What's with Nigerians obssession with Somalia

[Idilinaa]

Somalia is a failed state, it’s easy to use it as a reference point for chaos and fragility.

If you or others use the perception of Somalia as a failed state to deflect from your own failings and shortcomings, then you are the real failure.

Nigeria is a dumpster fire of a country mentioning Somalia won’t change that. And people on this site who badmouth Somalia instead of contributing to it like healthy, responsible individuals are just social rejects.

 

[novanova]

Somalia is a failed state, it’s easy to use it as a reference point for chaos and fragility.

Ma saan ba ictiraaf ku hele?

 

[LacagChaser]

If you or others use the perception of Somalia as a failed state to deflect from your own failings and shortcomings, then you are the real failure.

Nigeria is a dumpster fire of a country mentioning Somalia won’t change that. And people on this site who badmouth Somalia instead of contributing to it like healthy, responsible individuals are just social rejects.

Ay, I’m not the one who caused the country to be in total anarchy for ~40 years. I don’t even think Somalia is the worst country in Africa but is that really the bar you’re thriving for? It’s time to face reality and realize that the outlook of Somalia is concerning. How long will this fugazi govt last when it doesn’t control any territory outside of Xamar, let alone foreign aid cuts and impending terrorist incursions. Corruption and remittance can only take you so far.

 

[Idilinaa]

Ay, I’m not the one who caused the country to be in total anarchy for ~40 years. I don’t even think Somalia is the worst country in Africa but is that really the bar you’re thriving for? It’s time to face reality and realize that the outlook of Somalia is concerning. How long will this fugazi govt last when it doesn’t control any territory outside of Xamar, let alone foreign aid cuts and impending terrorist incursions. Corruption and remittance can only take you so far.

Somalia has never been in 'total anarchy.' It has functioning regional governments that actually run their territories.

Remittances make up only about 2% of Somalia’s economy , the real driver is domestic production and trade. The regional government earns most of its revenue by taxing trade, not handouts.

Somalia isn’t sustained by foreign aid either; it’s sustained by its private sector and strong local/internal governance.

The reason Somalia keeps going despite constant outside interference that birthed AS among other things , is because it’s not run by hopeless defeatist losers like you. It’s powered by the resilience of its people, who are forward thinkers, who have revived every sector , energy, industry, trade and logistics, agriculture, fisheries, business, education, healthcare without billions in loans or foreign investments or donor money that other countries receive.

What exposes you and Nigerians or others as losers is that while you badmouth Somalia with tired, useless perceptions, Somalis are out there actually building and getting things done.

In less than a decade, we’ve expanded electricity access by 80%, internet coverage by 89%, clean water to 77% of the poppulation , boosted agriculture through micro-irrigation and micro-financing, grown industries, and increased fisheries production by 400%., expanded literacy to 70% of youth population (15-30). Somalia having one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

The point of a government is to deliver services, safeguard, and improve the quality of life for its people and in Somalia, there’s plenty of that happening.

 

[Idilinaa]

What exposes you and Nigerians or others as losers is that while you badmouth Somalia with tired, useless perceptions, Somalis are out there actually building and getting things done.

In less than a decade, we’ve expanded electricity access by 80%, internet coverage by 89%, clean water to 77% of the poppulation , boosted agriculture through micro-irrigation and micro-financing, grown industries, and increased fisheries production by 400%., expanded literacy to 70% of youth population (15-30).

The point of a government is to deliver services, safeguard, and improve the quality of life for its people and in Somalia, there’s plenty of that happening.

This really shows how laughable the whole “failed state” label is. What’s the point of having an “intact” government if your country is crime infested, people can’t walk safely, goods and services get stolen in transit, huge parts of the population live in slums or on the streets, millions are illiterate, and many still lack electricity, internet, clean water, or any economic safety net? That’s the reality in India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Iraq, and plenty of others the complete opposite of Somalia in many respects.

The “failed state” narrative is also mostly a lie. The north has had two stable governments for over 30 years, plus now another Somali govt in Ogaden none of which have collapsed.

The south would be the same if it weren’t for constant foreign interference, where outsiders disrupted state building or toppled effective administrations to impose their own political projects. Even so, it has managed to bring enough stability to Mogadishu for more than a decade to sustain development and trade, as well as to many surrounding areas that were recaptured several years ago places like Afgooye, Beledweyne, Jowhar, Baydhoba, Kismaayo, Afmadow, Dhusamareb, Galkacyo and most other major towns, all of which have resumed normal activity. Most mayor cities and ports in the south is outside the control of Terrorists. As well as the regional capitals and larger urban centers is outside their control.

How long will this fugazi govt last when it doesn’t control any territory outside of Xamar,

The government (including federal and regional administrations) controls most of the populated and strategic areas outside of Xamar, including those they have captured since 2012–2014. Meanwhile, Al-Shabab mostly controls a patchwork of rural villages and maintains hideouts in remote, open regions.

 

[LacagChaser]

Somalia has never been in 'total anarchy.' It has functioning regional governments that actually run their territories.

Remittances make up only about 2% of Somalia’s economy , the real driver is domestic production and trade. The regional government earns most of its revenue by taxing trade, not handouts.

Somalia isn’t sustained by foreign aid either; it’s sustained by its private sector and strong local/internal governance.

The reason Somalia keeps going despite constant outside interference that birthed AS among other things , is because it’s not run by hopeless defeatist losers like you. It’s powered by the resilience of its people, who are forward thinkers, who have revived every sector , energy, industry, trade and logistics, agriculture, fisheries, business, education, healthcare without billions in loans or foreign investments or donor money that other countries receive.

What exposes you and Nigerians or others as losers is that while you badmouth Somalia with tired, useless perceptions, Somalis are out there actually building and getting things done.

In less than a decade, we’ve expanded electricity access by 80%, internet coverage by 89%, clean water to 77% of the poppulation , boosted agriculture through micro-irrigation and micro-financing, grown industries, and increased fisheries production by 400%., expanded literacy to 70% of youth population (15-30). Somalia having one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

The point of a government is to deliver services, safeguard, and improve the quality of life for its people and in Somalia, there’s plenty of that happening.

Be thankful for the foreign aid for it is the only reason Somalia has the slightest semblance of governance. Foreign aid is why AS isn't in Villa Somalia at the moment, but when AUSSOM inevitably leave due to lack of funding what will keep the central govt in tact? https://africa.businessinsider.com/...ons-in-crisis-hit-east-african-nation/6t42x79

ATMIS, the outgoing African Union mission, faces a severe financial crisis, with nearly $100 million in unpaid salaries and mounting debts, undermining peacekeeper morale and raising concerns about a potential security vacuum in Somalia.

While the SNA is getting spooked by AS, Burundian soldiers are keeping Xamar functional: https://x.com/westtoeastt/status/1935816081425441038

“The US has maintained that Somalia is not an appropriate context for the application of the 2719 framework and has opposed the hybrid implementation model, arguing that it does not reflect the spirit or intent of resolution 2719. The US has suggested exploring alternative financing options that extend beyond the traditional donor base.” the report noted

When you're at rock bottom it is easy to make some strides. However Somalia is still one of the poorest countries in the world, if you're not in Xamar good luck trying to live a dignified life. Close to 50% of the population facing food insecurity and not getting a formal education doesn't sound good to me.

What is interesting is that Ethiopia for all its income prosperity has a huge portion of their population living in poverty with no access to basic needs. They are barely ahead of Somalia by this index.

 

[Barkhadle1520]

This is actually one of the few benefits of qabyaalad in that people dont get left to fend for themselves because its shameful to have members of your family struggling in shanty housing and you dont help them. Without qabyaalad there would be no reason for a reer to provide for these people who will end up constructing slums

Also somalia is a remarkably dry subsaharan african country

Its not qabyalad its qabilnimo and its a very great thing that we used to do since centuries

You dont just move from your farm to a big crappy city like Habesha, then live in slums and sell your body because you know no one and cant find a job

Somalis live with their reer and help each others out with the little they got, thats why some random town in the middle of nowhere will look like this

Btw nearly everything was built in a decade or two, during kacaan it was tents or didnt exist

Imagine you living in a villa while your brother lives in jiingad, the fact that this ceeb weyn in Somali culture tells everything

Theres also remittances from goxoti somalis which basically revived the Somali economy, and usd currency helped a lot too

 

[Barkhadle1520]

Ma saan ba ictiraaf ku hele?

He aint isaaq hop off

 

[cunug3aad]

Its not qabyalad its qabilnimo and its a very great thing that we used to do since centuries

You dont just move from your farm to a big crappy city like Habesha, then live in slums and sell your body because you know no one and cant find a job

Somalis live with their reer and help each others out with the little they got, thats why some random town in the middle of nowhere will look like this

Btw nearly everything was built in a decade or two, during kacaan it was tents or didnt exist
View attachment 370137

Imagine you living in a villa while your brother lives in jiingad, the fact that this ceeb weyn in Somali culture tells everything

Theres also remittances from goxoti somalis which basically revived the Somali economy, and usd currency helped a lot too

Yea i was thinking qabyaalad the wrong word

 

[Rayaale]

Somalis often help fellow Somalis beyond their immediate clan and even assist foreigners.

Very true, I live near a border town and we help any Somali regardless of his/her clan who passes through

 

[Rayaale]

Somalia is a failed state, it’s easy to use it as a reference point for chaos and fragility.

Somalia is rather a fragile country than a failed country and that can be fixed if we put our differences aside and unite as one.

 

[Zak12]

but when AUSSOM inevitably leave due to lack of funding what will keep the central govt in tact?

Macawisely and the other local militias will. Contrary to what you think, SNA and AMISOM aren't the only ones fighting AS, plenty of local clans have been leading the fighting and are quite successful at that. Al-Shabab isn't strong at all, they long since lost the capability to successfully wage large scale invasions. The proof of that was when they invaded Ethiopia back in 2022 but got repulsed by regional Somali forces. At the end of the day they are only a guerilla group capable of hit and run tactics and taking the occasional village or base, they do not have the logistical capabilitiee to take a large city like Mogadishu let along the entire south.

Here is a analysis from one of the most reputable military academies and their take on AMISOM leaving. They concluded that it wouldn't cause any long term major issues.

The Somali National Army Versus al-Shabaab: A Net Assessment - Combating Terrorism Center at West Point

Abstact: An important question for the future of Somalia is if the African Union withdraws the remainder of its forces from the country by December 31, 2024, would the Somali National Army (SNA) or al-Shabaab be stronger militarily? According to a net assessment conducted by the author across...

ctc.westpoint.edu

In Somalia, the ATMIS exit raises legitimate security concerns, but a similarly rapid and complete collapse of the SNA and total victory for al-Shabaab is unlikely. Not only would the SNA retain significant external security assistance from the United States, Turkey, the European Union, UAE, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and other countries, but ATMIS’ departure would undermine a key element of al-Shabaab propaganda. Moreover, the SNA already endured the partial withdrawal of a key security partner when the Trump administration removed most of the roughly 700 U.S. troops from Somalia in December 2020. The impact on the SNA was not positive but nor was it catastrophic"

Close to 50% of the population facing food insecurity and not getting a formal education doesn't sound good to me.

Most of that food insecurity is only concentrated in the deep south and primarily due to displacement and conflict. Somalia actually has plenty of food and most of the country has little issue feeding itself.

There is enough food produced inside the country to feed everybody, and similarly with food imports. The problem isn’t a lack of food, it’s that food isn’t free, and that’s why those who are displaced or have lost their livelihoods in the short term require aid.

When you see numbers online or in reports about “millions needing food aid,” this crucial context is often left out. These figures usually refer to displaced communities or people facing temporary economic shocks. Most food insecurity in Somalia is due to economic displacement, not famine or actual shortages. So food isn’t the problem; purchasing power is.
View attachment 363637

As for the riverine zones you’ve mentioned, investment and planned projects have already been allocated to these areas, some completed and some are currently underway by both the government and regional states.

See this graph:
View attachment 363638

Separate from this, when it comes to agricultural production driven by locals and private investors, things are moving forward rapidly through key developments, micro-irrigation and drip systems, solar-powered pumps, and micro-financing.

A growing number of micro-irrigation tech companies and micro-financing institutions (MFIs) are popping up across the country. This is proving to be an incredibly intelligent and cost-effective method to expand production into new areas. It's also an adaptive solution to climate variability.

View attachment 363640
View attachment 363641

View attachment 363642

To answer your question more directly. if Somalia aims to reduce food imports and grow demand for local produce, then the government needs to subsidize farmers and adopt an import-substitution strategy, particularly for staples like wheat and rice. That also means introducing tariffs or other forms of protection on cheap foreign products.

This is what has largely been done in Ogaden, where they managed to boost incomes and reduce prices in the process. Hopefully, Somalia will continue to follow through with the planned projects shown in the graph, especially the import-substitution aspect focused on wheat and rice, agro-processing, as well as critical infrastructure like highways and roads. I’m not entirely sure how much of an obstacle Al-Shabaab poses to these plans, but the direction is clearly laid out.

 

[Idilinaa]

Be thankful for the foreign aid for it is the only reason Somalia has the slightest semblance of governance. Foreign aid is why AS isn't in Villa Somalia at the moment, but when AUSSOM inevitably leave due to lack of funding what will keep the central govt in tact? https://africa.businessinsider.com/...ons-in-crisis-hit-east-african-nation/6t42x79

Most of the gains made by the government was with the help of local militia called Ma'wisley. So foreign aid , foreign involvement isn't whats helping them its actually whats impeding. They will be forced to rely on and seek local legitimacy.

While the SNA is getting spooked by AS, Burundian soldiers are keeping Xamar functional: https://x.com/westtoeastt/status/1935816081425441038

When you're at rock bottom it is easy to make some strides. However Somalia is still one of the poorest countries in the world, if you're not in Xamar good luck trying to live a dignified life.

View attachment 370136

What is interesting is that Ethiopia for all its income prosperity has a huge portion of their population living in poverty with no access to basic needs. They are barely ahead of Somalia.

Somali regions have lower poverty rates than Kenya and Ethiopia, higher income as well and also experience lower levels of inequality. Poverty is mostly concentrated among IDP populations.

This report below is from 2016, and back then both the Northeast and Northwest regions had lower poverty rates than Mogadishu (Xamar). I’m using this because it’s the only one that separates the IDP population from the general population.

This was when the IDP population was smaller, mainly displaced by past conflicts, and the study measured access to education, sanitation, water, food, and similar indicators.

You can also see that the gap between urban and rural poverty is low, but the poverty gap between IDPs and the rest of the population is much higher.

That’s exactly what the study found:

Now, the largest concentration of IDPs is in the southern regions, and the numbers have grown exponentially due to the climate disasters of 2022/23(El-Nino). This has inflated poverty estimates because it’s usually the displaced who are hungry, lack services, and after losing their homes, livelihoods, or income have to rebuild again. It’s not because of a lack of food; markets are full, but they simply can’t afford it, so they rely on aid and government assistance. It's also not because of lack of money in the economy or economic failure. There is billions circulating.

Just to give you some contrast: fast forward to 2022, according to the budget household survey, most Somalis have access to basic services:


Mobile Internet: 89%

Electricity: 60-80%

Clean water: 77-74%. Most being piped into dwellin or aquifer pupped through boreholes

Sanitation: 60-72% Improved toilet facilities.

Literacy: 70% of youth. The youth between the age of 15-30 are 70% of the population.

These figures show the major strides Somalia has made in expanding services across regions, both rural and urban. It also shows development is fairly decentralized, not concentrated only in Mogadishu to the exclusion of other areas.

I could go into the income estimates but we have kinda covered this in another thread that show the average true earning per capita to be somewhere around 4000 based on both rural and urban income reporting's and cost of living estimations. It's made more complicated by the fact a Somali will have multiple streams of income.

Somali's GDP per Capita is false

Does anyone really believe this ? According to these stats the average Somali is poorer than Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, Gambians, Chadians and lives with just 64$ a day which literally any Somali knows is just impossible, let me give a few examples : This video below showcases the average...

www.somalispot.com

 

[Idilinaa]

Its not qabyalad its qabilnimo and its a very great thing that we used to do since centuries

You dont just move from your farm to a big crappy city like Habesha, then live in slums and sell your body because you know no one and cant find a job

Somalis live with their reer and help each others out with the little they got, thats why some random town in the middle of nowhere will look like this

Btw nearly everything was built in a decade or two, during kacaan it was tents or didnt exist
View attachment 370137

Imagine you living in a villa while your brother lives in jiingad, the fact that this ceeb weyn in Somali culture tells everything

Theres also remittances from goxoti somalis which basically revived the Somali economy, and usd currency helped a lot too

You are right some of them didn't even exist or was smaller settlements back during the Kacaan times.

Borama 1983

Borama 2025

Now it even has recreational spaces like amusement parks, highly accredited educational institutions etc. You can backtrack and look at the development and starting point of other towns or cities in Somalia and if you can find past images to contrast it with, it would be similar.


Some places start as villages that grow into towns, and others as towns that grow into cities. Cities like Hargeisa, Jigjiga, and Mogadishu are now evolving into modern metropolitan hubs with high-rise apartments, skyline buildings, large shopping malls, and bustling markets.

What’s unique about Somalia is how decentralized this growth is. Towns, cities, and villages are spread out but well connected something you don’t really see in Ethiopia unless its Galbeed because everything is bottlenecked and concentrated in Addis.

This shows there’s strong market development and wealth accumulation happening because communities aren’t stuck as rural forever and there is expansion happening. Most Somalis about 63% now live in towns and cities, with fewer people remaining as pastoralist's or in rural areas like villages.

 

[LacagChaser]

Macawisely and the other local militias will. Contrary to what you think, SNA and AMISOM aren't the only ones fighting AS, plenty of local clans have been leading the fighting and are quite successful at that. Al-Shabab isn't strong at all, they long since lost the capability to successfully wage large scale invasions. The proof of that was when they invaded Ethiopia back in 2022 but got repulsed by regional Somali forces. At the end of the day they are only a guerilla group capable of hit and run tactics and taking the occasional village or base, they do not have the logistical capabilitiee to take a large city like Mogadishu let along the entire south.

Here is a analysis from one of the most reputable military academies and their take on AMISOM leaving. They concluded that it wouldn't cause any long term major issues.

The Somali National Army Versus al-Shabaab: A Net Assessment - Combating Terrorism Center at West Point

Abstact: An important question for the future of Somalia is if the African Union withdraws the remainder of its forces from the country by December 31, 2024, would the Somali National Army (SNA) or al-Shabaab be stronger militarily? According to a net assessment conducted by the author across...

ctc.westpoint.edu

In Somalia, the ATMIS exit raises legitimate security concerns, but a similarly rapid and complete collapse of the SNA and total victory for al-Shabaab is unlikely. Not only would the SNA retain significant external security assistance from the United States, Turkey, the European Union, UAE, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and other countries, but ATMIS’ departure would undermine a key element of al-Shabaab propaganda. Moreover, the SNA already endured the partial withdrawal of a key security partner when the Trump administration removed most of the roughly 700 U.S. troops from Somalia in December 2020. The impact on the SNA was not positive but nor was it catastrophic"


Most of that food insecurity is only concentrated in the deep south and primarily due to displacement and conflict. Somalia actually has plenty of food and most of the country has little issue feeding itself.

I'll give it a full read later but a quick glance at the conclusions don't seem promising. This report states the Somalia will be more reliant on the US, and unfortunately the report was dated in 2024 before Trumps USAid cut announcement.

Somali regions have lower poverty rates than Kenya and Ethiopia, higher income as well and also experience lower levels of inequality. Poverty is mostly concentrated among IDP populations.

This report below is from 2016, and back then both the Northeast and Northwest regions had lower poverty rates than Mogadishu (Xamar). I’m using this because it’s the only one that separates the IDP population from the general population.
View attachment 370140

View attachment 370147


This was when the IDP population was smaller, mainly displaced by past conflicts, and the study measured access to education, sanitation, water, food, and similar indicators.

You can also see that the gap between urban and rural poverty is low, but the poverty gap between IDPs and the rest of the population is much higher.

That’s exactly what the study found:
View attachment 370148

Now, the largest concentration of IDPs is in the southern regions, and the numbers have grown exponentially due to the climate disasters of 2022/23(El-Nino). This has inflated poverty estimates because it’s usually the displaced who are hungry, lack services, and after losing their homes, livelihoods, or income have to rebuild again. It’s not because of a lack of food; markets are full, but they simply can’t afford it, so they rely on aid and government assistance.

Just to give you some contrast: fast forward to 2023, according to the budget household survey, most Somalis have access to basic services:


Mobile Internet: 89%
View attachment 370145

Electricity: 60-80%
View attachment 370142

Clean water: 77-74%. Most being piped into dwellin or aquifer pupped through boreholes
View attachment 370143

Sanitation: 60-72% Improved toilet facilities.
View attachment 370144

Literacy: 70% of youth. The youth between the age of 15-30 are 70% of the population.
View attachment 370146


These figures show the major strides Somalia has made in expanding services across regions, both rural and urban. It also shows development is fairly decentralized, not concentrated only in Mogadishu to the exclusion of other areas.

I could go into the income estimates but we have kinda covered this in another thread that show the average true earning per capita to be somewhere around 4000 based on both rural and urban income reporting's and cost of living estimations. It's made more complicated by the fact a Somali will have multiple streams of income.

Somali's GDP per Capita is false

Does anyone really believe this ? According to these stats the average Somali is poorer than Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, Gambians, Chadians and lives with just 64$ a day which literally any Somali knows is just impossible, let me give a few examples : This video below showcases the average...

www.somalispot.com

Why are IDPs discarded like a statistical outlier and viewed as irrelevant? They are still Somali and still deserve a livelihood. You had ppl the other day complaining about jingads being an eye sore and cheering on the displacement of those ppl. You're too focused on the vanity and not the miskeens.

Like I said, Somalia is not the worst country in Africa; but why are we content with being above the likes of Niger, Ethiopia, Guinea? Somalia ranks ahead of these countries with regards to standard of living, not exactly the best group to be lumped in with:

The gap between the urban and rural/nomadic population is irrelevant if they are both struggling. The biggest issues seem to be lack of cooking fuel, education and overcrowding. What is interesting is that Somalia seems to be doing well with healthcare, majority of the population can see a medical professional if need be. I did read a medical school in Xamar is an recognized institute in Denmark and can be used when seeking licence.

 

[Zak12]

Somalia will be more reliant on the US

The SNA will yes but luckily they still have multiple partners even if the U.S will be rolling back on aid.

 

[Idilinaa]

Why are IDPs discarded like a statistical outlier and viewed as irrelevant? They are still Somali and still deserve a livelihood. You had ppl the other day complaining about jingads being an eye sore and cheering on the displacement of those ppl. You're too focused on the vanity and not the miskeens.

Like I said, Somalia is not the worst country in Africa; but why are we content with being above the likes of Niger, Ethiopia, Guinea? Somalia ranks ahead of these countries with regards to standard of living, not exactly the best group to be lumped in with:
View attachment 370157

The gap between the urban and rural/nomadic population is irrelevant if they are both struggling. The biggest issues seem to be lack of cooking fuel, education and overcrowding. What is interesting is that Somalia seems to be doing well with healthcare, majority of the population can see a medical professional if need be. I did read a medical school in Xamar is an recognized institute in Denmark and can be used when seeking licence.

View attachment 370159

They are Somali, and I’ve written extensively about what both the regional governments and the private sector are doing to support them and what more can be done. I'm hoping that with the national plan made by the government they are given new employment and proper housing real soon.

But IDPs don’t reflect how the general population lives. Before displacement, they lived under similar conditions as everyone else, so collapsing them into the national statistics creates a misleading picture of Somalia. That’s why I disregard figures that fail to separate them from the general population.

Displacement caused by floods or conflict isn’t the result of Somalia’s economy failing, a lack of service delivery, or a shortage of food or money. The issue is access and that access is disrupted when people are forced to leave their homes.

The data from 2020 shows the gap clearly: nearly all urban residents across Somalia’s regions have access to piped water and electricity, yet these rates are much lower among IDPs..

It also shows that, in both rural and urban areas, IDPs have far less access to services compared to the general population:

I also don't agree with the misuse of MPI. As i have explained before:

It also comes from a misuse of the MPI (Multidimensional Poverty Index). There’s a major difference between being monetarily poor and being multidimensionally poor. You can be earning an income, own assets, and still be marked MPI-poor , just because of how the metrics are structured.

MPI doesn’t look at income. It looks at access to things like piped water, grid electricity, school attendance, and type of housing. So even if you:

- Use a solar panel or private generator

- Get water from a borehole or tanker

- Send your kids to informal school or madrassa

- Or live in a well-built home that's not formally registered or piped into a central system.

you’re still marked down as “poor” in MPI terms.

But here's the kicker, most Somalis do not live in slums or informal housing the way you might find in places like Nairobi or Addis. In fact, Somali towns , even small ones , tend to be well-zoned, orderly, and structurally sound. You can see that from aerial photos. Plots are clearly laid out, most homes are permanent structures made from stone or cement, and there's a visible pattern of organized expansion, not chaotic slum growth.

Talked about it before:


So the idea that Somalis are poor because they lack access to “formal housing” or “infrastructure” doesn't hold up , because the infrastructure is there, it's just privately delivered, not state-managed.

According to the 2023 Household Budget Survey:

60% of Somalis nationwide, and 80% in urban areas, have access to electricity
View attachment 361170

77% have access to clean water
View attachment 361171

Informal education is widespread, especially religious and community-led schools,
Nearly 90% of all primary students and 91.5% of secondary students are in non-governmental institutions.

Somalia | NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION | Education Profiles

education-profiles.org

The high access to health care has to with the expansion of medical services and education by private actors. Barkhadle made a thread on the advancements Somalis made in this regard:

The Progress of Medical Education in Somalia

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390551433_Medical_Education_and_Regulation_in_Somalia In 1966, the first Nursing school was established in Hargeisa. In 1973, the Faculty of Medicine was opened at the Somali National University (SNU) in Mogadishu. The Faculty of Medicine at SNU was the...

www.somalispot.com

This is further proof that Somalia is making major strides in rebuilding its institutions, expanding services, and developing key sectors. We are not content with simply ranking above other African countries the goal is to make major leaps that place us on par with the developed world. Ambitious, transformative development plans are already underway to push progress even further.

 

[Barkhadle1520]

You are right some of them didn't even exist or was smaller settlements back during the Kacaan times.

Borama 1983

Borama 2025
View attachment 370150
View attachment 370151
View attachment 370152

Now it even has recreational spaces like amusement parks, highly accredited educational institutions etc. You can backtrack and look at the development and starting point of other towns or cities in Somalia and if you can find past images to contrast it with, it would be similar.


Some places start as villages that grow into towns, and others as towns that grow into cities. Cities like Hargeisa, Jigjiga, and Mogadishu are now evolving into modern metropolitan hubs with high-rise apartments, skyline buildings, large shopping malls, and bustling markets.

What’s unique about Somalia is how decentralized this growth is. Towns, cities, and villages are spread out but well connected something you don’t really see in Ethiopia unless its Galbeed because everything is bottlenecked and concentrated in Addis.
View attachment 370154

This shows there’s strong market development and wealth accumulation happening because communities aren’t stuck as rural forever and there is expansion happening. Most Somalis about 63% now live in towns and cities, with fewer people remaining as pastoralist's or in rural areas like villages.
View attachment 370153

Theres no way its only 10% nomads left

 

[Barkhadle1520]

I'll give it a full read later but a quick glance at the conclusions don't seem promising. This report states the Somalia will be more reliant on the US, and unfortunately the report was dated in 2024 before Trumps USAid cut announcement.

View attachment 370156

Why are IDPs discarded like a statistical outlier and viewed as irrelevant? They are still Somali and still deserve a livelihood. You had ppl the other day complaining about jingads being an eye sore and cheering on the displacement of those ppl. You're too focused on the vanity and not the miskeens.

Like I said, Somalia is not the worst country in Africa; but why are we content with being above the likes of Niger, Ethiopia, Guinea? Somalia ranks ahead of these countries with regards to standard of living, not exactly the best group to be lumped in with:
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The gap between the urban and rural/nomadic population is irrelevant if they are both struggling. The biggest issues seem to be lack of cooking fuel, education and overcrowding. What is interesting is that Somalia seems to be doing well with healthcare, majority of the population can see a medical professional if need be. I did read a medical school in Xamar is an recognized institute in Denmark and can be used when seeking licence.

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Medical schools r okay but the healthcare sector in general is very bad, not enough doctors or surgeons and overpriced private hospitals in cities

 

[Barkhadle1520]

Most of the gains made by the government was with the help of local militia called Ma'wisley. So foreign aid , foreign involvement isn't whats helping them its actually whats impeding. They will be forced to rely on and seek local legitimacy.




Somali regions have lower poverty rates than Kenya and Ethiopia, higher income as well and also experience lower levels of inequality. Poverty is mostly concentrated among IDP populations.

This report below is from 2016, and back then both the Northeast and Northwest regions had lower poverty rates than Mogadishu (Xamar). I’m using this because it’s the only one that separates the IDP population from the general population.
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This was when the IDP population was smaller, mainly displaced by past conflicts, and the study measured access to education, sanitation, water, food, and similar indicators.

You can also see that the gap between urban and rural poverty is low, but the poverty gap between IDPs and the rest of the population is much higher.

That’s exactly what the study found:
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Now, the largest concentration of IDPs is in the southern regions, and the numbers have grown exponentially due to the climate disasters of 2022/23(El-Nino). This has inflated poverty estimates because it’s usually the displaced who are hungry, lack services, and after losing their homes, livelihoods, or income have to rebuild again. It’s not because of a lack of food; markets are full, but they simply can’t afford it, so they rely on aid and government assistance. It's also not because of lack of money in the economy or economic failure. There is billions circulating.

Just to give you some contrast: fast forward to 2022, according to the budget household survey, most Somalis have access to basic services:


Mobile Internet: 89%
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Electricity: 60-80%
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Clean water: 77-74%. Most being piped into dwellin or aquifer pupped through boreholes
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Sanitation: 60-72% Improved toilet facilities.
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Literacy: 70% of youth. The youth between the age of 15-30 are 70% of the population.
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These figures show the major strides Somalia has made in expanding services across regions, both rural and urban. It also shows development is fairly decentralized, not concentrated only in Mogadishu to the exclusion of other areas.

I could go into the income estimates but we have kinda covered this in another thread that show the average true earning per capita to be somewhere around 4000 based on both rural and urban income reporting's and cost of living estimations. It's made more complicated by the fact a Somali will have multiple streams of income.

Somali's GDP per Capita is false

Does anyone really believe this ? According to these stats the average Somali is poorer than Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, Gambians, Chadians and lives with just 64$ a day which literally any Somali knows is just impossible, let me give a few examples : This video below showcases the average...

www.somalispot.com

Can you send me the source in dm