Divisions among Somalia’s first political elite soon overshadowed the national interest

Evidence

The composition of the new government formed after the elections led to prolonged and bitter conflict within the Darold leadership of the S.Y.L. and this, inevitably, had wide repercussions. ‘Abd ar-Razaq Husseyn, a politician of considerable personal charisma and courage, replaced ‘Abd ar-Rashid as Prime Minister and energetically sought to institute a number of administrative reforms. In the National Assembly the government was severely harassed at every possible opportunity by the ousted premier and his faction. This covert sabotage was facilitated by the Assembly practice of normally voting by secret ballot, thus making it extremely difficult for ‘Abd ar-Razaq to control his ill-disciplined party which, following defections from other parties, now held 105 seats. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 500 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

There, were however, differences of opinion within the S.N.L.– U.S.P. coalition government as to the timing of these events. One view, held amongst others by the Leader of Government Business, was that union should not be precipitate, but that time should be allowed for the Protectorate to narrow the gap in development and progress with Somalia. The very extensive differences in almost all aspects of government between the two territories would also clearly require many rearrangements and adjustments before union could be fully consummated. It fell to Michael Mariano as the sole opposition member in the legislative council to press the opposite view, which was also shared by some members of the government, and particularly by leaders of the U.S.P. This assessment considered that if union was to take place it was better that it should take place as soon as possible, differences in the administrative traditions of the two territories being left to sort themselves out afterwards. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 417 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Somalia’s 1967 election marked a turn toward expediency-driven politics; Factional strife within the S.Y.L. weakened the new Somali government — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 500; Somali leaders split over whether union with the Protectorate could be hasty. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 417 (+3 more)

Related

• Somali leaders split over whether union with the Protectorate could be hasty. (similarity 0.87)
• Factional strife within the S.Y.L. weakened the new Somali government (similarity 0.87)
• Electoral success deepened the S.Y.L.’s internal clan divisions (similarity 0.86)
• S.Y.L. internal Darod-Hawiye rivalry split it into moderate and militant factions (similarity 0.85)
• The 1969 election was Somalia’s toughest, with state machinery deployed for the regime (similarity 0.84)
• Somali constitution debate pitted unitary against federal visions (similarity 0.83)
• The S.Y.L. drew half its membership from Darod clans (similarity 0.82)
• The 1969 election structurally produced a de facto one-party Somali state. (similarity 0.80)
• The S.Y.L. won 43 of 60 seats in 1956 elections (similarity 0.79)
• Siyad-era factionalism mixed clan, ideology, and colonial tradition divides (similarity 0.79)
• Somali constitution debates pitted S.Y.L. centralism against H.D.M.S. federalism (similarity 0.79)
• The Somali Youth League united Somalis against Italian colonial divide-and-rule (similarity 0.79)
• Union with Somalia reshuffled the northern clan political hierarchy (similarity 0.79)
• Greater Somalia unification became the official aim of government policy (similarity 0.79)
• Military regime showed uncharacteristic moderation on Somali nationalism for years (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Factional strife within the S.Y.L. weakened the new Somali government #exemplifies (0.80) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 500
• Somali leaders split over whether union with the Protectorate could be hasty. #exemplifies (0.75) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 417