Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – According to some Somali citizens, the last four (4) years of President Hassan Sheikh’s leadership were four wasted years.
There should have been government-led development, but instead, there were government problems unlike anything seen before in Somalia’s history.
Government development refers to the level of progress and improvement made by a government across all services and institutions essential to society, aiming to achieve a better life, stability, and a sustainable future.
Key features of development include:
Good Governance: Transparency, accountability, fighting corruption at all levels, and upholding the rule of law.
Quality Social Services: Access to education, reliable healthcare, electricity, and consistent public services.
Security and Order: Functional police and army, ensuring safety for citizens and businesses.
Economic Development: Job creation, infrastructure development (roads, ports, airports), and support for business and investment.
Justice and an Independent Judiciary: Functional courts, punishment for criminals, and protection for victims.
Civic Participation: Free and fair elections, allowing people to vote and engage in governance.
A Society Governed by Its Own Government: Ensuring the nation’s institutions serve the people effectively.
These were the goals Somalia should have achieved. Instead, under Hassan Sheikh, the country faced the following issues, which will define his legacy after 65 years:
Organized civil strife.
Severed national unity.
Serious harm to the cohesion of the Somali nation.
Unjustified attacks, such as those in Ra’s-Kambooni and Balad-Hawo.
Displacement and targeting of specific groups.
Inter-tribal conflicts, including cases as extreme as burning a person alive.
Mass displacement, including students.
Abuse of power.
Low revenue collection.
Disbandment of the National Army.
Government agencies competing against each other.
Absence of effective governance: During Hassan Sheikh’s four years, the country was led by stagnation and incompetence, contributing to all existing problems.
Disappearance of checks and balances within the government.
Division of Somali citizens into three categories by Hassan Sheikh:
A) Those who cry.
B) Those who curse.
C) Those left destitute on the streets.
The legacy of Hassan Sheikh’s government ended in issues unseen in the past 65 years, including hatred, abuse of power, displacement, unrest, and the enrichment of a few families at the expense of the people they swore to serve.
During his four years in office, every letter in the dictionary of wrongdoing was applied, and anything that attracted the leader’s attention was exploited.