1 Somalia, 2 Somalia...

...3 Somalia, 4, 5 Somalia, 6 Somalia, 7 Somalia, more. This could very easily and heartbreakingly replace the well-known children’s nursery rhyme.

I don’t want to think of 5 Somalia, 6 Somalia or 7 Somalia because of its assets.  Somalia has a long coastal fronting the Indian Ocean and access to the Red Sea.  Is that the only defining feature?

I don’t want to see Somalia as a pearl necklace that could be torn apart if other countries would like to take a piece each. I would like to see Somalia as a jewel every country would like to preserve.

There are many opportunities for the international community to invest in Somalia. If they have the political power and good intention to save Somalia, they must take it from the relief stage and transfer it to recovery and development.

I recognise that humanitarian organisations cannot do it alone – they need to partner with governments. I want the international community to invest in the Somali Diaspora. I want the international community’s unconditional support to the Somali Diaspora. In my view, if we unite the Diaspora, we can unite Somalia.