What Does it Mean to be a Somali Elder?

This article questions whether Somali elders are qualified to consult on the (2012) draft Provisional Constitution. There was considerable debate over the elders’ role in approving the draft constitution, which, however, was limited to selecting the delegates who would join the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) who would in turn ratify the constitution. Some argued that while the elders understand Somali clan dynamics, they were ill-prepared and lack the required education to interpret, analyze and debate each chapter of a national constitution.