest of the world.

The below table shows Darood tribe share distribution of Ministers in the first transitional government of Somalia led by Ali Mahdi:

Daarood (tribe name) Number of Ministers

Majeerteen 4

Ogaden 2

Dhulbahante 1

Warsangeli 1

Total number 8

This clearly shows how Ogaden tribe of Ethiopia and Kenya takes more than Dhulbahante and Warsangali. In other hand, Majeerteen is taking always loin´s share at the expenses of Dhulbahante..

Recently, Garad Jama Garad Ali left Garoowe and he is currently in Buuhoodle – the capital city of Buhoodle region. He rejects the ideology of Majeerteen that president of "Puntland" belongs to them.

If we look back to the history of "Puntland" we discover that all its three presidents were from Majeerteen: Abdullah Yusuf is from Omer Mohmoud Saleebaan, Adde Mouse is from Othman Mohmoud Saleebaan and current Pirate President Cabdiraxman Farole is from Essa Mohmoud Saleebaan. Also, all of them are from Mohmoud Saleebaan of Majeerteen tribe, but not others like Ali Saleebaan tribe of Majeerteen.

In family tree of Majeerteen, we have Ali Saleebaan who is equal in line with Mohmoud Saleebaan, but unfortunately Ali Saleebaan is less in number and don´t get the leadership of "Puntland". Mahmoud Saleebaan considers Ali a minority. This is Jungle Justice System (JJS), where stronger takes lion´s share.

So, question is how will Dhulbahante get his justified share from Majeerteen, who failed to treat fairly its minor sub-tribes?

By Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi

Email: az.almutairi@yaho.com

Sources: John A. Hunt, Somaliland Times and Qaran News.