Strong Leader or Strong Government System?
A long-standing debate in Somalia: does the country need a powerful individual at the helm or a strong, government system to overcome the immense challenges of the past thirty years? This question resurfaces every time our leaders fail to reach consensus on critical national issues.
Hoggaamiye Adag Mise Nidaam Dowladdeed oo Adag?
Muran weyn ayaa ka taagan in Soomaaliya ay u baahan tahay hoggaamiye adag ama nidaam dowladdeed oo adag si ay uga gudubto dhibaatooyinkii baaxadda lahaa ee ay ku jirtay soddonkii sano ee la soo dhaafay. Su'aashan ayaa soo noqnoqota mar kasta oo hoggaamiyeyaasha dalku ay ku fashilmaan inay ku heshiiyaan arrimaha siyaasadda dalka.
Inta badan bulshadeena, gaar ahaan kuwa soo arkay nidaamkii milatariga ee 21-kii sano dalka ka talinayay, waxay tusaale u soo qaataan hoggaamiye adag, iyagoo xasuusan awooddii iyo astaamihii Madaxweyne Maxamed Siyaad Barre. Hase yeeshee, waxay iska indha tiraan cawaaqib xumadii ka dhalatay markii hoggaamiyihii adkaa uu meesha ka baxay, taasoo ilaa maanta ay Soomaalidu la daala dhacayso isku soo ururinta bulshadii kala tagtay iyo burburkii ka dhashay.
Fikradda ah in dal uu maamuli karo ama samatabixin karo hoggaamiye keliya waa mid laga soo gudbay qarni ka hor. Shaqada hoggaamiyaha dalku waa inuu la yimaado fikrado, raadiyo taageero loo dhan yahay, ka dibna dhiso nidaam dowladdeed oo ku dhisan hay'ado kala madax bannaan, leh sharci ay ku shaqeeyaan, shaqooyinkooda iyo ujeedooyinkooda qeexan yihiin, kuna hawlan u adeegista bulshada.
Maxaa Ka Qaldan Dowladeena?
Waxaa isweydiin mudan sababta dowladeenu nooga shaqeyn la'dahay shan iyo labaatan sano kadib markii la soo dhisay dowladda hadda jirta. Waxa kaliya ee aan aragno waa khilaaf iyo muran ka taagan dowlad kasta oo timaada. Jawaabtu waxay tahay in Soomaaliya aysan lahayn dowlad dhab ah, balse ay jiraan magacyo dowladdeed oo keliya. Dhaqanka siyaasadeed ee dalka ka jira ayaa ah mid ku dhisan shaqsiyaad iyo aragtidooda kuwaas oo ku mashquulsan danahooda gaarka ah. Fashilka siyaasadeed ee curyaamiyay dowladnimada hadda, markii si dhab ah loo eego, waa shaqsiyaad isku khilaafsan danahooda oo aanay jirin cid u kala gar qaada ama la xisaabtanta.
Soomaliya hoggaamiye waa u baahan nahay, laakiin ma aha mid xal kasta isaga keliya laga rabo ama aan uga fadhino inuu keeno. Hoggaamiyuhu waa inuu daacad yahay, karti, dhaqan iyo aragti leeyahay, ujeeddadiisuna tahay inuu bulshada u adeego.
Hase yeeshee, dhaqanka siyaasadeed ee hadda dalka ka jira, oo qof keliya la daba fadhiyo inta kalana uu soo magacaabay ay mashquul ku yihiin sidii ay u sii joogi lahaayeen xilka, ayaa ah mid dhib badan. Erayga “intaad meesha joogtid wax ka qabso” waa aragtida kaliya ee maanta hagta siyaasiyiinta.
Xalku Ma Sugi Karo Halyey Qura
Inta aan sugeyno halyey qura oo dalka samatabixiya, xalku ma soo dhowaan doono. Hoggaamiyeyaasha aanu xilka u dhiibannay waxaa waajib ku ah inay la yimaadaan barnaamij siyaasadeed, isla markaana dhisaan nidaam dowladdeed oo ayaga ka cimri dheer, oo loo dhan yahay, loona siman yahay. Waa inaan ka gudubnaa fikradda ah in hal shaqsi uu xal u keeni karo dhammaan dhibaatooyinka, oo aan u dhaqaaqno dhisidda hay'ado dowladdeed oo adag oo waara iyo dhaqan siyaasadeed oo ku dhisan u adeega dalka iyo dadka.
Many in our society, particularly those who experienced the twenty-one-year military regime, point to President Mohamed Siad Barre’s authority as proof of the effectiveness of strong, centralized leadership. Yet they often overlook the devastating consequences that followed his departure, a fractured society still struggling to heal and rebuild.
The belief that a single individual can govern or rescue a nation is an outdated concept, largely abandoned worldwide over a century ago. In today’s world, leadership is about articulating a vision, mobilizing broad support, and building a governance system built on independent institutions, governed by clear laws, frameworks, defined roles, and shared objectives dedicated to serving the public interest.
It has been twenty-five years since Somalia government was reestablished in Djibouti and Kenya, yet we still ask: why our government working for us? From one administration to the next, all we see is conflict, political deadlock, and endless disputes.
The root cause lies in the absence of functional, accountable state institutions. What exists today are institutions in name only, undermined by a political culture centered on individuals who prioritize personal interests over national progress. The ongoing political paralysis stems not from structural failures, but from personal rivalries, narrow ambitions, and the lack of mechanisms to enforce accountability.
Somalia needs leadership, but not in the form of a sole savior expected to singlehandedly solve every problem. What Somalia needs are honest and visionary leaders committed to public service, not those driven by personal gain.
Waiting for a heroic figure to emerge and rescue Somalia is an illusion. True, lasting progress depends on building inclusive, resilient state institutions that outlive any one leader. Those entrusted with power must focus on creating coherent political programs and strong governance systems that uphold equality, accountability, and the rule of law.
To move forward, Somalia must abandon the illusion that a single individual can resolve its complex challenges. Instead, the focus must shift to establishing enduring state structures and political culture grounded in long-term national interests, not short-term personal gains. Only through such a transformation can Somalia overcome its challenges and build a stable, united future.