Often, when people hear about Somalia, they picture its past, not its present. Today, that idea is systematically disappearing. A new Somalia is emerging, and yes, emerging - due to the growing efforts of young Somalis to change international perceptions of Mogadishu and Somalia. Through tourism, entrepreneurship, social media, and the promotion of the country's natural beauty, historical heritage, and cultural attractions, a new generation is revealing a Somalia that exists beyond the familiar headlines of terrorism, conflict, and destruction. These initiatives demonstrate the country's enormous economic potential and, importantly, the increasingly influential role of young Somali women in shaping its future.
The irony
of Somalia's squandered potential is hard to see. What an extraordinary country
Somalia is! Nature appears to have been exceptionally generous, only for its
people to spend decades demonstrating an extraordinary talent for squandering
that inheritance.
Consider
the irony. Somalia has Africa's longest mainland coastline, stretching over
3,000 kilometres along the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. It boasts beautiful
beaches, spectacular dunes, abundant marine resources, historic trading cities,
rich cultural traditions, livestock, agricultural potential and a strategic
geographical position connecting Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
In almost
any other country, these would be regarded as economic treasures. Governments
would be competing to develop tourism, fisheries, maritime trade, agriculture,
hospitality and international investment.
But this is
Somalia, where the national conversation has, for far too long, revolved around
the more urgent business of determining which clan, faction, religious
constituency or political interest should control the national cake.
Why develop
world-class coastal resorts when political positions are up for grabs? Why
build a thriving fishing industry when endless arguments over power and
privilege persist? And why create national prosperity when generations can
remain occupied with dividing what little is left?
One could
almost conclude that Somalia has mistaken national development for a foreign
conspiracy!
The
consequences have been devastating – civil war, displacement, institutional
collapse and widespread poverty. The international identity of a country
blessed with extraordinary natural and economic resources became associated
with famine, terrorism, piracy and destruction.
Yet, a
different Somalia is increasingly emerging, driven by young people refusing to
inherit the pessimism, divisions, and destructive attitudes of previous
generations.
Imagine
Mogadishu as a major Indian Ocean tourism destination, with thriving hotels,
restaurants, coastal resorts and cultural attractions. Imagine the country's
marine resources supporting a prosperous fishing and seafood export industry,
while tourism, agriculture, livestock, renewable energy and trade generate
employment and attract international investment.
Tourism
alone will not transform Somalia, but it could become a powerful catalyst for
wider economic development. The potential is enormous. What has been missing is
the determination to put national prosperity above narrow interests.
Women and
young people are rewriting Somalia's story. Perhaps the most remarkable irony
is that some of the most promising agents of change are young Somali women from
a society that has historically treated women as second-class citizens.
Across the
country and within the diaspora, a new generation of Somali women and men is
increasingly turning to entrepreneurship, tourism, technology, education,
innovation and social media to create opportunities and promote a different
image of their homeland.
They are
not waiting for political patronage, traditional power structures or permission
from those who have presided over decades of stagnation. They are creating
businesses, attracting visitors, promoting Somali culture and demonstrating
that national renewal is possible.
While some
remain preoccupied with arguing over who should control Somalia, these young
people are showing what Somalia can actually become.
Women
taking leading roles in this transformation is profoundly symbolic. A society
that has too often marginalised their talents is beginning to discover that it
cannot build a prosperous future without them. Their participation is not
simply a matter of social justice; it is an economic necessity.
No country
can realistically aspire to greatness while sidelining half its population.
A new
Somali identity is emerging from conflict to prosperity. Thank goodness, a new
breed of Somalis is emerging. They are tired of the endless cycle of conflict,
clan rivalry, religious manipulation and political fragmentation. They want
businesses, jobs, investment, innovation, peace and prosperity.
They are
creating a different Somali identity: not one defined by war, famine,
destruction and dependency, but by enterprise, hospitality, economic progress,
unity and national pride.
Clan,
religious and regional identities need not disappear. They must, however,
coexist with a stronger national identity founded on equal citizenship, mutual
respect and shared prosperity.
There is no
contradiction between being proud of one's clan and being committed to Somalia.
The real contradiction is claiming to love the country while participating in
practices that undermine its unity and impoverish its people.
Somalia
needs fewer entrepreneurs of division and more entrepreneurs of prosperity. It
needs fewer people competing over the remnants of a broken economy and more
people creating wealth for future generations.
The future
is not written in the ruins. The growing efforts of young Somalis to promote
tourism, entrepreneurship and the country's natural and cultural attractions
may appear modest, but their significance extends far beyond individual
businesses. Every visitor welcomed, every investment attracted, every business
established and every positive image shared internationally helps challenge the
country's negative stereotypes.
Of course,
serious security, governance and infrastructure challenges remain. Tourism and
investment cannot flourish without addressing them. But Somalia has something
worth rebuilding: its natural beauty, history, resources, culture and, above
all, its people.
Perhaps the
greatest lesson is that national transformation does not always begin in
presidential palaces, parliamentary chambers or political conferences.
Sometimes it begins with ordinary young people who dare to reject the failures
of the past and the imagination to build something better.
And that is
the ultimate irony: a country that has spent decades being portrayed as a
hopeless case is finding some of its most promising agents of transformation
among the very young people, particularly women, whom its traditional power
structures have too often failed to empower.
Somalia
does not need another generation competing to inherit the ruins. It needs a
generation determined to build something magnificent upon them.
Somalia is not poor in potential; it has been impoverished by the failure to harness that potential. It is time the country exchanged its international reputation for conflict and destruction for something considerably more rewarding: peace, prosperity, tourism, innovation and the extraordinary achievements of a united people. Yes, you can!!