Qabiil is Ruining Somalia
Troubles of Qabilism
Somalia is a nation blessed with one language, one religion, and one culture. In theory, we should be among the most united peoples in Africa. Yet our land is soaked in blood, our politics are paralyzed, and our society is divided into fragments. The cause of this destruction is not a lack of resources or intelligence, but the disease of qabiil — the tribalism that has poisoned the heart of our nation.
For more than thirty years, Somalia has been torn apart by civil war, warlordism, and political fragmentation. The collapse of the central government in 1991 did not lead to freedom, but to chaos, as warlords carved the nation into fiefdoms, each justified by clan identity. Instead of building a united Somali Republic, leaders armed their clans, looted the public treasury, and dragged the nation into endless cycles of revenge killings. Entire neighborhoods of Mogadishu were destroyed not because of ideology or principle, but because one clan sought dominance over another. Families who had lived side by side for generations became enemies overnight, driven by the poisonous belief that clan blood was more important than the bond of nationhood.
This same sickness continues to paralyze our politics today. Somalia’s so-called democracy is not based on one person, one vote, but on the infamous 4.5 formula, a system that divides power among the four major clan families, with minority groups receiving half a share. This formula is not democracy; it is legalized tribalism. It tells Somalis that their voice in government is determined not by merit, vision, or competence, but by the accident of birth. Parliamentarians are not chosen to represent the people, but to secure quotas for their clans. Presidents are not judged by their programs, but by their bloodline. Ministries and contracts are divided like spoils of war, each clan demanding its “share.” The result is corruption, inefficiency, and endless quarrels. A system built on clan balance will never deliver justice because its foundation is injustice.
Qabiil has also destroyed our security. Every militia claims to defend its clan, yet in reality it oppresses the poor, taxes the roads, and fuels the cycle of revenge. In Galmudug, disputes between rival clans have repeatedly escalated into bloodshed, with entire villages displaced and dozens of lives lost in a single week. In Jubaland, rivalries between local militias have sparked clashes that cripple trade routes and force families to flee. In Mogadishu, militias claiming to protect clan dignity have extorted businesses, assassinated rivals, and blocked any chance of peace. This environment has allowed extremist groups to exploit divisions, presenting themselves as alternatives to corrupt clan politics, while ordinary Somalis are crushed between tribalism and extremism.
The damage goes beyond politics and war; qabiil poisons society itself. How many marriages have been forbidden because of clan prejudice? How many young people have been denied jobs or promotions because they were born into the “wrong” lineage? In the sprawling IDP camps outside Mogadishu, families already suffering from hunger and displacement are further discriminated against because they belong to marginalized clans. In the workplace, a talented young graduate can watch his opportunities disappear simply because a job is handed to someone else who carries the “right” clan name. This is not just corruption of government but corruption of the very fabric of community and family life.
Qabiil is the greatest obstacle to our unity, justice, and independence. A nation divided by clan cannot build a strong army, cannot establish a fair government, and cannot resist foreign exploitation. The proof is before our eyes: after decades of war, every clan has suffered, every region has bled, and none have gained true security. Even those who once thought their clan would “win” the civil war now live in the same poverty and fear as everyone else. Tribalism has left us all humiliated.
Consider the state of our politics today. Every election cycle is less about policies and vision, and more about which clan gets which post. When a new president is elected, ministries are divided not according to merit but according to tribal bargaining. Public funds are drained to reward supporters and appease rival groups. Roads remain unpaved, hospitals remain empty, schools remain broken, but the elite celebrate that their “clan’s share” is secured. This is not governance; it is organized theft wrapped in the flag of tribalism.
The economic cost of qabiil is devastating. Instead of uniting to harness Somalia’s natural wealth — from livestock to fisheries to ports — clans compete to control resources for themselves. In places like Kismayo, port revenues have become a prize for competing factions, with profits pocketed by leaders instead of invested in the people. In central Somalia, fertile farmland that could feed the nation is left barren or fought over by rival militias. Every shilling stolen in the name of clan is a meal taken from a hungry child. Every resource diverted by tribalism is another step deeper into poverty and dependency.
And yet, the most tragic effect of qabiil is psychological. It has made Somalis believe that their worth is defined by their clan, not by their character. Children grow up being told which clans are “enemies” and which are “friends.” Young men are pressured to fight for their lineage rather than for their country. Women are denied the chance to marry the person they love because of outdated prejudices about bloodlines. Even in the diaspora, where Somalis live in wealthy nations with opportunities to rise, clan divisions are imported and carried like a curse. This is how deeply the disease of tribalism has infected us.
The way forward is not easy, but it is clear. Somalia must reject clan as the basis of politics and life. Leadership must be chosen by justice, competence, and integrity, not by bloodline. Resources must be distributed according to need and fairness, not clan quota. Our youth must be taught that their worth lies in their actions, their honesty, and their vision for Somalia, not in the name of their grandfather. Our political system must abandon the 4.5 formula and embrace a true system of representation, where every Somali has an equal voice regardless of clan.
We cannot allow ourselves to be deceived any longer. Qabiil has failed us. Warlords have failed us. Corrupt leaders have failed us. Dependency has failed us. Only by breaking free from the chains of tribalism can Somalia rise again.
The Somali people deserve better than qabiil. We deserve a system that unites, not divides; a system that uplifts, not oppresses. Clan politics has failed us for more than three decades. It has given us nothing but bloodshed, poverty, and humiliation. The only path forward is to build a state based on justice and unity, and to finally bury the disease of qabiil that has ruined our nation.
This is Barwaaqo’s call: Somalia must rise above tribalism, or we will never rise at all.
