Mogadishu (Commentary) — Last week, a wave of reports from local and international media outlets revealed that the United States has suspended its food aid support to Somalia’s elite US/ trained Danab forces. This decision came in response to allegations of widespread corruption and misappropriation within the military ranks. It was discovered that essential provisions meant for deployed personnel were being diverted. In response to these reports, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) issued a statement acknowledging the misdemeanour. The Minister of Defence also confirmed in the interview that senior military officials have been arrested in connection with the embezzlement scandal. This incident, though alarming by any stretch of imagination, is emblematic of Somalia’s enduring struggle with corruption. It represents just one episode in a long history of malfeasance.
The problem, which warrants attention, is the selective outcry among social media activists, driven by political motives, which often sidetracks from addressing the root causes of issues and instead fuels a cycle of blame and political exploitation during national crises.
Somalia’s reputation for corruption is deeply entrenched affects all public institutions. Over the past decade, the country has consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt nations in the world, maintaining this unenviable status for over two decades.
Attributing Somalia’s systematic corruption solely to the current administration and putting the blame squarely on the incumbent president overlooks the actual problem. Corruption in Somalia runs deep, rooted in years of weak governance, a lack of accountability, and a culture of impunity that spans across administrations. Refusing to acknowledge this by omission reflects a degree of hypocrisy in the narrative. It suggests that those peddling such narrative are have an axe to grind when commenting on corruption.
Holding officials accountable is essential for upholding Somali citizens’ inherent rights. National embarrassments cannot continue as business as usual. However, some campaigns prove counterproductive. Focusing solely on isolated issues while neglecting the broader context of corruption, impunity, and kleptocracy perpetuates the problem rather than alleviating it.
This approach to discussing corruption, which is increasingly becoming common in the social media age, neither supports the country’s anti-corruption efforts nor contributes meaningfully to forging an anti-corruption movement. This misdirection of efforts is more than a hindrance; it touches upon the danger of diminishing the enormity of corruption in public institutions.
When social media activists casually toss around accusations of corruption for political expediency, we knowingly undermine the public’s trust in genuine anti-corruption efforts. We are no longer able to distinguish politically motivated campaigns from genuine anti-corruption movements.
Somalis cannot combat corruption effectively by using this kind of zero-sum game approach to settle political scores instead of campaigning transparency and accountability. A serious, unbiased approach to addressing corruption is urgently needed. To effectively combat corruption in Somalia, it is crucial to focus attention on the underlying causes. This requires not only holding individuals accountable but also implementing systemic reforms aimed at strengthening institutions, promoting transparency, and empowering civil society. Such reforms demand concerted efforts from all stakeholders, both domestic and international partners.
In conclusion, public outrage over national embarrassment is an understandable and commendable. Recognising the systemic nature of corruption and actively pursuing reforms can break the cycle of corruption. The goal is to pave the way for reforms based on ransparency and accountability. To attain such a future, it is crucial to eschew political witch-hunt in the society media platforms. It serves the interests of corrupt politicians to confine our campaigns against corrupt to social media outcry and fleeting moral panic.
By Mahbub Mohamed Abdullahi
You must be logged in to post a comment.