Somalia 2016: What kind of Leader does Somalia or Somalis need in 2016 Elections?

Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is neighbored by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east and Kenya to the southwest.

Somalia regained its independence from the colonizing powers in 1960. From 1960 to 1990, Somalia was well respected nation in the whole world. It has been the most difficult country to deal with in terms of diplomacy, the world ambassadors and diplomats in Mogadishu were closely monitored by the country’s powerful security agency. It was not easy to violate the sovereignty of Somalia and its borders were protected from Land, Air and Sea. It was in 1991 when the country was destroyed by internal and external forces working together led by members mutinied from the Somali army.

Since then the country has been in chaotic and civil war and several attempts has been made to secure and build functioning government to the country but most of them failed because of one thing; the wrong leaders were being elected time after time.

The last government was established in 10^th September 2012 and elected the current president and also being declared a federal government which has been welcomed and accepted by the most of the world countries and governments, but the dream has changed immediately after current government failed to bring anything new or different from the previous ones.

I was one of the scholars and intellectuals who have been watching the situation of Somali since it’s disintegrate, I have been thinking about the future of this resourceful country and why this small country with same community in terms of religion, race, ethnicity, culture, language etc has failed to come up with a solution to reach a sustainable development.

I have recognized that the main problemthat has been facing this country is Poor Leadership.

We all aware of that there will be presidential and parliamentarian elections that will be held in August 2016, I believe that the outcome of this election will determine the future of this country so we have to get a good leader who is different from this president and having particular features.

I believe that a Good Leader can resolve the problems of this country even without need or having a lot of resources but only being a Good Leader.

All we aware of is that most of the developed countries were once like Somalia or even worse but found a Good Leaders that changed dreams into reality so that these countries reached sustainable development.

For this article I need to present my own criteria about which leader we need to be elected in 2016 elections.

We need a leader who has all of these 12 features or characteristics:

1. Participatory leaders: Someone who consults with the people and believes maximum involvement and participation as indicated by our religion.
2. Vision: someone who is looking beyond today (have Long-term Strategy) and is future and result-oriented and not thinking about how he or she will be re-elected, what his or her family will get, how much amount of money will he or she collect during his or her term in an office.
3. Self-Confident: someone who believes that he or she can bring a change needed by the country.
4. Honesty: someone who can be trusted by the people and puts public interest before the individual interest.
5. Independent: a person whosepersonality and decision-making ability is not related-to any other particular group in other terms someone who is not a member of any particular group like religious groups, clan groups, Diaspora groups etc.
6. Ability: someone who has ability to handle all unexpected situations and has conceptual, human and technical skills.
7. Decision-Making: a person who has aptitude to make courageous decisions without hesitations or fear.
8. Stable: a person who is emotionally stable in handling challenges in decision making and during the time of pressures.
9. Creative and Innovative: an individual who has ability to bring new things and do new things.
10. Motivational leader: Someone who has the talent to inspire the community as whole.
11. Charisma: someone who plays an important role in influencing and attracting others.
12. Transparent: a person who believes that good transparency and accountability will bring public confident and public recognition.

These are my own criterion about a leader we need in 2016 elections and others may exist also.

I believe that if we get such leader Somalia will face a new spring and determine their future for reaching sustainable development in terms of economic, social, political and all other public services.

I need to mention that I am welcoming all your comments both positive and negative and don’t hesitate to send your comments through below Email and Phone.

 

Mohamud Isse Yusuf is Social and Political Affairs analyst and Lecturer at East Africa University-Qardho-Campus-Puntland-Somalia

Email: mciise01@gmail.com or mciise01@gmail.com  

Tell: +252-90-7-734000