Mogadishu (WDN) — What critics are now calling the most blatant display of entrenched nepotism yet is unfolding at the very heart of Somalia’s presidency, raising serious questions about governance, fairness, and the future of a generation left behind.
At the center of the controversy is the appointment of Fiqi Abdirisaq Omar, from Toronto and the son of former Petroleum Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, to a key position within the office of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The move has triggered a wave of outrage, not simply because of the appointment itself, but because of what it represents: a deepening pattern of power concentrated within a tight web of family ties.
The connections are difficult to ignore. The newly appointed official is a relative of President Hassan Sheikh and also closely linked to Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the current Federal Minister of Defense. What emerges is not a coincidence, but a system—one where access to state power is increasingly determined not by merit, but by lineage.
Former Minister Abdirizak himself remains a controversial figure, long accused by detractors of amassing significant wealth during his time in office. His reemergence through the appointment of his son has only intensified scrutiny, reinforcing a perception that political influence in Somalia is less about public service and more about preserving networks of privilege.
The runaway corruption in Somalia, particularly under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is increasingly becoming part of the government’s routine way of doing business, and it is now unfolding with a troubling sense of normalcy. President Hassan Sheikh’s family members and close relatives have assumed influential positions within the federal government without due process.
For millions of young Somalis, these appointments cuts deeper. Across the country, a generation faces crushing unemployment, limited opportunities, and a growing sense of abandonment. Many risk their lives each year attempting perilous journeys across deserts and seas in search of dignity and survival.
The decision to elevate diaspora-born individuals—many of whom have had access to education, stability, and opportunity abroad—has struck a nerve. “This is not just nepotism,” one analyst said. “It is a signal to young Somalis that no matter how hard they struggle, the system is not built for them.”
The criticism is not aimed at the diaspora itself, but at a leadership approach that appears to prioritize proximity to power over national need. In a country where talent is abundant but opportunity is scarce, such decisions risk widening the already dangerous gap between the governing elite and the population they claim to serve.
Somalia stands at a critical juncture. Its institutions remain fragile, its political landscape deeply contested, and its youth, its largest demographic—growing more disillusioned by the day.
In such an environment, appointments are not merely administrative decisions. They are signals—about values, priorities, and the direction of the state. Right now, critics say, that signal is unmistakable. Power, it seems, remains a family affair.
WardheerNews