The Somali economy grew by roughly 50% in the decade of democracy.
Then grew approximately 90% in the decade after that.
This is how Somali economic growth looks from 1960-1990.
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As you can see, GDP growth seems to be profound around 1976 onwards. This is despite most people agreeing that the economy was worse in that period. This can be attributed to inflation or increased wealth inequality, due to corruption.
Somalia’s population increased by 250 % since the end of Siad Barre’s reign, but our grain production is now only 25 % what it once was. We were close to self sufficient in food production when he was overthrown. And we have famines every year now.
Final specifications of the Bardhere Dam Project were completed in 1989 and ready to be implemented, but the war occurred. The dam would have provided double Somalia’s current energy consumption. The irrigation of Juba river with the dam would have given Somalia a surplus in food production.
Healthcare, housing, education all improved significantly under Siad Barre as well due to his socialist policies. Oil concessions were given to American oil giants just before the war, they already had teams on the ground about to start. And all the factories, roads, ports, airports across Somalia built by Siad Barre.
Like i’m not sure what more someone can do? If the same was achieved through democracy, then people would call it a massive success.
We are not a rich country, but extremely poor. All odds are against us. He achieved a lot in 22 years, and set the conditions for major growth if he had another 10-15 years.
This doesn’t change the fact that Siad Barre divided Somali society permanently by using tribalism to maintain power, it doesn’t change the fact that all his benefits are worthless because he’s responsible for the collapse of the Somali state. Our culture is one where 13 year old children get executed for belonging to the wrong qabiil, where nomads spent their lives stealing the other qabiil’s camels, it’s better to step down than use tribalism to maintain power in this type of culture. If Siad Barre was Habesha and ruled Ethiopia, they would celebrate him because they lack tribalistic nomadic culture.
The struggles of Ahmed Gurey:
"Amongst the Somalis there was a tribe called Habr Magadi to whom the Imam demanded a tax. They refused, ambushed on roads and devastated the land. The Imam advanced until a place called Ra'bud - between the territory of the Muslims and the Infidels - as if he wished to march against Abyssinia, then he whirled toward the land of the Somali raiders (Habr Magadi), they fled. He continued until a day's distance to the sea, plundered their ample territory which he ravaged and then returned."
"The Imam took the matter to heart, he gathered an army and marched against the land of Somalis until he arrived at the Habr Magadi who cut roads and plundered the property of Muslims. He defeated them for a second time and took their wealth, he destroyed their cities which he reduced to ashes, then returned to his country."
