In Somali folklore, there is a tale about the crowning of a sultan or clan chieftain that holds profound lessons for leadership. On the day of the ceremony, the clan’s elders convened in a beautifully arranged gathering. As the council sat down, one elder conspicuously turned his back to the others. Perplexed, the would-be sultan inquired about this unusual behavior. He was told that the elder disapproved of his crowning.

Despite being advised to proceed with the ceremony, as the majority of the council supported his leadership, the aspiring sultan refused. He argued that while the elder’s dissent might seem insignificant now, it could grow into a larger opposition over time, undermining his rule. The sultan insisted on delaying the ceremony until the elder was convinced, a process that took several days but ultimately solidified unity. This story underscores a vital lesson in leadership and governance: the power of persuasion and compromise to build enduring consensus.

Somalia’s decades-long struggles with power and authority starkly contrast with the wisdom of this tale. Since the military took over the rule of law, the country has been dominated by a relentless desire for control, whether over clans, regions, or the entire nation. The erosion of the art of compromise, which was once the cornerstone of Somali traditional law, lies at the heart of the country’s turmoil.

This traditional law, known as the Somali Xeer, governed societal norms and dispute resolutions for generations. It is considered one of the oldest legal systems in the world, with roots so deeply entrenched in Somali culture that its terminology is free of foreign influences. The Xeer is thought to have developed indigenously within the Horn of Africa, predating and rivaling systems such as English common law, Islamic jurisprudence, and Jewish law.

Historically, the Somali people relied on the Xeer to resolve disputes under the shade of a tree, symbolizing transparency and communal consensus. The homogeneity of Somali society—where over 96% of the population shares the same ethnicity, religion, language, and customs—provided a strong foundation for this system.

This unity prevented the intermingling of alien social norms and allowed the Xeer to endure as a uniquely Somali institution. However, in recent decades, this traditional framework has been sidelined, particularly in southern Somalia. Instead, the south has relied on foreign models of governance, resulting in the creation of five semi-autonomous member states that have struggled to reconcile their differences. The north, especially Somaliland, offers a contrasting example of how adherence to traditional values and the Xeer has enabled relative stability and effective governance.

The failure to fully embrace the Xeer has left Somalia mired in division and dysfunction. Compromise, once the bedrock of Somali society, has become elusive among the nation’s politicians. Wise governance demands granting others the same rights and duties one seeks for oneself, yet this principle has been disregarded by federal and regional leaders alike. The federal government’s reliance on alien constitutional frameworks has exacerbated the problem, enabling political actors to manipulate legal structures for personal gain. Somalia’s central government, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, for instance, has pushed through questionable amendments to the provisional constitution, further undermining public trust.

This overreliance on compromised formal institutions has sidelined traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, even as clan warfare continues to destabilize the nation. Elders, or Odayada, once pivotal in mediating disputes, have been marginalized by today’s pseudo-politicians. These leaders, driven by self-interest, have failed to address the underlying clan rivalries fueling Somalia’s instability. As formal institutions crumble under the weight of corruption, many Somalis turn either to extremist groups for justice or back to their clan elders, bypassing the central government altogether.

Clan identity remains central to Somali life, influencing relationships and social dynamics at every level. Yet, this intrinsic aspect of Somali culture has been weaponized by politicians who exploit clan affiliations for personal and political gain. The result is a fractured society, with little trust in the state or its institutions. The country’s political class, entrenched in corruption, has replaced traditional values with a system where money reigns supreme. Bribery has supplanted beads from the colonial era as the currency of exploitation. Foreign powers, leveraging this pervasive corruption, have brokered countless secret agreements with Somali leaders, often to the detriment of the nation.

The absence of accountability has emboldened these politicians, who openly flaunt their ill-gotten wealth. In the past, corrupt individuals were publicly shamed and ostracized. Today, they are celebrated, even as their actions betray the nation. A Somali proverb aptly captures this degradation: Boqortinimo waxaa kaa qaadda gar leexsan, guddoon jilicsan iyo gacan gudhan—“Authority is lost through biased judgment, weak decisions, and stinginess.” Another warns, Nin soori kaa qaadday, waa nin seefi kaa qaadday—“A man corrupted is as dangerous as one armed with a sword.” These timeless aphorisms highlight how far Somalia’s leaders have strayed from the ethical foundations of their culture.

Somalia now stands at a critical juncture. The political class, numbering fewer than ten thousand, controls the nation’s fate. Their actions have led Somalia to the brink of collapse, yet history shows that the Somali people are resilient. The question remains: Will the Somali people rise to hold their leaders accountable, or will they allow this minority to continue dismantling their country?

The answer lies in returning to the drawing board—to the values and systems that once unified the nation. The Xeer offers a blueprint for rebuilding trust and governance rooted in Somali traditions rather than imported frameworks. Foreign consultants, often oblivious to Somalia’s unique dynamics, cannot solve the country’s problems. Instead, solutions must come from within, guided by the wisdom of Somali elders and the principles of the Xeer.

A final Somali proverb encapsulates the current political reality: Qofka uu xaarwalwaal, hogaan unoqdo, isna ma huri waayo, in uu xaarka wax ka cuno—“A person who chooses a dung roller as a leader will inevitably eat dung.” Somali politicians, much like these dung rollers, prioritize their narrow self-interests over the collective good. Like the beetles they resemble, they roll the nation’s problems backward, head down, oblivious to the damage they cause.

It is time for the Somali people to demand better. Accountability must replace apathy, and traditional values must guide the nation’s path. Only by embracing its cultural heritage can Somalia hope to emerge from the shadow of its current political dysfunction and reclaim its place as a unified and resilient nation.