By Dr Yusuf Sheikh Omar
Monday May 9, 2022
By definition,
leadership is the ability to mobilise and connect people’s energy to a leader’s
vision and goals in order to bring about social transformation to a better
condition. This means that leadership is primarily associated with social
changes. Leadership is molded and influenced by three main aspects, which are: 1.
a leader’s personal characteristics, 2. followers’ characteristics, and 3. situation
characteristics. A combination of these three aspects produces the type of leadership
that reflects any given society.
Social norms are ongoing
changes; however, there are smooth and predictable changes in some societies in
contrast to drastic and unpredictable changes in others. Since its independence
in 1960, Somalia has experienced a series of drastic changes such as, a) independence
from colonialism, b) the adoption of a culturally unfamiliar governing system
drawn from colonial legacies, c) a military coup copied from the Soviet
communist system, d) the collapse of the military regime, e) a prolonged civil
war that produced the era of warlordism, f) clan-based 4.5 political formula,
and g) an ideologically driven jihadist war. All these forceful and radical
social changes necessitate the reimagining and examination of the
characteristics of leadership and who is capable to handle and address these
multilayer social alterations. Even though knowing which historical failures
and successes can be used as a torch to see what the future looks like, the
reality is that the leadership style in Aden's Abdulle Osman’s era or General
Siyad’s era do not address Somalia’s accumulated complexities and the chronic
political disease.
This short piece is a
humble attempt to reimagine the leadership characteristics relevant to
Somalia’s unresolved and multifaceted challenges. The article is based on the situational
leadership school of thought. I have been following, with a lot of interest,
Somali people’s discourse, debates and dialogue on leadership, and governance for
the last couple of months through social media, websites, TV, BBC, VOA and so
on. Additionally, I have been clarifying some friends’ perspectives on the
leadership qualities that Somalia deserves. This article has been drawn from
all these accounts. The article consists of 14 major characteristics, which I
hope Somali MPs and Senators will consider when voting for the long-awaited president
on 15th May, 2022.
Characteristic
1: Visionary (Aragtidheer/hiraal). Somalia needs a
leader whose vision can be similar to a bird’s eye view or helicopter's/drone
view. A visionary leader sees the bigger picture and thinks about the long-term
without negligence of the short-term. A visionary leader maps and oversees the
key social needs, similar to a bird's eyes view or helicopter’s/drone view that
hovers over an area to get a bigger picture and capture beautiful and authentic,
landscape images from afar, which our eyes cannot catch.
Characteristic
2: Integrity, sincerity and authenticity (Hufnaan, daacadnimo iyo runnimo/asaalah). Protracted violent
conflicts and corruption are two sides of the same coin. Somalia has suffered
with corrupt and bogus leaders. It is time that our MPs and Senators elect a
leader known for his/her integrity and substance ‒ not a hollow leader. “May the Curse of Allah be
upon the briber and the bribe recipient” (Hadith).
Characteristic
3: A reconciliatory leader (Hogaamiye
dhab-u-heshiineed). Somalia needs the kind of leader who acts as a
doctor by curing a society bruised and battered psychologically and socially by
a prolonged, brutal civil war. A divisive leader who can only see through black
and white lenses, not hybrid and mosaic perspectives, will be unable to remedy and
treat emotional injuries and reconcile social divides. We need a leader who can
be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
Characteristic
4: Well-experienced leader
(Khibro durugsan leh). Somalia faces
extraordinary challenges and, therefore, needs a leader who is up to these
challenges and has extensive and relevant experience locally and globally. A
leader with a sense of curiosity to understand, learn and identify internal and
external challenges that enable him to develop a suitable process of resolving violent
conflicts.
Characteristic
5: A leader with a sense of self-awareness, and self-evaluation (Hogaamiye wacyi u leh, yaqaanana naftiisa). Leadership scholars
confirm the importance of self-knowledge as a quality for successful
leadership. Having such a quality will help him build on his strengths, improve
on his weaknesses, and develop a learning culture. “May Allah be merciful to the one who knows his own limits”. “Tiisa daryeele ayaa tu kalena ku dara” (Somali
proverb). Who cares for himself, can care for others too.
Characteristic
6: A leader with proactive attitudes (Dhanka
wanaagsan wax ka eega). The protracted civil
war has eroded social trust and positivity, replacing them with a negative and
violent culture. The best example is the fadhi-kudirir
phenomena, appalling social media and clan-based websites that promote clan-biased
narratives. Therefore, we need the type
of leader who is able to offer alternative proactive and positive attitudes by
his words, actions and general leadership style. Leadership studies indicate
that 95% of leaders’ influence comes from their actions and not from their empty
words.
Characteristic
7: A Pragmatic yet inspirational leadership (Hogaamiye
waaqici/camali ah islamarkaana yididiilada dhisa). Somalia needs a pragmatic
leader who has the ability to inform the Somali people of the complicated and
multidimensional social and environmental challenges facing the country in
inspirational ways. He must be a leader who understands and believes the
strengths and potentials of the Somali people and also be able to convince and galvanise
them, within the country and abroad, to contribute to the nation and peace
building. Badda ayaan macaan u bedelayaa
waa dhaqanka faashilka hogaamineed (Changing the ocean into honey is the style
of failed leaders).
Characteristic
8: Institutional centered leader (Hogaamiye
dhisitaanka haay’adaha dowladdu u yihiin udub-dhexaad). MPs and Senators
should vote for the leader they if think he is committed for institutional
building and not a personality cult. They should be cautious from phoney, narcissist and
populist candidates who lurk behind the garment of hollow nationalism and are unable
to face social challenges, and articulate their vision in "Fagaaraha" (public debate) in the
presence of all stakeholders, including independent media outlets and ordinary
people.
Characteristic
9: Well-informed in terms of Somali culture, clan-geopolitics and religious transformation (Macluumaad
ku filan ka haysta dhaqanka Soomaaliyeed, siyaasadda beelaysan, iyo is-bedelka fikirka
diineed ee ka jira Somalia). This means having a culturally sensitive
leader with sounding knowledge of the changes of Islamic thoughts/interpretations
in a Somalia context, for the last 50 years. Somalia is a country with multiple
challenges including the misconception of Islam practiced by jihadists and
perhaps some non-jihadist groups. Such a quality will assist the leader to
understand how to engage with clan-geopolitics and the armed & non-armed
extremist groups through dialogue and negotiation. The status quo is
unbearable.
Characteristic
10: Tolerant and open-minded leader (Hogaamiye
maskax-furan, dulqaadna leh). The prolonged violent conflict
has eroded social tolerance, acceptance and harmony turning Somalia into a
fractured, unhealthy society in terms of thoughts, social relations and
territorial integrity. Thus, it is paramount to have a leader who can read,
sense and tolerate all these difficulties and work hard to help them develop
culture of harmony, tolerance, acceptance and respect of different views
through national constructive dialogue
and critical thinking approach.
Characteristic
11: A representative leader of societal conscience (Hogaamiye
matali kara shucuurka dadka Soomaaliyeed). Despite political
fragmentations and cracks in society, Somalis have demonstrated a resilient
society that holds a shared future aspiration, and unbroken spirit. Therefore,
it is timely and important to elect a leader who is conscious of societal
yearning and dreams; a leader who is able to move society forward in order for
its people to realize their aspirations and pass current crossroads peacefully.
Characteristic
12: An articulate leader of his policies (Hogaamiye
qeexi kara qorshahiisa siyaasadeed). Somalis are an oral
society and deeply impacted by verbal language. Therefore, the ‘will-be president’
must be articulate and able to clearly explain his policies and practices. He
must have the ability to communicate directly to Somali society and respond to
their questions and concerns. Hiding behind the walls of the presidency palace
is an acute weakness.
Characteristic
13: Clear economic plan
(Qorshe dhaqaale oo qeexan).
Notwithstanding, Somalia being rich in terms of its natural resources, Somalis are
an extremely impoverished society. Therefore, it is cardinal to elect a leader
with a clear economic and development plan e.g. creating education, skills and
employment opportunities in partnership with businesses and friendly
international partners.
Characteristic
14: Collaboration and team building skills (Dhaqan-wada-shaqayn,
mucaamalo wanaagsan iyo dad isku-wad). No one can achieve alone. Leaders’
success depends on their capacity to network, collaborate, build useful teams
and delegate tasks. Without an exaggeration, such a quality was rare in Somalia
leaders over the last 22 years. We need a new breed of leadership capable of
working with their friends and foes for the sake of nation and peacebuilding.
The ‘will-be president’
of Somalia on May 15th 2022 may not personally possess all the 14 qualities
explained above, but all these qualities can be present by surrounding himself
with competent people of different professional backgrounds, who can ensure the
job is done, but ultimately the leader will harvest the fruit.
By Dr. Yusuf Sheikh Omar (Yididiilo)
Research Associate, SOAS University of London
Twitter: @yyididiilo