The current state of Somalia under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is not merely a period of governance; it is, by many accounts, a nadir in the nation’s tumultuous history. Far from leading a sovereign state, President Mohamud presides over what has, tragically, devolved into a personal enterprise, a “company” seemingly owned by him and his family, with credible independent reports even linking his administration to collaboration with the very terrorists, Al-Shabab, that plague the nation.
This is an administration widely perceived as the worst in the world, a stark betrayal of the Somali people’s aspirations for peace, security, and self-determination.
The core of this systemic failure lies within the fortified walls of Halane, the so-called “forbidden fortress of Somalia’s foreign minders.” This enclave, rather than fostering genuine state-building, has morphed into a self-perpetuating, colonial-like outpost, sustained by the apathy of generations of Somalis who have known no government truly worthy of their name.
A small, entrenched group, often referred to as the “Halane Mafia,” has, for two decades, completely hijacked the Somali administration. This clique, inherently against the very notion of Somalia becoming a secure, functioning, and independent country, actively resists the transfer of real power to Somali hands. Their grip is so absolute that it extends to denying Somalis even opportunities within their own land, as shockingly exemplified by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) job advertisement for a Programme Support Officer in Mogadishu, explicitly stating: “Candidates must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment”—a blatant prohibition on Somali nationals from a role meant to support their own nation.
This is not capacity building; this is colonial perpetuation, where “failed Western actors” continue to preach development while ensuring continued dependence on foreign consultants and unreliable aid, now abandoning Somalis to their fate.
The consequences of this entrenched dysfunction are dire and far-reaching. Innocent Somalis are routinely mistreated in their own country, and hope, once a flicker, is rapidly fading. This ministerial failure is palpable, and the frustration simmers beneath the surface of a populace that increasingly sees no difference between the foreign-controlled Halane and the supposedly sovereign Villa Somalia. The clarion call, “Out with Halane,” grows louder by the day, reflecting a deep-seated yearning for genuine Somali leadership.
In this context of profound domestic instability and international manipulation, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s alleged intent to invade and wage war on Somaliland, purportedly due to dissatisfaction with its security situation, is not just a dangerous escalation but a grotesque irony.
To seek conflict with a stable, self-governing entity like Somaliland, while his own administration is embroiled in accusations of corruption, collaboration with terrorists, and being controlled by a foreign-backed cabal, speaks volumes about the priorities and capabilities of his leadership.
The security situation in Somaliland, in stark contrast to the chaos he presides over, is a testament to its own resilience and self-governance. This proposed aggression is a desperate diversion, a dangerous gamble by a leader whose legitimacy and effectiveness are crumbling under the weight of his own administration’s failures.
The long-term implications of this sustained misgovernance and external interference are catastrophic for Somalia’s future, threatening to condemn generations to perpetual instability and foreign subjugation.
