I want to make something clear. This has nothing to do with Somaliland and the deal they made with Ethiopia; but everything to do with Somalia, as a corrupt country.

It’s heartbreaking to hear “Somaliland Deal to Grant Ethiopia Red Sea Access”. I’ve always wanted to go back to my homeland someday, but just found out Somaliland made a deal with Ethiopia!!!!!

What's killing us as Somalis, being silent. We "believe" one person can't make a difference but you are mistaken. One person can. You are one. I am one. When we come together, we become a "collective", so we unite as one. We speak as one. 

If you are like me, you’ve heard amazing stories from friends and family about Somali. How it was before the civil war and if you’re like me, you’ve envisioned going back to see that Somali; not the one that’s being run by old, uneducated men! It’s heartbreaking to leave a country so rich in culture, people, religion…etc. If you are like me, I want to go back to that Somali. Here’s what we must do.

We need to get our act together. We need to unite as a country and become one again! We need to be Somali strong, or our country will be taken piece by piece. We need to speak as one and vote as one. When we unite as one, our voices will be heard. When we speak as one, we can vote for the best people to lead us. We need to STOP with clannism. Our clan leaders are being bought by the highest bidder! But if we vote as one, we can get our country back and make it better. So, what do you say? Are you in?

Somalis needs to voice their opinions and vote…my opinions don’t matter but here what I think we Somalis need.

We need to strengthen our democratic institutions. Here are some specific steps that we Somalis need to consider achieving our goal:

1. Constitutional Reforms:
   Undertake a thorough review of the constitution to ensure it reflects the values of democracy and protects citizens' rights.
   Involve citizens, legal experts, and civil society in the constitutional reform process.
2. Independent Electoral Commission:
   Establish an independent and impartial electoral commission responsible for organizing and overseeing elections.
   Ensure transparency in the appointment of commission members and provide them with adequate resources.
3. Voter Education and Registration:
   Conduct extensive voter education programs to inform citizens about their rights and the importance of participating in the democratic process.
   Implement modern and transparent voter registration systems to enhance accuracy and prevent fraud.
4. Political Party Regulations:
   Develop clear regulations for the formation and functioning of political parties.
   Monitor and enforce compliance with these regulations to ensure fair competition and representation.
5. Anti-Corruption Measures:
   Implement and enforce robust anti-corruption measures to enhance transparency and accountability.
   Establish an independent anti-corruption commission with the power to investigate and prosecute cases.
6. Judicial Independence:
   Strengthen the independence of the judiciary to ensure impartial adjudication of electoral disputes.
   Provide judges with proper training and resources to uphold the rule of law.
7. Civil Society Engagement:
   Foster an environment where civil society organizations can operate freely and actively participate in monitoring and advocating for democratic principles.
   Encourage collaboration between the government and civil society in shaping policies.
8. Media Freedom:
   Safeguard freedom of the press and ensure that media outlets can operate without fear of censorship.
   Promote responsible journalism and fact-based reporting to inform the public.
9. International Collaboration:
   Seek technical assistance and guidance from international organizations experienced in democratic governance.
   Collaborate with democratic nations, including the United States, for capacity building and best practice sharing.
10. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement:
    Establish mechanisms for regular evaluation of democratic processes and institutions.Be open to adapting and improving systems based on lessons learned from each electoral cycle.

By focusing on these measures, we Somalis can take significant steps towards strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring free and fair elections, and promoting transparency and accountability in a manner that aligns with democratic principles observed in countries like the United States.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION!