In Somalia, it is not uncommon for tribal leaders or erstwhile politicians to gain a nickname, bequeathed with undignified speed by a war-weary public. Many are less than complimentary, but sometimes an individual comes along who bucks the trend, because they are given a title rooted in affection rather than contempt.
The honourable Mr Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, president of Waqooyi Bari State, is one such exception – and why is this? Because he is a man who has put the past behind him and, in doing so, gained praise from both supporters and adversaries alike.
Born in 1972, and no stranger to the chaotic, even ruthless nature of Somali politics, Mr Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali managed to achieve high levels of education and maturity, all the while negotiating the pitfalls and dangers of life in his home country. Deeply committed to bringing stability to the people, he was once known by the nickname Firdhiye – he who scatters enemies, but this is all in the past, for with true leadership must also come realpolitik, something Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali knows well.
Everyone has a history in Somalia; the question is, who will have a future, and it is clear that Mr Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali does. He is a man who knows how destructive clan and tribal politics can be and has therefore dedicated his recent political life to supporting the federal Somalia structure, emphasising that regional authorities, such as his state Waqooyi Bari, should remain within a “greater” Somalia.
This has garnered much criticism from some quarters (especially in Somaliland) – yet he remains true to his convictions – being convinced that regional states lack the strength to be independent and therefore must operate within a federal system if prosperity and stability are to be achieved.
Such views have seen him become a unifying figure to many Somalis, eager to bring a more temperate and logical form of leadership to their country. There is still a long way to go, but the new breed of politicians emerging throughout Somalia – including Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali – bodes well for the people and their future.
