Drawing the Territorial Boundaries of the Somalia Federal Member States: Gaps, Challenges and Legal Frameworks

Somalia adopted a federal system in 2012, after more than fifty years of centralized government since 1960. Four regional states were formed amid legal and political controversy between 2013 and 2016. This study examines how the federal government sets state boundaries. It does so by qualitatively analyzing legal documents, interviews, policy papers, official documents, academic materials, and publications of international organizations on Somalia's regional state formation. The study concludes that it is difficult to clearly define regional state boundaries due to an insufficient legal framework, a lack of political will, and a lack of credible commitment to the rule of law. Consequently, regional states have contested borders, which can lead to conflicts over competing interests and affect the resolution of national issues such as Somaliland. Thus, to reduce state-to-state disputes, the Federal Supreme Constitution should be finalized, and the final federal constitution should clearly define new state criteria and procedures.