OP-ED: Why the Somali Diaspora Should Keep Faith in Somalia’s Future

Yasin Hassan Yusuf, Director of Corporate Affairs, Hormuud Telecom

Somalia has endured its share of challenges, and yet the story of our country today is one of resilience, innovation, and opportunity. As we gather across the globe, particularly at forums like the Somali Diaspora Conference in Doha, one message is clear: now is not the time to quit on Somalia

The challenges are real and measurable. Overall unemployment hovers around 20 percent while youth unemployment exceeds 30 percent, a pressing constraint on long-term stability. Nearly 70 percent of Somalis live below the international poverty line, and illiteracy remains high, with half of adults unable to read and write. Only a third of school-age children are enrolled in formal education. These numbers are more than statistics; they represent untapped talent and delayed potential

Yet despite these hurdles, Somalia is not waiting for change to come solely from the government. The private sector has stepped in, driving solutions that keep the country connected, productive, and moving forward. Companies like Hormuud Telecom and Salaam Somali Bank are redefining what it means to build a nation amid adversity

Hormuud is far more than a telecom operator. We are among the country’s largest job creators, employing tens of thousands across technology, logistics, energy, and services. Through mobile money platforms such as EVC Plus, we are providing financial inclusion at scale, enabling entrepreneurs, traders, and households to transact, save, and survive economic shocks

Salaam Somali Bank, through Sharia-compliant financing, has unlocked capital for small businesses that traditional systems never reached financing shops, farms, transport services, and startups that now form the backbone of local economies

Beyond profit, Somali companies are institutionalizing social purpose. The Hormuud Salaam Foundation supports education, scholarships, healthcare, and emergency response. Investments in human capital are measured in lives improved, not just balance sheets. These initiatives directly tackle unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy through systems, not charity

Somalia’s recovery is visible and accelerating. Business formation is rising, confidence is returning, and real estate is booming across Mogadishu and regional capitals, fueled by both diaspora and domestic investment. Exports, especially livestock, are rebounding strongly, with Somalia on track to export over one billion US dollars worth of livestock to GCC countries this year

Our country’s journey embodies a Stoic principle articulated by Marcus Aurelius. The impediment to action advances action; what stands in the way becomes the way

In Somalia, we have turned weakness into innovation, scarcity into efficiency, and crisis into cooperation. We focus on what we can control, building systems of finance, communication, education, and healthcare from scratch

So to the Somali diaspora and to anyone invested in Somalia’s future, my message is simple: do not give up on this country, not no, not ever. Visit Somalia. Build something. Partner with its businesses. Support its social foundations. You don’t need to solve everything; even contributing something meaningful matters

Somalia’s story is no longer solely about survival. It is about direction, dignity, and determination. And now more than ever, it is a story the diaspora can shape through investment partnership and belief in a brighter future.

By Yasin Hassan Yusuf, Director of Corporate Affairs, Hormuud Telecom