We are desperately in need of leadership

Transition is a process in life that one must accept in order to remain sane in an ever fast developing world and politicians shouldn't be any less difference. I've tried to distance myself from the fast pace of the political world and was focused more in the social aspects but then again, how can you remain quiet in decisions that'll impact me and my family for years to come?

As a society, we witness major developments every season and this is evident in how Somalis are now practicing democracy through the media and not through the barrel of the gun as initially widely proclaimed. Prime cases are everywhere for one to see; Journalists, when unfairly targeted by the state, practice their rights through the media with professionalism. When a journalist is attacked, the clan does not speak rather it is his or her fellow professionals that provide the platforms to seek justice. Long gone are the days where citizens would mobilize through a clan and we should approach this change in open arms.

Elections is looming (8 months upon writing this) and yet the arguments remain silent, if not, behind closed doors and away from everybody, a far cry from the democracy we had learnt from the current head of state, our President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who was a highly media friendly critic only 3 and half years ago.

In 2015 up until late 2016, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo was a prime example of reform, a determined leader with a fragrance of democracy way ahead of his rivals. Our now president had a tendency to remind us to speak up for what is right through media interviews and his actions instilled on us braveness and to speak against behaviours that could potentially disunite our communities.

We all celebrated his victory; all together and the checkpoints of distrust within us had cleared overnight.

So much was promised and the dream of 3 and half years ago was to see ourselves in lines, casting our ballots and brightly emerging from the booths with our fingers tainted in ink, proving and waving to the international media that we are a democratic nation.

Power is brutal but absolute power is mayhem waiting to happen.

We should see an interesting 8 months ahead and either way, I don't believe Somalis want to go back to taking arms but rather continue with practicing their rights in democratic fashion. The eye's will be on those in power and whether they'd abide the trust instilled in them and fulfill our young nation's dream for democracy or jeopardize our future for personal agendas.

I think I speak for many young dreams when I continue to reassure myself that the state is indeed bigger than the individual; We believe in the state and not the person.

For some other few, the individual is ahead of the State.

Very interesting times ahead.

Mohamed Hassan - @MoHassan_ppg