By Dr Abucar Aden Cadde Somalia has survived colonial partition, civil war, terrorism, famine, and repeated political crises. Yet the gravest danger it faces today comes not from abroad but from within: the failure of its political class to govern as one nation rather than as competing factions.It is worth recalling that Somalia’s federalism was … Continue reading Somalia at a Crossroads: The Cost of Dysfunctional Federalism →
A WDM Editorial There are public figures who occupy office, and there are public figures who occupy the hearts of a people. Ahmed Ali Egal belonged unmistakably to the latter.With his passing, Puntland—and Somalia as a whole—has lost not merely a singer or a poet, but one of the enduring custodians of Somali cultural memory. … Continue reading A Voice Falls Silent, but a People’s Memory Endures: Farewell to Ahmed Ali Egal →
Ahmed Farah YarePresident Said Abdullahi Deni’s tribute to his predecessor, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed — founder of Puntland State and later President of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government — is a fitting reminder of what good leadership looks like. It offers society both the lessons worth learning and the mistakes worth avoiding.It is a rare trait among … Continue reading →
By Abdiladif Ahmed Puntland’s 28th anniversary should be more than ceremony. It is an occasion to reckon with the history that produced it, the sacrifices behind its institutions, and the challenges that still test them.Puntland’s story cannot be told through 28 years alone. Decades of struggle of its residents preceded its foundation It was shaped … Continue reading Puntland at 28: A Legacy Forged Through Struggle, Worth Defending →
A WDM Editorial As Puntland marks its 28th Anniversary, it is fitting to reflect on the leadership that shaped its journey. The images above symbolize two generations of that story: Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the founding president who led Puntland’s establishment in 1998, and Said Abdullahi Deni, the current president whose recent tribute reaffirmed the importance … Continue reading Puntland at 28: The Enduring Power of Institutions Over Personalities →
A WDM Editorial There are moments in politics when what is left unsaid reveals more than what is spoken. Then there are rarer moments when a leader chooses candour over convenience, history over political calculation, and institutional memory over personal rivalry. President Said Abdullahi Deni’s remarks at the launch of Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey’s book … Continue reading Candour Over Convenience: President Deni’s Tribute to Abdullahi Yusuf and the Puntland Story →
By Ahmed Hassan Humbus Let’s stop hiding behind diplomatic pleasantries and face the brutal reality: Somalia is not a functioning sovereign republic. It is a hollowed-out, internationally subsidized welfare state on permanent life support. For decades, its national budget, its military apparatus, and its entire humanitarian sector have been completely bankrolled by financial injections from … Continue reading The Welfare State: Can Somali Unity Survive the Withdrawal of Western Aid? →
By Abdiladif Ahmed Calling Somalia a “failed state” has become a reflex in international discourse. But repetition is not accuracy. Somalia’s failure is not the state itself — it is the recurring failure of those entrusted to lead it. States do not appoint relatives, reward loyalists, auction public property, or mistake personal power for national … Continue reading Somalia Doesn’t Have a State Problem — It Has a Leadership Problem” →
By Abdiladif Ahmed Calling Somalia a “failed state” has become a reflex in international discourse. But repetition is not accuracy. Somalia’s failure is not the state itself — it is the recurring failure of those entrusted to lead it. States do not appoint relatives, reward loyalists, auction public property, or mistake personal power for national … Continue reading Somalia’s Greatest Challenge: Leadership Failure, Not State Failure →
Forget the framing of Somalia “risking” fragmentation. Three federal member states have suspended relations with Mogadishu since 2024. A breakaway region got its first-ever sovereign recognition in December. The president is governing on a legally contested term extension. This isn’t a warning sign — it’s the current state of play.What actually happened: Puntland pulled recognition … Continue reading Somalia: Separation or Confederation-No Third Option →
