Africa Is Rising – Somalia Must Not Be Left Behind
On July 1st, 2025, Somalia marks 65 years of independence. This milestone should serve not only as a moment of reflection, but as a call to action. Somalia was once known as “the pearl of Africa”—a nation full of promise, vision, and unity. Today, however, it is more often associated with corruption, collapse, and geopolitical neglect. As the rest of the African continent pushes forward with economic growth and political advancement, Somalia remains trapped in clan-based power structures and enduring instability. This is not merely a tragedy; it is a warning. The real question is not whether Somalia can rise again, but whether the country has the courage and will to do so.
When Somalia gained independence in 1960, it emerged as a hopeful model of unity and modernization in Africa. With a shared language, ambitious reforms in education and gender equality, and visionary leadership, the country sought to build a secular, socially just, and nationally unified state, as described in Somali Elite Political Culture: Conceptions, Structures, and Historical Evolution – Institute for Peace, Security & Development. Mogadishu, the capital, was regarded as a symbol of progress and opportunity, affectionately dubbed “the pearl of Africa” for its strategic location and rich cultural life. According to UNSOM, Somalia during the early 1960s stood as a rare example of a nation striving to merge national pride with social justice.
|But the trajectory of history took a devastating turn. The civil war that erupted in 1991 did more than dismantle the state—it fractured the very backbone of Somali society. The clan system, which had previously existed in the shadow of the state, rose to dominance through the 4.5 formula, a mechanism that today binds the nation in a form of political apartheid where clan identity supersedes the will of the people. As noted in Somalia and the tragedy of the 4.5 formula, this formula has entrenched power in ways that disenfranchise the wider population.
In its current form, Somalia appears less like a functioning state and more like a shell. Institutions are hollow, elites grow stronger, and ordinary citizens are held hostage in a system where they have never had genuine influence. The international community often reduces Somalia to a mere security problem, ignoring its people’s rights and potential. This is not just a history of failure, it is an ongoing betrayal of popular sovereignty.

A New Liberation Movement – Not More Symbolic Elections
While Somalia remains stuck in this cycle, the African continent is moving forward. Rwanda is building digital infrastructure, as highlighted by the World Bank’s commitment of $100 million to accelerate its digital transformation. Kenya is developing a technology-driven economy, exemplified by its evolution into the “Silicon Savannah”. Burkina Faso is asserting control over its natural resources, with the Prime Minister announcing plans to nationalize major mining operations, as reported in Reuters. Tunisia is reshaping its political structure through a new constitution that expands presidential authority, as noted by the United States Institute of Peace. Meanwhile, Ghana and Senegal are experimenting with new democratic frameworks, as examined in Three Decades of Democratic Experiments in Ghana: Gains, Challenges, and Prospects. In 2024, Niger nationalized both its electricity grid and uranium industry, marking a decisive end to French dominance, as reported in AP News.
These developments indicate that many African nations are taking control of their futures—reclaiming political agency and redefining governance. But Somalia remains absent from this movement. Instead of leading, it is still being led. Governed by aging men and protracted conflicts, the Somali system benefits a few at the expense of the many. The 4.5 model is not a compromise, it is a violation, reducing the population to mere observers in their own country and cementing clan-based divisions.
The upcoming 2026 election could represent a turning point, but only if it disrupts this destructive logic. Somalia does not need more elections conducted within outdated frameworks. What it needs is a new social contract—one based on individual rights, equality, democratic representation, and a functioning judiciary.

Change Must Come From Below
This change must come from the ground up. It must come from the youth who today drown in the Mediterranean or exist in legal limbo in exile. It must come from the women who, though systematically excluded, hold up the foundations of society. It must come from the diaspora, who send billions of dollars home annually but rarely receive the right to vote. It must come from all those who refuse to accept Somalia’s permanent state of exception.
Somalia must become an actor in its own future—not a pawn in the interests of others.
Somalia is situated at the heart of an Africa experiencing a profound geopolitical awakening. Sudan is in flames, with WHO reporting that more than 40 civilians were killed in a single attack on a hospital. Ethiopia teeters on the edge, with renewed tensions in Tigray and other internal divisions. Eritrea is undergoing rapid militarization, as documented in analyses of strategic buildup in Djibouti and Eritrea. Meanwhile, regional powers—from Turkey to the Gulf States, from the United States to China—are competing for influence in the Horn of Africa. Turkey’s rising presence, U.S. aid cuts jeopardizing anti-terror operations, and China’s expanding interests in the Indian Ocean illustrate the strategic significance of the region. Yet in this volatile landscape, Somalia is not recognized as a nation-state, but as a vacuum—a space for the ambitions of others, rather than a player in its own right. This cannot go on.
To survive, Somalia must regain control of its own narrative. This means building just and competent institutions, establishing schools that educate rather than indoctrinate, creating courts that protect rather than oppress, and developing a political system where votes are counted—not bought. Young people must be given a future filled with responsibility and opportunity — not one that drives them to flee in despair. History offers hope. The Somali Youth League, remembered for its legacy of resistance and national mobilization, proved that popular movements can drive real change. As described in Remembering the legacy of Somali Youth League (SYL), they challenged colonial rule, defied internal divisions, and built a national movement for freedom.
Today, a new SYL is needed — a new generation that rises not for positions, but for principles.

Africa Is Defining Its Future—Where Is Somalia?
Tunisia has adopted a new constitution, even as concerns grow about judicial independence and human rights, as highlighted by Amnesty International. Ghana has approved a $2.8 billion debt relief agreement with creditor nations, seeking a path to economic sovereignty. Kenya is investing in artificial intelligence and building a digital democracy, with its new AI Strategy 2025–2030 set to lead the nation’s digital revolution, as reported in Kenya News Agency. And still, the question remains: where is Somalia?
If Somalia is to rise, it must be about more than elections—it must be about vision. What is needed is a new era defined by accountability, inclusive representation, and justice. The 65th anniversary of independence must not serve merely as a symbol of the past, but as the spark of a second liberation.
Africa is rising. Somalia cannot afford to be left behind.
This article was first published in Dagsavisen and in Norwegian- Somalia kan ikke bli stående igjen