The international community, governments, and institutions assisting Somalia
We, the Somali people, both within our borders and across the globe, particularly Somali nationalists, offer our sincere gratitude for the support you have extended to Somalia. Your contributions have been invaluable. However, we must address a dire concern that threatens the future of our nation—a concern that requires urgent action.
After careful investigation and reflection, it has become painfully clear that the current political structure in Somalia has devolved into a system that mirrors the destructive warlordism of the past. The regional leaders, who were meant to bring stability, have instead exploited their positions for personal gain. They behave like warlords, prioritizing wealth accumulation over national unity and the well-being of our people.
Take for example the secessionist leadership in Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug, Southwest, Hirshabelle, and the administration in Jubaland, which governs Kismayo. These leaders have amassed wealth in neighboring countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, and the UAE, not for the benefit of the Somali people but for their own enrichment. Tragically, much of this wealth stems from the international aid intended to rebuild Somalia. Their interests are in maintaining this status quo, for true peace and a stable Somali Federal Government would threaten their political and financial empires. The business of politics has taken precedence over the duty to serve, and this corruption is prolonging the suffering of the Somali people and hindering the fight against groups like Al-Shabaab.
We, the Somali people, cannot accept this any longer. The path forward requires a decisive shift in how aid is allocated and how international support is managed. We ask, no, we urge the international community to stop empowering these regional leaders whose self-serving ambitions are bleeding our nation dry. Instead, we call on you to redirect your support to the Somali Federal Government, the only institution capable of uniting our people and leading us toward lasting peace.
Somalia is a nation defined by its clans, but there is one place where all Somalis converge—our capital, Mogadishu. It is in Mogadishu where the seeds of a unified and peaceful Somalia must be planted and nurtured. To do this, the federal government must be strengthened financially and institutionally. Only by empowering the federal government can we dismantle the stronghold of the regional warlords and eliminate the threat of Al-Shabaab once and for all.
We implore the World Bank, international donors, and governments to reconsider their approach. The Somali people are exhausted. We are tired of war. We are tired of living in fear. The solution is clear: empower the Somali Federal Government so it can build institutions, secure the peace, and restore the dignity of our nation.
Thank you for your continued support.
Voice of the Somali People