By Omar Abdulle “Dhagey” - Somali lawyer and legal and political analyst specializing in governance and institutional reform.
Somalia has long been navigating a difficult phase of rebuilding state institutions, restoring security, promoting democracy, and strengthening national unity. Although progress has been made, major challenges still remain in the way of building a stable state founded on public trust and national cohesion.
One of the most important issues deserving serious national discussion today is how politicians and leaders seeking power should be evaluated.
For many years, Somali politics has largely revolved around clan interests, short-term ambitions, and political alliances that often lacked a genuine national vision. Public scrutiny of politicians has weakened, particularly regarding their record on human rights, national security, democratization, protection of national unity, and independence from foreign interference.
No country can build a genuine democracy unless its citizens critically evaluate those seeking leadership. The key question should not simply be: who wants power? Rather, it should be: what has this person done to protect the people, strengthen national sovereignty, improve security, and advance democratic governance?
Somalis must begin asking serious questions about those aspiring to lead the country.
Does this politician have a record of protecting citizens’ rights? What role has he or she played in strengthening national security and combating violent extremism? Did the politician contribute to building national institutions that serve the public, or weaken them for political gain?
Equally important is the politician’s commitment to democracy.
Has the individual supported one-person, one-vote elections? Does he or she respect the constitution and the rule of law? Can the politician tolerate opposition voices, freedom of speech, and political pluralism?
Democracy is not merely a campaign slogan. A politician who speaks about democracy while suppressing dissent or rejecting opposing views cannot genuinely claim to be democratic.
Security, meanwhile, remains the foundation of every functioning state. Any politician aspiring to national leadership should be judged by his or her contribution to maintaining public security, strengthening national institutions, supporting the armed forces, combating terrorism, and protecting civilians and their rights.
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Somalia has also historically suffered from foreign interference that has shaped domestic politics in damaging ways. International cooperation is important, but there is a major difference between diplomatic partnership and political dependency.
When politicians prioritize foreign interests over national interests, public trust weakens, sovereignty erodes, and national unity suffers. A genuine national leader is one who can maintain international relations without compromising Somalia’s independent decision-making.
Patriotism should therefore not be measured by emotional speeches or nationalist rhetoric alone. True patriotism is demonstrated through actions — defending constitutional order, safeguarding public freedoms, preserving national unity, strengthening institutions, and protecting the dignity of the state.
This places a major responsibility on Somalia’s media, civil society organizations, and intellectual community. They must help the public examine politicians based on their record regarding human rights, democratization, corruption, state-building, national unity, and sovereignty.
The Somali public, in turn, must move beyond blind political loyalty rooted in clan identity or narrow interests and embrace a political culture based on accountability, awareness, and genuine evaluation.
Successful nations do not choose leaders because of loud rhetoric, populism, or foreign endorsements. They choose leaders based on competence, integrity, vision, and proven performance. Somalia should aspire to the same political maturity.
Today, more than ever, Somalia needs leaders who unite society rather than divide it, strengthen democracy instead of manipulating it, defend sovereignty without isolating the country, and understand that leadership is a national responsibility rather than a personal entitlement.
It is time for Somali politics to be judged on patriotism, responsibility, performance, and public service — rather than narrow interests and foreign-backed influence.
*Omar Abdulle is a Somali lawyer and legal and political analyst specializing in governance and institutional reform.
*The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawan Africa.