It is normal to see this in Somalia. The very person you see opposing something today is often the same person endorsing it tomorrow. The only difference is time. The influence has changed and so has their position. Too many people no longer seem to hold on to their principles. Sometimes I even ask myself: is there anyone left in politics in Somalia who truly stands by their morals?
Elsewhere in the world, however, we still see people who remain true to what they believe. Take Mamdani, the young Muslim who stood against billionaires and earned the support of ordinary people. His words echoed in people’s hearts more than the money and influence of those who tried to defeat him in New York. People supported him because they believed in his message, not because of who stood behind him.
Now compare that with Somalia. Those who genuinely want to build a better system are often pushed aside, while cartels occupy the key decision-making positions. The same people continue to recycle themselves into power. There is a Somali proverb that says, “Shinbirba shinbirkiisa ayuu la duulaa”, roughly translated as “birds of a feather flock together.” People with the same interests protect one another. They bring their own garbage into politics because they have become part of the garbage themselves.
Meanwhile, those with integrity and the ability to deliver are kept out of politics not because they do not want to serve, but because the system simply does not want them. They refuse to be obedient to corruption. Their loyalty is to the Constitution and the rule of law, not to the individual who gives them power. In Somalia’s politics, many public offices operate as if they were private companies. Your job is not to uphold the Constitution but to satisfy the person who appointed you.
Why are people losing their principles? Why are they abandoning their positions? Why are they selling their values? I don’t think it is just because they are poor or because they need money. The deeper problem is that, as a society, we have lost the meaning of ethics. We did not learn it properly in our schools, and our universities have not really taught it either.
Look at Japan. You cannot easily convince a Japanese person to throw trash onto the street, not because they fear punishment from the government, but because they believe it is morally wrong. It would not even cross their mind to litter. That is the kind of culture we need to build in Somalia. We need principles rooted so deeply in our hearts that they cannot be bought by money, power, or position.
So who needs to change, and why? The answer is simple: all of us. Our future depends on it.
The few people who still have ethics often choose to stay away from politics because they see it as dirty. Instead, they criticize it from social media and from the sidelines. But in the end, they are the ones who suffer the consequences the most. Good people cannot continue to leave politics to those who have no principles. Even if they are few, they can still build a team of like-minded people. Every movement starts small. Every meaningful change begins with a handful of people who refuse to compromise their values.
Never wait for change to happen around you. Be part of the change. Politics will never change by itself. If good people continue to watch from the sidelines, they should not be surprised when bad politics continues to shape their future. Every position left empty by a principled person creates space for someone with zero principles.