The man Somalis deserve for President!

[Timur]

As Somalia's historic post-transition election period rolls forth, a great number of new and old faces come to the surface to woo the parliamentarians and traditional elders who will decide which of them will go on to lead Somalia into its next stage.

 

Among the many faces in the crowd are ex-warlords, resigned politicians, and unfamiliar diaspora figures looking to make their mark in Somalia for the first time. But one man stands out in remarkable fashion among the crowd--Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali.

 

Who is he?

 

Dr. Ali is currently the prime minister of Somalia and the most recent candidate for president. Days before entering Somali office he lived in the United States and worked as a professor of economics at Niagara University in New York.

 

Prior to earning his PhD in Economics from George Mason University, Ali obtained a Master of Economics from Vanderbilt University, then later received a Certificate of Taxation from Harvard Law School, and served as a Joel Leff Fellow of Political Economy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree decades prior from the now-defunct Somali National University. After earning his academic credentials the prime minister served as a research and forecast manager for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

Before his academic and professional trials in the United States, Ali served in various capacities in the Somali government during the regime of Siad Barre, first as Director of the Excise Tax Department of Somalia's Federal Ministry of Finance and Revenue, and later as Assistant Director in the Research and Statistics Department. In his later career in exile, Ali worked in consulting for the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program and currently serves as a member of the American Economic Association, the Southern Economic Association, and the International Atlantic Economic Society.

 

For over a decade prior to his entrance into Somali political office, Dr. Ali was involved in Somali activism in the diaspora, often taking leave from work to travel to Somalia and assume small leadership roles in regional development initiatives.

 

Why Dr. Ali is right for Somalia

 

Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali is by far the most educated and professionally experienced candidate as well as among Somali public figures across the globe. Not only does he bring academic credentials and prior public office experience to the table, but he also has a strong understanding and background with international institutions that will allow him to carefully navigate Somalia through the intimidating world of global geopolitics.

 

Dr. Ali's greatest asset is that is an economist first and a politician second. Somalis are entrepreneurial people and what they need most to thrive is a set of policies and guidelines that allow their natural abilities and mercantile arts to flourish, and the brilliant professor has exactly the curriculum to make it happen.

 

What is most strikingly admirable about Dr. Ali is the way in which he balances his concern and patriotism towards Somalia with his tactful deployment of diplomacy. He is not fooled by a blind nationalism that substitutes genuine love of one's country with a vain brand of patriotism. Somali leaders in the past failed their nation--either in foreign or domestic affairs--because their pride did not allow them to think long-term and of the consequences of their misplaced priorities. Oppositely, Dr. Ali understands Somalia's place in the world and how exactly to maneuver it against greater powers in a way that allows the nation to reap the maximum benefit.

 

One fine example of Dr. Ali's brilliant and necessary pragmatism is his February interview with the Observer newspaper during the London Conference on Somalia. When asked how he would achieve development in Somalia, Dr. Ali stated simply that the only way to bring big dollars to Somalia was to work with Western investors and offer rewards in the form of natural resources for those involved. The statement caused some controversy as the international community has been awkwardly silent about Somalia's resource potential, but the prime minister was spot on. Somalia has a great number of natural treasures that lay idle, but can be used for the benefit a nation in need of urgent stimulus. Dr. Ali's solution to Somalia's development woes is akin to those of any industrialized nation--growth through exploitation--and it is a proven method. Critics of his type of methodology for fixing Somalia's problems are usually in favor of taking aid or loans, two alternative strategies which have only ever caused more problems than they fixed, especially in Africa.

 

A chance to correct the past

 

Somalia has a golden opportunity to fix up and join the rest of the modern world. A wise and learned figure is for the first time in the nation's history putting himself forth as a potential candidate for leadership, and it is an opportunity that Somalis must take advantage of. Referred to by some as the 'CEO of Somalia,' Dr. Ali has the capacity to turn Somalia into a vibrant and flourishing economy. Somalia doesn't need politicos and it doesn't need elders for leaders, it needs a business-minded figure to take the helm. Somalia deserves Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali as its future president.

 

DissidentNation.com

 

http://dissidentnation.com/the-man-somalia-deserves-as-president/

[burahadeer]

I'm not againest him but really impressive certificates don't tell all.Farmajo,ali khalif etc had degrees & experiences.Whether it's BS or PhD ,you can run a country if suited,honest,hardworking & have right people around you.Neither Zanawi nor Museveni have all that credentials & r doing good job.So basically that all don't matter if you not the right person for the job which I'm not saying he isn't.Look at C student George Bush, elected twice in the most powerful nation...yes he did mess up but get elected anyway.

[rudy-Diiriye]

education does not guarantee one to become a good pres...this comes from the mind. This man has no political experience & shouldnt bother this step at all. Hes good in his field but novice in politics. I am sure that he got your attention....probably u is his clan member. Just pointing a typical somali brain default here!!

 

Come on homie, neither Zanawi (rat in the kitchen) or Museveni r good politicians but rather awful dictators! We shall see how they eol drags down some alley in the future. How can one claim to a pres of country for 20yrs and u bestow them with the adj of being a good pres!! It dont happen in normal world dee.

[burahadeer]

most africans r dictators but of what I read they did quite impressive job on economy & development...I'm not saying they saints.

[DoctorKenney]

I believe Dr Abdullahi Baadiyo would be the right choice for Somalia...

 

www.drabdullahi.so I really love his platform and he reminds me of Mohamed Morsi, the new leader of Egypt

[Carafaat]

These are the kind of people Somalia needs. In whatever role or capacity, I am sure he would do

Well as President, Prime-Minister or even Minister of Finance. Hope he stays around.

[Abwaan]

somalianeedsmyuncletolead.com .........come on kids....stop the kitchen table stories and for once be the generation that saves their country; the younger generation that are independent from clan politics.

[Somalia]

Dr. Baadiyo talks funny and has put federalism into question, no support for him!

[NGONGE]

Abwaan;851324 wrote:

somalianeedsmyuncletolead.com ...

......come on kids....stop the kitchen table stories and for once be the generation that saves their country; the younger generation that are independent from clan politics.

Baasto bay kugo waaleen miya? Dee that's the only thing on the menu, saaxib. Stop trying to sell them that "younger generation" rubbish and choose one of the candidates on the menu (it can even be your adeero if you like).