Somalia at 50: What went wrong?

[Personal details removed by Moderator] The Problem in my country Somalia is the evil work of the international community simply the international community has sidelined with certain factions in Somalia just to worsen the situation. As Somalis we have hopes that one day Somalia will be stable.

[Personal details removed by Moderator] One of the main reasons why Africans are still dying and suffering, is becouse nations in Europe, America or Middle East (Saudi Arabia and others in the region) are still interfearing in their destiny...for instance countries such as Saudi Arabia still export to Somalia moral support, money or even weapons...however,at end of day when Africans emmigrants want to emmigrate to these countries and others for a better life, they simply refuse to help...THE ONLY THING THAT THESE COUNTRIES KNOW IS FILLING AFRICA WITH WEAPONS AND WRONG IDEOLOGIES...AND OF COURSE WE CAN`T FORGET THAT, MANY AFRICANS LEADERS JUST WORK 4 THEMSELVES...

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

As in the rest of Africa or the colonised world when the colonising powers left they have not really left but merely went back to their countries leaving behind men and women who work on their behalf. Interfering the internal affairs of Somalis by outside powers is what has brought Somali to its knees and will continue to do so if Somalis and other nations are not left to deal with their own problems on their own unique way. Till now the outside powers is dictating to Somalis what sort of system it should have and what sort of leader should lead, the prime example of these was the Union of Islamic Courts who have brought law and order to the South Somali but because the outside powers didn’t like it where disposed off leaving the anarchy and chaos we have now, the question is what is wrong with the colonisers that they cant keep out the internal affairs of other courtiers just keep getting cheap goods from them.

By singling out Somalia, the BBC risks concealing the true scale of leadership failure in Africa. I say this because life, for ordinary people, is only marginally better in countries such as Nigeria, than in Somalia. Take security, for example. As every indigene of the Niger Delta will tell you, kidnapping for ransom has become the only thriving "industry" aside from oil. And don't be tempted to think you're safe outside of that area because the old menace of armed robbery remains in other parts of the country.

Or take the normal functions of govt. Things are so bad that if you wish to enjoy the luxuries of electricity, pipe-borne water, sanitation, or healthcare, you have to provide them yourself. The quality of basic State education is so poor that only the desperately poor bother to send their kids to public schools. And law and order depends on your ability to bribe the police - and even then, they're too ineffective and too corrupt to be of much use - often collaborating with the kidnappers/robbers themselves.

At least in Somalia, you can stay safe if you remain within the territory controlled by your clan.

As a young man growing up in Somalia, I recall the culture, the identity, the love for my land, living side by side with my fellow Somalis in Harmony..while the goverment back then was not inclusive nor democratic, the situation was much different than what is going on in Somalia at present time... Country that has been wasted by its own people, deserted by the international community, interffered by its neibours.

to excarcebete the situation now we have al- shabab calling the shots in Somalia, killing, and maiming innocent civilians under their draconian interpretation of Islam...

I would like to see Somalia once again as a prosperous nation, looking after the intrest of its own citizens..Religion to be seprated from state, and i would like to see the international community taking the lead, and not siding with one or the other, but towards long durable stable goverment in somalia.

Ethopia, Kenya, jabouti, Yemen, Libya, must stop meddling with the internal affairs of Somalia...

I want to see Somali run by moderates, who respect live and dignity of their fellow Somali's...
I hope and wish for the best in Somalia...

Understanding of what went wrong is rather complex question to tackle but crucial to the search of future solutions. As an expat growing up in Somalia was a great country that had its problems, but I’m still troubled by the endless infighting for the past twenty years perpetrated by cluster-clan warlords and funded by foreign donors. Waging a war isn’t cheap; therefore, the international community must take a stand and stop funnelling funds at any capacity until the current state changes. As for a solution in my opinion I think lending a hand the weak transitional government to grasp a full control of the country is far better outcome than the current stalemate situation.

I am 24 years Somali student of political science in Israel today, but this is not my story. My story is the one of my great Somalis people who was their majority pastoralists, then farmers, and few urbanites of small towns or villages. There were intelligent men and women, freedom fights and wonderful youth (SYL) that we can never forget. 50 years ago they had been waiting for to celebrate their freedom and that was their aspiration of honor, dignity, respect, and self-determination, which they were wished today to be for us bright future, prosperity and modern life. Their time they used to live in peace among themselves, they had never become refugee and never waited for their daily life from humanitarian aid organizations (WHO) but they depended on only their products. They were at least sufficient for their survival and used to live in their homeland with strong pure Somali identity and Somali values and tradition. Today the reality is different and any of our parents dream did not come true. Also we left our parents values and tradition. Some thing went wrong; there should some one to blame for an empty legacy half century.
First, I would like to change in Somali current political culture and to quit the fake identity that Somali people are promoting today which is model of Arabism. Somalia has pure identity which is African but not Arab. Somalis are part of Muslim world but not specifically Arab world and it was wrong to be member of Arab league. This caused us internalised Arabic culture, values, and identity and it undermined Somali values, tradition and culture, identity. Second, there are overlapping and complexity of tribalism in Somali contemporary politics and this will never be enhance cooperation between somali politicians and society, but it mislead our generation and makes more political problematic. Such as power share based on clan system which usually brings on political sphere non-educated or illiterate clan elders who don’t represent the Somali people. Third, this disaster is Mosque and Political “sheikh” who took over Somali political title. This is new anomaly which made a dramatic change of Somali political culture for the recent years this turned even worst future. For example (Al shabaab and Hizbul Islam v.s Sheikh Sharif or Al shabaab v.s Hizbul Islam or Sunna Waljamaca’a v.s Al shabaab and Hizbul Islam). These names are all new and they are much bitter than the names and actions of former warlords like, (Gen Adid, Yalahow, Qanyare, Aato, Morgan and etc). Finally in order to have solution, my secular Somali point of view “the Sufi (sunna Waljama’a) is great to take part of Somali politics. Because, more than 90% of Somalis are Sufi and it represents Somali-African tradition which close to secular and modernity. In this way Somalia can be origin and wonderful Somalia and we can avoid the madness and psychological crisis such as the ideology of (Al-shabab). I would like to see again that secular and traditional state of Somali that women have rights and all Somalis live together in peace, solidarity and harmony.
I grew up in Mogadishu I both know it likes to live in chaos, anarchy, tribalism, hunger, grow as deprived child and now I learn how to live in peace and modern world. However, my generation is not luck one. I am very proud to be Somali where ever I am. I feel that Somalia is one separate world and we only need each other, we are tired for assimilation to other societies who look down our values and culture. Truly to be Somali today has great impact ever every aspect of my life even psychologically because my mind and thought obsess the situation in my country. Today also People from all around the world have bad perception from Somali person, people show obvious attitude that Somalia and its people are inferior. Some assume you are refugee, hungry, while others think about you that may be guilt, terrorist or pirate. Finally the prevalent assumptions are that arabise us and try to undermine our Somali value and cultural existence. I fight every day my Somali identity and I appreciate it what ever it look like today. Somalia and my people will be fine tomorrow.

[Personal details removed by Moderator] Great Somalia can show so many positive changes on both land and on sea,Somalia can show both stability in Puntland and Somaliland,the processing factories, the telecommunication and the trading companies, the large change in the economy and in development, keeping sommething it would be of every best category of the best would be culture/historic sites peace n many many more.I would bring what is out of makert to market, and invest in the country as well, although of the difficult times in some places. Being A Somali iS an enjoyment.

As a journalist who has covered Somalia for the past six years reporting from the violent-prone capital Mogadishu, I can only say the Somali people have had enough of the unceasing violence that has uprooted millions and killed tens of thousands to date.

In an electrifying celebrations marked last night by thousands of Somalis living in Nairobi, a Kenyan colleague told me Somalia should actually be celebrating 30 years of independence rather than 50 years due the 20 year old civil unrest in Somalia. However, I believe history should never be forgotten.

Somalis should look back at the 20 years as a dark patch in their quest for a long lasting peace and strive to change the lost time to rebuild a more unified and strong nation.

Even though the Somalis themselves are to be blamed for their woos that has now spilled over to become an international security threat, powerful nations like the US, Britain and other western countries have done little to help pacify the troubled Horn of African country.

As much as the past is important, the Somali people should now join hands and work towards a peaceful and tolerant Somalia that is at peace with itself and its neighbours.

I believe with proper guidance from their fragile UN-backed interim government, the Somalis should support their government’s efforts to pacify the country.

All is not lost in Somalia in spite of the unpopular and unholy battles spearheaded by the stanch Islamist opposition groups that seems to thrive in the chaos they are creating.

Nothing lasts forever, one day Somalis will rise from their deep slumber and restore their dignity. They are a resilient people who are more than capable of changing their suffering of the last 20 years.

I wish Somalia a happy 50th anniversary. Let’s pray that the unfortunate people of Somalia will soon rather than later enjoy the peace that has eluded them since 1991 when they ousted President Mohamed Siad Barre.

[Personal details removed by Moderator]

I am so sorry to see that S[Personal details removed by Moderator]omali's 50 independece day is commemerated with pumb-shells and blood shed in Mogadishu streets. in where the two parts of somalis (north and south) hand shaked and united with love, mercy and hope and famous somali flag song is recited ( Qolaba calankedu waa ceyne, inaga keenu waa cirkoo kale e) meaning every nation has sort of flag ,but ours is like the sky (blue)the ones who struggled and sacrificed to come true that dreamt day shed tears for happiness. there!
in my opinion is where somali trouble lies because the strugglers who volunteered their soul, property and time for endependence were rewarded with intimidation, exile, jailing by the ex somali administratives, more over somalis are unaware of the root cause of the problem.
I say where there is a will there is a way, so let us collect and reward the rare independence strugglers alive, heal our wopunds, and forget the past.

[Personal details removed by Moderator] Absolutely Somalia has nothing to show for the 50 years of being in existence. This is not independent in my own thinking for Somalis have allowed themselves to be push around by group like al-qaeda. Brothers, what has this group have to do with you as Africans? Do you have common identity.What is the culture values you and these guys share? RELIGION? (Religion does not preach and practice violence the world over) I believe it is time now that Somalia turn to sub-sahara Africa and pick a leave from the many peace pikes that we are smoking here. Don't fool yourself. I believe you should have taken this day to mourn the many souls and brains that you have lost over the past years. Turn to Africa for your solution. You can still regain your status among nations of the world. REMEMBER Somalia you will rise again if only you turn to your brothers Africans and not seek your solutions in groups that have no status and sense of value for human lives.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Today on the 50th anniversary of the Somali Republic (union of Somaliland British Protectorate and the Italian Somali territory), I am reflecting my childhood in that country; a wonderful time and a bygone era that is causing much of my melancholy.

I am saddened on the one hand about the plight of my fellow countrymen in south/south central Somalia. On the other hand I feel optimistic and happy to see, Somaliland's (my parents birthplace) fair and free election that took place on the 26th of June 2010. I feel there's sense of revival and hope and better future for at least one part of the former Somali republic. A hope that I also feel that one day other Somali groups will regain their popular voice and sort their differences through the ballot box just like Somaliland.

The previous union of the former Somali republic is dead and has been for 20 years regardless of how painful it is to for the people and the state to disintegrate in such catastrophic ways.

For the coming 50 years I would advise my fellow Somalis (wherever they are in the Horn of Africa) to built the basis of strong foundation for consensus grass-root orientated governance at local levels; i.e. villages, towns, districts, regional. We should avoid the mistakes of these last five decades. People should feel they have legitimate claim of the ownership of their representatives. They should start the process of regaining the captainship at helm rather that making themselves mere passengers who are then often hijacked by religious groups whose ideological base is alien to the Somali pastoralist culture.

When reflecting today and in the coming weeks, we should also take solace that 50 years have not gone without gaining the experience and the maturity we needed to better ourselves in tomorrow’s journey. So in reality we have grown up in these tumultuous passed years. We should look ahead to the future for the sake of our children; a good number of whom are growing up presently in diaspora as part of other nations.

Last but not least we should keep hope and faith that the next decade will be better. After all, can it get worst than it is right now?.

Happy 50th anniversary to Somaliland and Somalia.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Somalia did not get a chance to be itself in the past. The west in the form of capitalism the east to expand their communist or socialist ideology always tried to influence and impose their hegemony. Almost 100% muslim countries like Somalia are not immune from new brand of islam. To sum it up nothing good has happened to Somalia. Yet Somalia is unique. It is a homogeneous country with same language one religion.That could be the bright side for it's better future.

I'm very happy this 50 years anniversary celebration on 01-July for very year.In this day it was special day for all the Somali people in all over the world but at this moment i'm sorry what has happening in my dear homeland in Somalia.
I'm considering to see my waving flag as peacefully in Somalia and the world. fighting or blooding its impossible to continue my dear land in Somalia.

What went wrong in Somalia is what is going wrong elsewhere and has been going wrong throughout the history. A peaceful and prosperous society can only be achieved through a long-term organic development. There is no other way, you cannot impose it from outside. Somalia is a good example that it does not work.

[Personal details removed by Moderator] From its 800 million people to it's vast fertile lands and enormous mineral wealth brimming over with riches, nothing inherently poor about Africa. Poverty of the majority of its people is a peculiar product of the latest phase of their history closely linked to hypocrisy of imperialist charity, especially mismanagement by African Leaders, coup,and tribal wars, what Africa has to offer is a bucket in the sea of world wide needs, what Africa needs is technological achivements to stimulate international co-operation for development, Government Orginisation, and transform solar technological change in this 21st. century but everything is meaningless unless it's totally linked with the Africen continent, it is ironic that Somalia & the Congo both celebrated 50 yrs. of independance this week has nothing to celebrate.

I note that the moderators have removed a number of contributions to this debate, for reasons relating to an apparent breach of "House Rules." The astonishing thing is that they (and the makers of the House Rules themselves) consider this remotely desirable.

The essence of free speech, in my view, is that people are able to express their views, even if they end up saying things that are deeply offensive or abhorent. What the moderators are doing here is allowing only those views that they agree with (or consider "acceptable" or "appropriate") to be expressed. Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein would naturally have been proud of them all.

[Personal details removed by Moderator]Am very happy to be a SOMALI today, i have been in London for the past 20years and i look at where did we as Somali when wrong, no wear but the rest of the world let us down, by not giving us support in everyway!!!
my days in Somali where great and i miss it. I have worked in 20 contries since the war and there is nothing better than home even though i hold a British passport,,, what really get to me is when am coming back from a business trip, i get stopped by airport police they open my passport and then say Mogadishu is that part of England,,,,
I have seen a lot and in a away it’s a sad day 50 years on and we have gone 100years back
Viva SOMALI :-)

S.M.ADEN

Somalia people are known as their uniqueness of their cultural and their language, where they speak one language unlike the other countries where each tribe has their own language. there are several tribe clans in Somalia, but they started mixing up political and tribal issues, which cause the whole state to corrupted. I was born in Somalia, but lived there only three years of my life, and now i am twenty two years old. I am looking to see the old Somali State, where all people consider themselves as equal to the one another.

Today when i turn on the TV all is see is the violence that is coming from the people who supposed to rebuild the country; claiming themselves as a religious group, while violating the human rights by killing innocent people and forcing its people to do something that is not even part of the Islamic religion. Al-Shabab needs to be wiped out of Somalia, with the help from the West other wise Somalia will still be the same state without government for the next ten years, because all the future children will grow up without education and the violence that is happening in the country will only make them to be pirates and kill their fellow Somalians. There is no one who will show them the right way, because there is no strong government who will fight for the people and its country.

I really don't see the point of celebration if the country is still going through a struggle and people are dying at the hands of their own brothers. Furthermore as Muslims this isn't allowed in Islam, so why adopt a eurocentric habit like this? Its a shame really.

What went wrong? They discovered oil in Somalia territorial waters and President Barre signed an agreement allowing the big 5 US oil companies to explore and exploit the reserves.
On his defeat President Addid took over and refused to sanction the exploration so the US military invaded under the guise of the UN and were defeated. Since then they have been continually destabilising the country by funding the Islamic militants fighting the government.

Somalia should be an eye opener to the rest of the world and in particular the colonial states of Europe past. These states divided up Africa without any regard for what ever form of nation state existed at the time of their empire building. Territorial boarders were drawn without any regard for ethnic boundaries at that time. The net result is that today's African countries, without exception, have totally artificial boarders that ignore the original ethnic boarders. We should not therefore be surprised that Africa has so often been reduced to civil war and ethnic conflict.
A country like Somalia, that offers nothing to the west such as oil or other substantial mineral wealth, is natrually going to be ignored and left to its own devices. Surely it is like if a developed city were to be abandoned nature would eventually reduce it to its original state over time. Unfortunately for Somalia these original ethnic boundaries will never be able to be brought back. They have been lost for ever due to the actions of colonizers of the past.
We do not interfere because we are afraid of the monster we have created. Because of the lack of wealth and returns we leave it alone to simmer. As long as it doesn't boil over into neighboring countries.

Prior to colonization Africa had Clans or Tribes living within their cultures and “political” systems. Colonial powers divided Africa into countries without consideration for the Clans or Tribes and those countries are still developing into nations with conflicts between the Clans or Tribes. When voting takes place it is the larger Clan that wins elections and the present external influence does to an extent protect the minority Clans from being sided by the larger ones and are hardly the cause of present disputes.

[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]The anwer can be found in the comments posted by here. All most everyone here is putting the blame on the doors of colonisers and people who want to impose their way of thinking on other people.. Maybe if and that is big if colonisers stop interfering internal affiars of other people we will see less and less wars in world.

U have no one to blame but your self,Put your Arms down-guns,Talk,and GOOD GOVERNANCE.LEARN FROM EUROPE!!

As an African American/AfroLatino, I have many friends who i consider my brothers and sisters who are of Somali decent or were born in Somalia. My heart breaks for Africa as a whole, but also for Somalis who have been displaced by so much fighting that is destroying and seperating its very people from their original homeland. There is enough blame on the international community which no doubt has played a major part in the disruption of Somalia, but what about Somalia's past and current leaders? What part did they play in allowing this disparity to occur?

Somali life pre-Islam was pastoral like most African nations and people, with their own life style, way of living and it worked to make great societies. Every culture and people in AFRICA have been raped, pillaged, and seperated, not by Africans, but by Arabs and Europeans and others, and this has caused great distress in all of Africa.

They have divided us for the natural resources in all of Africa, and divided us based on their preceptions which they weighed on us. We are a scattered people losing our identity, lost in other cultures amongst their people.

[Personal details removed by Moderator] im a somali and i will not celebrate the so called 50th anivasary. its has been 20 years of terror that we can blame ourself and others. what has shocked me is the highpocracy of the so called friends of somalia, we were living under the terror of the warlords for nearly twenty years. there was no nation that came to our cry after all these years. but suddenly when every somali thought yes our prayes have been accepted and GOD has sent the islamic union court. within a short period of six month every child in somalia has worken up with new hope and a better future under the union court.(modarate)but this was not the case for the west and its African allies, the rest is history.???????

One has to ask what was right with the country to begin with it is easier that way

to the point of my view somalia needs to change its political rotes that means we need to change our leaders and elect fresh young bright leaders who knows how the world politics works and we don't have that leaders because these leaders now are not people who are politicians and they are warlords and warlords do know nothing about politics and the system of governence. on the other hand there is a bit interference from outside but i am sure if you have a proffessional people for the job outsiders can't do anything simply we need proffessional people for the job not just Somalia you know all africa there is a political problems because there is no proffessional politicians for many countries in our continent Africa is great and the A[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]frican people are great as well but africa needs politicians

[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] what went wrong somalia well if a answer it is simply not just somalia but many countries in africa there is a political problems that means we need good leaders who are proffesionaly trained for the job of leadership

what has Somali to show for after 50 years?.........In 1884 the west met in Berlin to pilage Africa including Somalia...the colonialists managed to conquer and reshape much of Africa in terms of way of life and borderlines....after the pilage the colonialists decided to christianise and/or democratise Africans...In 1884 Somalia was 100% Muslim and still is today....and the violence and chaos in Mugadishu today is the same war and violence brought to the shores of Somalia by the colonialists.....and since Somalia is not christianised or Democratised the idealogical war is STILL being fought in the streets of Muqdishu...so after 50years Somalia still has what it holds most dear...and that is: Islam.

p[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]eace to all truth seekers..

"The Somali men and woman I have met in the U.K. have been well educated {Many speak a few languages} and normal family people . But any program or film about the horn of Africa? makes out they are all drug crazy terrorist, in Somalia and the country is a battle field for Islamic Warlords. Maybe The Somali' people who live in the U.K. should go back to sort out they country?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

[Personal details removed by Moderator]
It is sad seeing even those somalis who have tested the goodness and fruits of democracy in western countries coming back and joinning Al Shabaab in Somalia, i think it is a high time for somalians to know that this century is not a century of war, instead it is a century of attaining millenium development goal. Somali and its beautifull people are part and percel of african continent and those alshabaab if really they are God fearing Muslims, they should give chance to peace for the prosperity of somali and access to basic need.Im afraid if they dont resolve their differencies on the table, somali after 20 years will be a country of Ants and while animal and perhaps the training ground for terrories in Africa, in southern sudan the government tried almost 3 times deporting a big number of somalis here but an no time, they have re-appeared in some southern sudanese towns.
If somalians dont resolve thier differencies amicably then the future of Somali is doom.

Somalia is a negleted wound that has festered to the core.What remains of Mogadishu is pathetic.The towns that were sprawling with life and beauty are now ghost towns littered with human bones and merciless warlords masquerading as islamic faithfuls.The 50years of Somalia have seen it steadily take retrogressive steps into the abyss of poverty,decay and hopelessness.What do we have 50yrs down the line from this once beautiful country.Pirates,plentious graves, Deserted streets with very many human skulls and bones,Ganja driven youths,numerous guns,Hopeless mortals that are living for nothing except the day of death,refugees all over east africa and beyond ..the list is endless.The question that I have is, If African Union cannot see this, is this institition relevant?

Fundamental Islamism!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.