Restoring Somalia

[Bashi]

Don't listen to him. The oil will create a major shift in Somalia. We shouldn't compare ourselves with developed countries like the gulf/Norway. Their economy is too large to still be dependent on oil that's why they want to diversify. Instead, we should take a look at Angola. Angola's gdb is at $115b. Crude petroleum makes up 95% of exports. They don't even refine it they literally sell it at it is. If Somalia could make a fraction of that it would be a game-changer. Even with corruption, we have small populations.

Exporting oil>Exporting nothing

Drilling for oil takes a long time, technology is fast growing who says oil will be as important in 10, 20 years time? We need to get money quickly. Somalia has the longest coastline in africa. We could do something with that. We should develop our fishing industry. Drilling for oil will also kill the many variety of fish living there and destroy the environment. Fishing is a renewable resource. Every year so many countries come to our coastline to fish illegaly making millions of dollars.

 

[Ras]

Do you guys want my honest advice? Forget about Somalia, it's a hopeless place.

We live in the best countries in the world, just focus on getting a good job, earn great money and you can live a fantastic life anywhere on the planet, don't limit yourself to that hellhole

when shtf in your host country you'd want a plan b.

Anyways... it sucks putting in all your effort improving someone else's home as a live in servant while your old place is still a dump.

When my future kids ask me about their homeland I want to have them be proud of where they come from instead of the current situation.

 

[Genesis]

Youre not thinking about your country, only your immediate comfort. So what if you can live in other countries? You will always be an outsider, an immigrant or refugee or the offspring of one. What would you have to say for yourself when people ask where you are from and you shamingly mention your country. Wherever you go people of those countries will look down upon you, youre a sad existence to them. If you have children they will be bullied for being from the "hellhole". Even if youre rich materially its only surface comfort. Why cant you be someone who takes pride in their country? Who can say with dignity and pride, "im somalian" like your ancestors.

I cannot take pride in something that doesn't deserve it, what is there to take pride in Somalia? You sound like one of those people in which admitting to themselves and to others that we've hit rock bottom and are in an existential crisis is much too psychologically painful for them to handle.

I've been to Somalia numerous times, and the dislike for the diaspora Somali's is evident, I did not feel at home there at all.

When I graduate, however, I will work in hospitals in Somalia for 2 years, just so I can say I contributed to the country and to clear my conscious, I will never speak of Somalia again in my life afterwards.

 

[Ras]

When I graduate, however, I will work in hospitals in Somalia for 2 years, just so I can say I contributed to the country and to clear my conscious, I will never speak of Somalia again in my life afterwards.

That's more than most would contribute.

They dislike the diaspora for a good reason. We took the best Somalia had when it needed them the most and we have the gall to ask why they haven't fixed their problems yet.

 

[BetterDaysAhead]

I've been to Somalia numerous times, and the dislike for the diaspora Somali's is evident, I did not feel at home there at all.

I’ve heard about this, how badly do they dislike the diaspora? Do you believe it stems from envy?

 

[Genesis]

I’ve heard about this, how badly do they dislike the diaspora? Do you believe it stems from envy?

If I had to live in one of the poorest and most dangerous countries in the world and watch someone who looks and talks just like me treat Somalia like a vacation home while also living comfortably in the US or Europe (places Somali's regularly risk death to go to), I'd be pretty pissed off too.

The diaspora Somali's don't do nearly enough to improve the livelihoods of regular Somali's, they will enrich themselves at the expense of the common people.

 

[BetterDaysAhead]

they will enrich themselves at the expense of the common people.

Politicians in Somalia are the main ones pocketing funds meant for development, if the Somali citizens should be mad at anyone it should be them

 

[Sleepy Hollow]

The vast majority of diaspora return and enter politics instead of creating employement. Imagine returning and actually filling in skill gaps and bringing much needed investment to various sectors instead of being a parasitic leech taking the only jobs available from locals. @RasCanjero You mentioned having skin in the game earlier and the sad thing is diaspora who go back home really don't have much of it and live inside an elite bubble that they rarely ever leave.

 

[Bashi]

I cannot take pride in something that doesn't deserve it, what is there to take pride in Somalia? You sound like one of those people in which admitting to themselves and to others that we've hit rock bottom and are in an existential crisis is much too psychologically painful for them to handle.

I've been to Somalia numerous times, and the dislike for the diaspora Somali's is evident, I did not feel at home there at all.

When I graduate, however, I will work in hospitals in Somalia for 2 years, just so I can say I contributed to the country and to clear my conscious, I will never speak of Somalia again in my life afterwards.

You cant take pride in it now, but you should work to change it for the better. I admit to myself and others we have hit rock-bottom, i accept the truth. But it doesnt mean i have existential crisis, i dont. And it doesnt mean im just gonna call it a shithole and give up on it. No matter how shit it is, at the end of the day its my country, its the place i call home, where my parents call home. I wont run away from it, i will actively try to make it better.

You sound like a kid. "Oh i wasnt treated well like i expected, so thats it im done being a somali." If you were disliked its because you couldnt fit in right with them. You werent culturally a somali, they dont hate you. They never will, they are your own people. Being made fun of for being a dhagan celis is not hate. They just feel youre too different cause you cant relate with them. Your goal isnt to take what they said to heart, its to make them more developed in their thinking.

Im glad youre considering working there and atleast contributing something. It means there is some patriotism in you. Im just gonna tell you this: if you and the educated people who lived abroad dont go to the country and lead it. Who would the leadership fall to? The ignorant people you saw when you travelled will. Dumbasses who are blinded by qabil hate and sell the resources of the country for cheap cash. And before you know it, somalia will be carved up by its bigger neighbours. And your land taken. Then youd be like the many displaced minorities with no real place to call home.

 

[Bashi]

The vast majority of diaspora return and enter politics instead of creating employement. Imagine returning and actually filling in skill gaps and bringing much needed investment to various sectors instead of being a parasitic leech taking the only jobs available from locals. @RasCanjero You mentioned having skin in the game earlier and the sad thing is diaspora who go back home really don't have much of it and live inside an elite bubble that they rarely ever leave.

This^^. I 100% agree. Couldnt say it better.

 

[Genesis]

Politicians in Somalia are the main ones pocketing funds meant for development, if the Somali citizens should be mad at anyone it should be them

Most of our politicians have foreign passports, our parliament is like 30% Scandinavian, 30% European and 30% American.

The fucking President of Somalia has an American passport and the prime minister has a Norweigan one, what kind of message does that send out to the locals?

 

[BetterDaysAhead]

Most of our politicians have foreign passports, our parliament is like 30% Scandinavian, 30% European and 30% American.

The fucking President of Somalia has an American passport and the prime minister has a Norweigan one, what kind of message does that send out to the locals?

They need to revolt against the corruption

 

[Bashi]

Like I said in my 2nd post. Our security issue can be solved by increasing stakeholder value across the population.

Think of Somalia as a business and it's citizens as stakeholders.

If most the population had no stake in the business... i.e. no equity; then why would they care about increasing the value of the business?

If a sizable percentage of our population owned properties or had a career then there'd be no space for opportunist to come in to cause chaos for their own benefits.

The first steps we need to implement isn't an oil profits distribution law but instead laws that would

1. Protect private property (US constitution article 5 & 14) asap through an amendment in the provisional constitution. The states currently can't decide on the final draft since they're fighting over state rights but a small amendment that protect private property should be feasible with some lobbying by investors (a truck load of khat will do).
2. Creating a favorable environment for Somali investors/entrepreneurs through a fair and transparent taxation system. Warlords or traffic/border customs cops shouldn't be allowed to come up with new taxes on the spot. Make it high if needed but make it fair and realistic. Incentivize the economic behaviors we need for development through strategic taxation.
3. Temporarily import a commercial law system that helps enforce best practices and removes bad actors from the market. Might seem crazy but building up everything from scratch could delay development by decades since you can't really have an efficient market unless you have battle tested rules of the game that everyone plays on. We also don't have enough lawyers and judiciary professionals within Somalia that dealt with these types of high level commercial cases. Hence, we'll need to import those diaspora or foreign expats who are familiar with commonwealth or US commercial laws. This would essentially be a plug and play legal system and we could be up and running within a year and smooth out most the wrinkles within 5. A indigenous legal system would literally take decades to form properly even if accelerated. Most took centuries...
4. Provide loan guarantees for FDI investments on low risk essential projects. Loan guarantee can be creatively funded/insured through putting up a sukuk/bond that holds a 2nd lien on investors assets in return for a small fee. For example; a billion dollars railway project from Hargeisa to Berbera. Gov analyzes the project and deems it low risk after going through a transparent audit. They then guarantee 80% of the funding required for the project. The bank would then be more likely to finance the project since the original investors would've already paid a 20% down payment in most cases so there's very little risk to the lender. The government won't have to put up any money at all even if the project fails and in which case; the project is collateralized anyways so it isn't a total write off. Other investors would've insured the gov loan guarantee like a normal car insurance transaction. The gov pays them a certain fee every month and they would pay up on the rare occasion a project failed. The fees they get is risk adjusted and probably a lot more they would've gotten on the stock market.. the best part is not having to put up any money in most deals. As long as this becomes a transparent and properly regulated process this could create a bonanza in FDIs in Somalia since this deal would be a win win win and win for investors/project owners, lenders government/country and insurers.

Good ideas. This reminds me of the situation with singapore. Being home to many ethnicities there would always be protests and the people would clash. In the beginning the clashes were really violent. Properties were damaged and destroyed left and right. Then the government gave them property to own and the next racial clashes were less violent. No one wanted to harm their own property.

 

[Factz]

The first step for Somalia to be restored is to remove the tribalistic elders from power. The elders are holding back Somalia as a hostage just so they can secure their bag and not care for the well being of their country. They're all traitors and tribalists. We need young educated minds with goodwill to take over. This will be the first step for Somalia to really move forward then tackling other issues will come second and it'll be easier this time.

 

[Marcus]

Most of our politicians have foreign passports, our parliament is like 30% Scandinavian, 30% European and 30% American.

The fucking President of Somalia has an American passport and the prime minister has a Norweigan one, what kind of message does that send out to the locals?

And? Diaspora are the only people in Somali who've passed high school education.

Stop being naïve