By Abdullahi A. Nor

Your Excellency,

I write to you with thoughtful concern regarding the state of our nation under your leadership. When you were in opposition, your words carried the promise of seasoned leadership, inspiring hope among the Somali people. However, over the past two and a half years, the reality of your governance has unambiguously contradicted the vision you presented. The Somali people and the international community alike feel betrayed by the actions of your administration.

Your tenure has been marked by protracted turmoil, pervasive corruption, nepotism, conflict and the deliberate erosion of Somalia’s government institutions, including the Parliament and Judiciary.

Among the troubling actions are:

1) Destruction of Institutions: Under your leadership, the independence of Parliament and the Judiciary has been systematically undermined. The Parliament, once a forum for robust debate and legislative accountability, has been reduced to a rubber stamp for your administration’s decisions. Parliamentary procedures have been bypassed, and laws and agreements have been approved without quorum or scrutiny. The Judiciary, a cornerstone of democracy, has been weakened to the point where it lacks the capacity to function independently, leaving the people without access to justice and to that end left them with no option other than to seek justice at Al Shabab Islamic courts.

2) Illicit Sale of Public Lands: Public lands, including graveyards, have been sold illegally, with the proceeds benefiting none other than yourself, Mr. President. This has resulted in the creation of new internally displaced persons (IDPs), further worsening the suffering of already vulnerable communities.

3) Appointments Lacking Merit: Critical government positions have been handed to individuals without the requisite qualifications, integrity, or experience. Meanwhile, those with expertise and a proven track record of service have been dismissed, silencing voices of integrity and competence.

4) Destruction of National Security: The Somali national Army, which was painstakingly rebuilt during President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s tenure, has been significantly decimated in Hirshabeele and Galmudug FMS. Key commanders and visionary leaders, including the brave Mr. Jeyte, who successfully united the Somali people in the fight against Al-Shabaab, have been dismissed. The current Minister of Defense, a young man with no military experience and a questionable past, exemplifies the decline in the credibility of Somalia’s security institutions. Similarly, The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) is currently led by an individual lacking formal education, widely known for aggressively promoting the Hawiye Action Group agenda (clan conflict). Such leadership undermines the agency’s efficiency, prioritizing tribal favoritism and personal loyalty over merit and competence.

5) Privatization of Revenue Collection: Government revenue collection has been outsourced to private companies linked to your family. These companies issue their own cash receipt forms instead of the official receipts from the Ministry of Finance. Meanwhile, government staff at the Ministry of Finance continue to receive salaries while remaining idle, effectively resulting in double payments and placing an unsustainable burden on the treasury. This practice raises serious concerns about accountability, transparency, and the overall management of public finances.

6)  Undermining Federalism: Attempts to dismantle the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC) and replace it with a “Presidential Constitution” without consultation reflect a blatant disregard for federalism, the foundation of Somalia’s governance. Such efforts threaten to dismantle the progress made toward decentralization and democratic governance.

7) Electoral Manipulation: Your push for a “One Person, One Vote” (1P1V) electoral system is premature and unrealistic given Somalia’s current security challenges. Restricting political participation to three handpicked parties and appointing an election commission loyal to your administration are an affront to the intelligence and aspirations of the Somali people. Such measures eat away at public trust and signal a dangerous move toward consolidating power rather than fostering inclusive governance.

8) The Ras Kamboni Blitz: Your administration’s negative intervention in Jubaland, particularly the Ras Kamboni Blitz, is a case in point. Instead of supporting President Madobe’s efforts to stabilize the region and against Al Shabab, you sought to assert federal control over Jubaland’s coastal territories. This ill-advised action not only jeopardized Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab but also strained relations between the FGS and Jubaland, highlighting the deepening fractures in the federal system.

9) The Somali-Ethiopia Ankara Accord: You initially campaigned vehemently against Ethiopia’s controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, framing it as a direct threat to Somalia’s sovereignty and pledging not to engage with Ethiopia unless the MoU was rescinded. You even urged Parliament to pass a bill nullifying the agreement. However, despite this strong rhetoric, according to the Ankara Agreement you praised Ethiopia’s military contributions under AMISOM and ATMIS, agreeing to include Ethiopian forces in the AU Stabilization Support for Somalia (AUSSOS). Notably, there was no mention of the MoU’s nullification—once central to your position. Instead, Ethiopia secured access to Somali sea while Somalia received a symbolic acknowledgment of sovereignty from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a gesture redundant since Somalia has been a sovereign state since 1960.

This sudden shift in approach, including the ill prepared meeting with Abiy that disregarded your earlier position and demands, exposed significant inconsistencies in your foreign policy. While initially leveraging partnerships with nations like Egypt and Turkey to bolster Somalia’s position, these concessions weakened the country’s regional standing and undermined its diplomatic credibility, further eroding trust among Somali citizens and international partners.

10) Dismal Foreign Policy: Our foreign relations have become a reflection of the internal disarray. Instead of presenting Somalia as a sovereign and united country with a clear vision, our foreign policy often mirrors the dismal realities on the ground—weak institutions, fragmented governance, and rampant corruption. These shortcomings have battered Somalia’s credibility on the international stage and diminished the confidence of our allies and development partners. Foreign policy, instead of showcasing our potential, exposes our divisions and lack of coordination, leaving Somalia as a nation perceived to be in perpetual crisis.

Your Excellency, your administration’s governance of Mogadishu paints an unadulterated picture of your capabilities. A significant portion of the Mogadishu business community has disinvested and relocated their ventures overseas. The city is experiencing unprecedented economic stagnation, with no money circulating and worsening living conditions under your tenure. In contrast, federal member states have managed to sustain better conditions for their residents, further underscoring the growing disillusionment with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). Somalia now faces a dire crossroads. Two federal member states (Jubaland & Puntland) have already severed ties with the FGS, and there is growing fear that your policies are accelerating the fragmentation of the country. This is not the legacy the Somali people envisioned when you took office.

Your Excellency, leadership is not about consolidating power but about serving the people and preserving the unity and sovereignty of the nation. I urge you to reflect on the consequences of your decisions and the immense responsibility you bear. Somalia’s future depends on course correction and a recommitment to democratic principles and good governance.

As time goes on, I caution that the immense pressure you have placed on yourself, coupled with the haunting spirits of displaced communities, may inevitably take a toll on your health. The wealth accumulated during your tenure cannot mend the broken trust of the Somali people, nor can it rebuild the institutions that have been systematically wind-swept.

Your Excellency, I am sure you are aware that even a regime as entrenched as the over 50-year-old Syrian dictatorship was unseated within ten days, and without significant bloodshed. It would not be surprising if the international community, which has funneled billions of dollars into Somalia over the past two decades with the hope of fostering stability and eradicating Al-Shabaab, decides to reassess its support. The reality on the ground paints a plain picture: a corrupt and weakened Federal Government facing an emboldened and expanding Al-Shabaab shadow administration.

Your Excellency, for the sake of our nation, I urge you to change course before it is too late—or better yet, to step down, as time is running out. Somalia deserves leadership that upholds its aspirations, and history will judge us all by the legacies we leave behind.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Abdullahi A. Nor
Email: abdulahinor231@gmail.com    

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