Somalia’s parliamentary deputies routinely traded government support for patronage positions.

Evidence

This was a substantial victory for the prime minister, but the political shenanigans in parliament over the previous three months indicated that deputies could withdraw their support from the government on the flimsiest of pretexts. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 613

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader theme of patrimonial politics undermining early African democratic institutions.