JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — After saying he would cut down on immigration from “third world countries” following a deadly attack on two National Guard members by an Afghan national, President Trump this week directed harsh words at people from Somalia, calling them “garbage.”
He told Somali Americans to “go back” to the Horn of Africa nation and “fix it,” calling Somalia “hell.”
Somalia has endured decades of clan-based conflict and is fighting the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab. The country collapsed into anarchy after the overthrow of President Siad Barre’s military regime in 1991; in the decades since, millions of Somalis have fled, including many who settled in the U.S.
Somalia-born Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, called Trump’s remarks “vile,” noting that Somali Americans make significant contributions to the United States and “are working to make our country better.”
People in Somalia also rejected the comments, saying they too work to improve their country amid danger, poverty and mismanagement.
Civil society filling gaps left by the State
Dr. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan, a dentist who established Somalia’s only free ambulance service in Mogadishu, said Trump’s comments showed a lack of understanding about Somalis.
“In every nation there is some bad people, in every nation, but not all of them. Somalis, I do believe there are very good people, in generosity, helping others,” he told NPR.
Adan and his team risk their lives responding to attacks, often arriving minutes after blasts and facing the possibility of secondary detonations. “If we don’t go to do it, who’s going to do it? We go, we do, because every life has an equal value … no one should be left to die just because helping them is not safe,” he said.
“Somali people never give up”
Other Somali-led initiatives include the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, led by Nobel Peace Prize nominee Ilwad Elman, which runs the country’s first rape crisis center, rehabilitates youths forced into militias, and offers educational and trauma-recovery programs, including ocean therapy for children.
Abdiaziz Kediye started Somalia’s first amputee soccer team for players who lost legs in the conflict, providing rehabilitation through sport. Female journalists at Bilan Media operate a women-only newsroom that challenges stereotypes and holds power to account.
“We have many positive things happening in Somalia. Our young people are starting new businesses, using technology, and also making art and music. Somali women are becoming leaders,” said Farhia Mohamed Hussein, a reporter at Bilan. “We have a strong culture, full of hospitality, we have some challenges but people continue building … Somali people never give up.”
” We’re really talking about a Somali population, both in Somalia and the diaspora that has made huge contributions to their communities,” said Ahmed Soliman, a Horn of Africa researcher at Chatham House.
U.S.–Somalia ties strong, despite rhetoric
Despite the rhetoric, the U.S. government continues to support Somalia. “The U.S. has been engaged in Somalia for decades, they are an important bilateral partner, an important partner in helping the Somali federal government to stabilize its security against the Islamist insurgency al-Shabab,” Soliman said.
U.S. forces have trained the Somali army and regularly conduct drone strikes against al-Shabab targets. Since the Trump administration took office, strike rates have risen considerably, according to the liberal think tank New America, which cited U.S. Africa Command data.
Ilham Ali Gassar, a Somali representative in the East African Legislative Assembly and an expert in governance and peace-building, said statements that demean Somalia or its people are “deeply hurtful.” Still, she added, “for decades our two nations have worked together … That deep partnership is far bigger than any single political movement or individual.”
Abdirahman Hussein contributed reporting from Mogadishu.