u/MurkyLevel8420

Listen, I’m not here to complain, and I’m not here to criticize the government, but there are a lot of opportunities, and I’ve kept saying this over and over. I’ve been talking to a lot of people, reflecting, and researching this because one thing is really hard for me to accept: the government needs to hold itself accountable. There is a lot of wealthy diaspora, doctors, lawyers, business people, middle-class people, and diaspora from all different levels who would love to contribute to their country, Somaliland. But what most people do, because they feel obligated, is send money directly to their relatives. I talked about this a couple months ago: suppose the government opened an investment fund for the diaspora, and because people are patriotic and want to help, $50 million is raised within two months. What happens if there is no transparency, no auditing, and suddenly that $50 million disappears? I’m not saying this happened—this is completely hypothetical—but this is the concern I heard from people while I was in Somaliland. I was walking around, talking to locals and business people, asking genuine questions and doing it respectfully because I didn’t want to come in too strong. And that’s what makes this heartbreaking, especially now when the cost of living is skyrocketing and even bread is getting more expensive. I would genuinely love to donate $400,000 of my own money to my country. When I introduced myself in this subreddit back in May, I said I was a businessman, and I’m still a businessman today. If you scroll through this subreddit from May through late August, you’ll see all the posts I made and everything I was talking about. Coming from Somaliland gave me a completely new perspective on life, but at the same time, where can I donate my money and actually track it? What is going to be done with it? I really want to help our people, but this is exactly what I mean when I say the government needs to hold itself accountable. There are diaspora out there willing to give whatever they can—$5, $20, $100, or much more. I’m personally willing to put up $400,000, but I’m terrified that my money could end up being used to buy land or build another five-star hotel, because that seems to be what’s trending right now—everybody building hotels, with a bunch of copycats. And honestly, that is heartbreaking when there are so many other needs in Somaliland.

When I was in Somaliland a couple of months ago, I saw the reality firsthand, so I already knew how difficult things were. But seeing that even rooti (bread) is now being affected by inflation is honestly heartbreaking.

Politics is politics, and politicians are politicians. But at the end of the day, leadership also means looking after the people. Our current administration is working hard on recognition and doing what it believes it needs to do, even with all the criticism and accusations coming from Zoomalia folks . But while pursuing recognition externally, they cannot lose sight of what is happening internally. Ordinary people are struggling, and the cost of basic necessities keeps rising.

This video genuinely hurt to watch because I was there, I saw it, and I can feel what people are going through. Recognition matters, but so does the everyday life of the people living there.

Hey guys, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you. I’m going to be posting very soon! I just got my MacBook fixed, and if you check my recent post, which is titled [Somaliland Has Opportunities — We Just Need to Start Looking for Them ], you’ll understand where that idea came from. It literally came to me in the moment, and I felt like sharing it with you guys because I genuinely think it’s something that is needed in Somaliland, and if you know what you’re doing and find the right people, there is potential to generate enormous income from it. But don’t worry, I’ll be posting very soon. I’m just grateful that my MacBook is finally working again. They had to reset everything, so unfortunately I lost everything that was on it, but thankfully I had backups. Right now I’m just restructuring, organizing everything, and getting back on track. I’ll be posting very soon!

There are so many opportunities in Somaliland, especially for people in the diaspora who are willing to actually invest their time and skills. One idea I’ve seriously started thinking about is opening a small computer and electronics repair shop—helping people with MacBooks, Windows laptops, phones, and other devices that can be difficult or expensive to repair locally. I could potentially bring equipment and parts from the United States through luggage, work with friends and travelers, or find other ways to get the supplies there. I’m not saying Somaliland is perfect, and please don’t take this as an attack on the country. I love Somaliland, I had an amazing experience being there, and I can’t wait to return once I get my own priorities in order. But after spending a couple of months there and writing more than 20 posts about everything from land hoarding and inflated rents to infrastructure and everyday life, I’ve realized that we have to be honest about both sides. There is tremendous potential, but there are also basic things that need improvement, including civic responsibility and public awareness.

I’m not interested in pretending everything is great or everything is terrible—I want to show the reality as I see it. It’s a roller coaster: there are incredible opportunities and moments of frustration happening at the same time. I recently had to get my MacBook repaired, and I was grateful that I could take it somewhere with proper Apple support where I live. That experience made me think: why shouldn’t Somaliland eventually have services like that too? I would genuinely be willing to invest my own money and time into learning the skills needed to provide that kind of service. The opportunity is there. The question is whether we are willing to recognize it and actually build something.

First and foremost in life, you have to know your limits. By that I mean you need to understand what you’re good at, what you’re not good at, and where you need to educate yourself. There is absolutely nothing wrong with self-education. A lot of the person I am today came from being willing to put in the work and teach myself, because school is never going to teach you everything. That is why I especially encourage people living in Somalia, whether in Mogadishu or the federal states, to educate themselves and look beyond whatever information they are simply given. I have nothing against ordinary Somali people personally, and I’m not someone who goes around attacking people. In fact, you won’t even find me posting on the Somalia subreddit; I mostly respond to people respectfully when I can add context or educate someone on a topic, because context matters. What frustrates me is ignorance when information is literally everywhere. If you have a phone, a laptop, internet access, a roof over your head, and some form of income, there is really no excuse for deliberately refusing to learn. I understand that reality can be uncomfortable, especially when it challenges something you strongly believe in, but reality is still reality. Somalia may legally and internationally be treated as one country, but the situation on the ground is far more complicated, and pretending otherwise does not change that. For my fellow Somalilanders in the diaspora, I genuinely think we need to stop wasting our time and energy arguing with people who have already decided they don’t want to acknowledge that complexity. Not everyone is ignorant, obviously, but some people deliberately choose not to engage with reality, and you cannot force someone to learn.

At the same time, appreciate what you have. No matter where you come from, and especially if you are part of the diaspora, don’t take your opportunities, safety, education, or freedom for granted. And with the current uncertainty surrounding Somalia’s E-visa system and the possibility of changes to how people travel to Somaliland, I think everyone who is politically active or creates content online should keep their awareness high. I personally try to be careful with what I say and make my videos as neutral and factual as possible because you never know how something can be interpreted, taken out of context, or who might be paying attention. I also don’t know what my own life will look like five years from now. Maybe I’ll be invited somewhere, maybe I’ll be doing something completely different—only Allah knows. That’s exactly why I believe you should always think ahead. Right now, for example, my normal route is Minnesota → Washington Dulles → Ethiopia → Hargeisa. If the proposed routing through Mogadishu ever became a reality, the journey could instead look like Minnesota → Washington Dulles → Ethiopia → Mogadishu → Hargeisa, with another layover before reaching Somaliland. I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen, but until we know what the future holds, stay informed, stay respectful, appreciate what you have, and most importantly, stay aware. The fact that people are sharing my posts and engaging with my content is something I’m genuinely grateful for, but I also understand that visibility comes with responsibility. You never know who is watching, what profile is being built around you, or how your words could be interpreted later. Awareness is not paranoia—it is simply being prepared.

I’m going to start posting consistently on this Reddit because there are a lot of things I want to share and contribute. My MacBook is currently being fixed after a glitch during an upgrade, so I apologize for the delay, but I’ll be back to posting regularly. One thing I came across today caught my attention: there are reports that Somalia Airlines could officially return this month, September 2026. While this is primarily about Somalia, there is one part that directly concerns Somaliland and the diaspora. Right now, someone flying from Minnesota, for example, might travel to Washington Dulles, then connect through Ethiopia before flying directly to Hargeisa. There are now reports of a proposal to change that route so diaspora travelers would instead fly through Mogadishu before being transferred to Somaliland. If that is actually being proposed, I completely reject it. I have nothing against Somalia or Somali people personally, but history, politics, and reality matter. Somaliland has its own political reality, and I support the current Somaliland administration’s efforts to gain international recognition. So I hope this remains just a proposal or a misunderstanding and does not become an actual requirement for people traveling to Somaliland.

I watched a video about this today from someone who follows these issues closely, and while I don’t agree with everything he says, I think the information is worth discussing. My biggest concern is simple: why change a route that already works? My own journey to Somaliland was Minnesota → Washington Dulles → Ethiopia → Hargeisa, and it worked perfectly fine. I would much rather see direct international connections to Hargeisa expand than have Somaliland travelers routed through Mogadishu first. Whatever happens politically between Somalia and Somaliland, forcing travelers through one capital before reaching another territory is not something I would support. Again, this is based on reports I came across today, not confirmation that this will actually happen. I sincerely hope it doesn’t.

It’s been a while since I posted, and I want to talk about Djibouti. First and foremost, I have nothing against the country or its ordinary citizens, and I’m not here to advocate against Djibouti. But at the same time, I think people need to pay attention to what is happening there. There is a difference between citizens who simply tolerate whatever their government does and citizens who eventually say, “Enough is enough.” We have seen throughout history what happens when a government continues pushing its people too far, and I believe Djibouti’s leadership needs to understand that everything has a limit. I’m not predicting anything, but when you look at the pressure on ordinary citizens, the economic struggles, unemployment, the heat, underdevelopment, reports of arrests and repression, and the concerns people have about corruption and how wealth is being managed, you have to ask yourself how long that situation can continue. We have seen similar patterns before, and Somalia itself is one of the clearest examples of what can happen when people lose faith in their government and the system begins to collapse.

I also think there is a bigger strategic picture that people need to understand when it comes to Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somaliland. Djibouti has benefited enormously from its strategic location and from hosting foreign military bases, while Ethiopia has relied heavily on the Port of Djibouti for its trade. But Ethiopia is not a naive country. It has strategists, economists, diplomats, and people whose entire job is to think about what could happen years or decades into the future. Eventually, the question becomes: “Why should we put everything into one basket?” That is part of why Ethiopia began looking toward Somaliland and Berbera and investing in alternative infrastructure and trade routes. The beautiful road and other developments aren’t happening randomly. Diversification is a normal strategy for any country that doesn’t want its entire economy and security tied to one route. And this is also why I think people need to ask themselves why there has been so much hostility toward Somaliland and why the regional dynamics have become increasingly complicated. Somaliland is strategically located, it has access to the Gulf of Aden, and its relationship with Ethiopia has created opportunities that directly affect the regional balance. Whether people like it or not, geography matters, strategy matters, and economics matters.

And finally, I want to make something clear: this isn’t about predicting that Djibouti will collapse tomorrow. I’m simply looking at a pattern and asking whether the current leadership has reached its limit. Governments can survive for decades, but history has repeatedly shown that ruling people through oppression, corruption, fear, and self-interest eventually creates consequences. God is watching everything, and at the end of the day, this world is temporary—we are all going to leave it. So why spend your time ruling a society through injustice while citizens are struggling in almost every aspect of life? I believe leaders should remember that power is temporary and accountability is inevitable. I could be wrong about what happens next, and I’m not claiming to know the future, but I have been following and decoding regional developments for a long time, and I can’t help but wonder whether there is growing concern within Djibouti’s leadership about the direction things are heading. Maybe I’m wrong. But if you’ve been watching the region closely, I’d genuinely like to hear what you think.

I have noticed quite a few people have taken issue with my previous post, and one of the comments I keep seeing is that I was attacking an entire ethnicity or directing my criticism toward Somali people as a whole. So I want to clarify one specific thing because I think there has been some misunderstanding. As for “Zoomalia,” I didn’t coin that term. It is a phrase that has already been thrown around on the internet and has become associated with the reputation surrounding Somalia and the amount of negative content constantly being posted and amplified about Somali people. Whether it’s fraud, criminal activity, people portraying themselves as gangsters, or other negative videos and stories circulating across social media, that content has contributed to a reputation that unfortunately affects Somali people as a whole, including people who have nothing to do with any of it. That is the reality I was referring to when I used the term. I’m not saying every Somali person is responsible for those actions, nor am I saying someone’s ethnicity determines their character. I’m simply pointing out that this reputation exists, that people see it online, and that pretending it doesn’t exist doesn’t solve anything. You can disagree with my choice to use the term, but I wanted to make it clear that I did not create it or invent it as a way to attack Somali people.

I want to talk about Somalia and its citizens, because honestly, I’m sick and tired of the constant hyper-fixation on Somaliland and the way some people use the Somali landscape, tribalism, or goat-blaming to explain the destruction of their country. I don’t like using phrases like “mental illness,” but this obsession with Somaliland honestly needs to be studied. Nobody likes an ugly history, and Somalia’s history is ugly. The dictatorship, corruption, marginalization, lack of power-sharing, unnecessary wars, and the destruction that followed left the country the way it is today. And the people constantly defending Somalia? I guarantee many of them were never there on the ground. They live comfortably in Western countries—in houses, apartments, townhouses, condos—you name it. I call them keyboard warriors because it’s easier to defend a place you know you don’t actually want to live in. You can’t be selective with history just because the truth makes you uncomfortable. It is 2026, and while researching this topic and talking to people, sometimes simply asking basic questions reveals how deeply some people still believe in Greater Somalia. I don’t have to explain what Greater Somalia is, but what some people cannot accept is that Greater Somalia was killed by their own hands.

It was not Somaliland’s fault. Somaliland literally gave up its sovereignty and voluntarily merged with Somalia on July 1, 1960, because they believed in the idea of Greater Somalia. They wanted to become an example. But who destroyed that opportunity? Who marginalized them? Who sabotaged the relationship? There was no referendum, no proper agreement, and from 1960 through 1969 there was intense corruption and no meaningful power-sharing. Then came the dictatorship, oppression, political repression, unnecessary socialist programs, and eventually the unnecessary war with Ethiopia over the Somali Region. Somalia played Cold War politics, was punished internationally, lost its allies, and eventually turned its weapons against its own people—massacring civilians, bombing cities, arresting random civilians, and accusing people of belonging to the Somali National Movement. God has been watching, and God does not love injustice. You cannot claim to be a Muslim while committing atrocities against other Muslims and then simply change the narrative or act like nobody will remember what happened. History remembers.

And I’m sick and tired of you Zoomalia folks acting like Somaliland is responsible for everything that went wrong. You guys are literally in a zoo, while Somali Americans are unfortunately dealing with the consequences of the reputation being created around the Somali community—fraud allegations, criminal cases, wannabe gangsters, and all kinds of negative press, especially in places like Minnesota. You need to wake up to reality and accept that Somalia is deeply fragmented. Where did all these federal states come from? They didn’t exist in their current form before the collapse; they emerged from wars, power struggles, and the vacuum left behind by the destruction of the central government. The whole world studies Zoomalia because nobody wants to become like you, so wake up and leave Somaliland alone. I understand why your blood boils. I understand that many of you grew up believing in Greater Somalia, but ask yourself one simple question: who killed that dream? Nobody else. It was not Somaliland’s fault. Somaliland decided, “You know what? Enough is enough,” and moved on. Thirty years later, Somaliland has built its own institutions, maintained relative stability, and continued working while geopolitics is changing at a rapid pace. That is exactly why I wrote what I wrote back in May. If you remember, search within this subreddit for “Diaspora Somalilanders: This Is the Time to Lock In, Build, Prepare” and you’ll understand the beauty of that post.

I’m sorry, but it is what it is. Some people are paying the price for the choices made by previous generations, and relatives of people from all sides are struggling today—unemployed, trying to leave a failed state, searching for stability and opportunity. And honestly, who can blame them? Everyone with internet access can see what the rest of the world looks like. Content creators show the beauty of Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and every corner of the world, so I don’t understand why people get angry when someone shows Somalia as it actually is. Recently, Best Food Review Ever uploaded a video about Zoomalia and people were angry about the thumbnail. I’m sorry, but you built that reputation. Nobody else built it for you. With that being said, I’ll be posting my PowerPoint presentations throughout this month. I just felt like making this emergency post because I’m genuinely sick and tired of this hyper-fixation. There is going to come a point when many Somaliland citizens are completely fed up—and honestly, we already are. We are tired of being dragged into a conflict that we did not create. Put that energy somewhere else. Build your country. Face your history. Create your own truth commission. Look at Rwanda after 1994. Look at South Africa. Look at Sierra Leone and other countries that confronted their histories through truth, accountability, and reconciliation. Somalia has never truly done that. Nobody wants to accept responsibility, everybody wants to escape blame, and the cycle continues. So please, wake up to reality. Stop holding the past hostage. Stop blaming Somaliland for the destruction of a dream that Somalia itself helped destroy. Leave Somaliland alone and put that energy into rebuilding your own country.

I don’t really know where to begin, but I felt like sharing this today because if I find something that genuinely helps me improve my life, why not share it with you guys? If you’re living in America, Europe, or anywhere else in the diaspora, take advantage of the resources around you. I’ve said this before, even when I was in Somaliland a few months ago: create a schedule, get organized, and work on yourself first. If you have health or dental insurance, use it. Take care of your teeth, your health, your nutrition, your body, and your stress. If you’re balding, own it. If you can grow facial hair, grow it. Get your steps in and take care of yourself. Presentation matters, and first impressions matter. Learn how to dress properly instead of wearing the same Nike, Jordan, or designer clothes every day. Find a style that actually works for you. Keep your hygiene on point, stay within a budget, build an emergency fund, and learn skills that can actually help you in the future. Watch YouTube for educational purposes, learn from people who are ahead of you, and if you’re interested in content creation, start a YouTube channel and learn how to scale it.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that sometimes you have to distance yourself from people who bring no value into your life. If someone constantly creates problems, brings jealousy, negativity, or envy, you don’t have to keep them around just because you’ve known them for years. I’ve reached a point where I honestly don’t mind if my phone is dry all day. I have things I need to accomplish. Coming back from Somaliland after spending a couple of months there gave me a completely different perspective on life. I already had certain things in order, but being there made me realize I needed to work even harder, and now I’m taking action. I’m working on my health, finances, career, business, and content creation, and I’m even considering moving to a different state with better opportunities and direct international flights. If you’re young, especially around 19 or older, learn from other people’s mistakes instead of waiting to make every mistake yourself. Nobody is coming to save you. I can’t save you, your family can’t save you, and your friends can’t save you. At some point, you have to take action and build the life you want.

Up vote please so others can see:)

https://preview.redd.it/hyrbaltw0kmh1.png?width=247&format=png&auto=webp&s=6686dc6718df94764999c6a29e915f558ce52cc4

Hey family, don’t worry, September is right around the corner and there are only a couple of days left, but I’m still going to be posting everything I said I was going to post. All my posts and everything are currently private, as I mentioned before. But today I wanted to share this book with you. This is NOT sponsored in any way. Hopefully you’re able to find it, because I actually had to order it internationally from the United Kingdom. I spent hours in 2025 researching this book after hearing about it in a YouTube interview, and I genuinely wanted to find it, but I couldn’t. If you live in the West—America, Europe, Australia, etc.—you can probably order it through Amazon. I live in the United States, so I simply changed my Amazon location to the United Kingdom and was able to order it.

This book contains so many gems and so much detail. And just because it says “Second Edition” doesn’t mean it’s part two. The first edition had mistakes, so the second edition was released in 2020 with corrections. It covers Somali history, Somaliland, British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, and the power vacuum that was left behind. It also explains a lot about what eventually led the country to become what it is today, covering the period from 1941 to 1969. It doesn’t go deeply into the dictatorship itself, but it gives you important context. Honestly, it’s worth reading. Once you read it, you may start looking at Somali history and Somaliland from a completely different perspective. I’m also going to upload a funny video next week that genuinely made me laugh, but I wanted to share this today because education is crucial when it comes to understanding the Republic of Somaliland. Somaliland has massive potential, but there is also a lot of work, development, and challenges ahead. I just wanted to put this resource out there for anyone who genuinely wants to learn.

What happen to the Vote polling is it my end or was it removed?

Its very crucial lol

Hey guys, it’s been a while since I’ve posted . I’ve had a lot on my plate and have been prioritizing a lot of things since I came back from Somaliland almost a month ago. The trip was incredible, and I’m genuinely grateful to everyone who has been sharing my work, encouraging me, engaging with my posts, commenting, and sending me private messages. I just want to make one announcement clear: although I’ve made my work public and anyone can currently visit my Reddit profile and see everything I’ve shared, I will be making my profile private on August 28th. The main reason is to protect my work, because I’ll be sharing a lot of exclusive content, including PowerPoint presentations like the one I recently posted as a video, which I’m grateful so many people have shared. As I’ve said repeatedly, nobody is going to save you—you have to save yourself. Appreciate the opportunities you have and make the most of them. Going to Somaliland gave me a completely new perspective on life, and for the past four months I’ve been researching, creating, and working on a series of PowerPoint presentations that I’ll begin sharing throughout September. Good work takes time, especially when you want it to be accurate, detailed, and well-researched. That is what I’ve been focused on, and I’m excited to finally share it. At the same time, I don’t want to become the “Reddit police,” but I do believe we need to take this community seriously. We should be posting quality content, meaningful questions, thoughtful prompts, useful information, and things that are genuinely worth engaging with. We cannot just post whatever comes to mind without considering whether it actually contributes something valuable to the community. I appreciate everyone who has supported my work so far, and there is much more to come.

One thing I’ve noticed about this Reddit community: I’m genuinely not trying to be the Reddit police. I appreciate the support—the upvotes, comments, shares, messages, and people engaging with my posts. Seriously. But at this point, I’m starting to wonder if I should just start gatekeeping some of the information I’m sharing, and I really don’t want to do that. My entire reason for creating this Reddit account was to help a brother out. I had Reddit years ago, deleted my account, and honestly had no intention of coming back until I discovered this community. After seeing the discussions here, I felt obligated to create an account and contribute. I’m not here to make up stories, advertise myself, or post BS. Everything I’ve been sharing is public. You can literally click on my profile, look at my posts and comments, and see everything I’ve written since I created this account. I have nothing to hide. I even posted short-term vs. long-term land investment specifically because I wanted to test a theory. That post got plenty of shares, and I understand why—I’m trying to provide information that actually has value.

But this is exactly what I’m talking about: can we make this Reddit more organized and more valuable? If you have a question, ask it. If you disagree with someone, debate them. If you have information that adds to the conversation, contribute it. That’s literally what Reddit is supposed to be. If we want this community to actually become a valuable place where people can learn about Somaliland, invest, build businesses, discover opportunities, and help each other, then we all have to participate. I’m not asking everyone to agree with me; I’m asking people to engage constructively. Some of the information I’m sharing is information I could simply keep to myself. I could use it before everyone else realizes the opportunity exists, but I’ve deliberately chosen to share it because I want all of us to win. I’m already in a position where I’m doing well, but I’m not going to stop learning. I’m going to keep evolving, improving, gaining experience, and becoming more knowledgeable. I’m a student of life. At the same time, some of you genuinely need to wake up and recognize the opportunities around you. Nobody is coming to save you. I can’t save you. I can give you information, share what I’ve learned, point out opportunities, and tell you what I’m seeing on the ground, but ultimately, you have to take action yourself.

I’ll also be putting up a poll soon with different subjects, and I genuinely want people to vote on what they want to see discussed here because I really want this Reddit to become something valuable. So please—cooperate, engage, ask questions, share information, debate respectfully, and contribute. I’m not trying to be the Reddit police. I’m simply saying that if the community doesn’t want to engage and make this place better, eventually I’m going to stop putting so much energy into sharing information. Not because I don’t have more to say, but because I’m not going to exhaust myself trying to build something that nobody else wants to help build. Let’s make this community valuable.

For the past three months, I’ve mostly been observing this Reddit instead of posting my thoughts right away. I wanted to understand the community first before making any conclusions. During that time, I’ve seen a lot of great discussions, genuine questions, and thoughtful posts that made me stop and think. I’ve also seen plenty of posts that, in my opinion, don’t really add much value. I’m not saying this to act like the Reddit police because that’s not my intention at all. I’m just wondering if we can be a little more organized about the kind of conversations we want to have. Over the past couple of months, many of you have supported my posts with comments, shares, and discussions, and I’m genuinely grateful for that. I’m not asking anyone to post like me or agree with me. What I’m hoping for is a community where people share ideas, ask meaningful questions, challenge one another respectfully, and post things that make the rest of us learn something new. Whether it’s business, engineering, agriculture, history, infrastructure, education, technology, or experiences from the diaspora, those are the kinds of conversations that can help all of us grow.

One thing I’ve learned after spending nearly two months in Somaliland is that real progress starts with good conversations. We have people here from different backgrounds with different skills and experiences, so why not make better use of that? Instead of only reacting to whatever is happening that day, why don’t we start discussing solutions, sharing projects we’re working on, asking for advice from people with experience, or helping each other solve real problems? I plan on creating a poll soon so everyone can suggest topics they’d like to see discussed regularly. I think that would make this community even stronger. I also know not everyone will agree with everything I post, and that’s perfectly fine. Different opinions are healthy as long as they’re respectful. Now that I’m back in the United States after my trip to Somaliland, I’ve had time to reflect on everything I experienced, and one thing I keep coming back to is that strong communities are built by people who contribute something of value. That’s all I’m encouraging here. Let’s continue building a Reddit page that people visit because they know they’ll leave having learned something they didn’t know before.

Please Upvote if you made this far :)

I honestly don't even know where to begin. Before I came here, my uncle kept telling me, "You have to see it for yourself." Every time I talked about visiting Somaliland after being away for nearly a decade, he would say the same thing. At the time, I understood what he meant, but now, after spending nearly two months here, I can finally say I truly understand it. Over the past several weeks, I've written 18 posts about everything I've experienced, and every single one came from something I personally saw, experienced, or thought about while living here. Some people agreed with me, others disagreed, and that's completely fine. My goal was never to convince everyone to think the way I do. It was simply to share the reality that I experienced with my own eyes. My intention was never to paint Somaliland in a bad image. If that had been my goal, I could have spent every day recording only negative things, posting only the worst parts, and ignoring everything else. Instead, I chose to write honestly about both the positives and the challenges because I believe you can't truly love a place if you're afraid to talk about the things that need to improve. This is home. I met hardworking people who wake up every morning trying to earn an honest living, spoke with people from different backgrounds, spent time with family I hadn't seen in years, and saw just how much potential this country has. I also witnessed the everyday struggles that many people don't see from abroad: unemployment, rising living costs, weak infrastructure in some areas, and how difficult life can be for families simply trying to get by. Seeing our housekeeper almost become a victim of robbery, watching young children ask strangers for help, and hearing the stories of people trying to build a better future reminded me that these aren't statistics—they're real people living real lives. Even when I tried to contribute in a small way by arranging to have a road cleaned with a bulldozer, the negotiations became far more complicated than I expected. It was another reminder that, as someone from the diaspora, people will often see you as an opportunity. At first, that frustrated me, but eventually I accepted that this was part of the reality I was experiencing. Rather than let it consume me, I chose to learn from it and move forward. Every experience, whether good or bad, taught me something I couldn't have learned by watching YouTube videos, scrolling through social media, or reading articles online.

If there's one lesson I hope people take away from everything I've written, it's this: perspective can completely change the direction of your life. Coming here made me appreciate opportunities that I had started taking for granted. It reminded me that nobody is coming to save you. You have to prepare yourself, learn valuable skills, build multiple sources of income, and take advantage of the opportunities you already have while they're still in front of you. One of the strongest impressions I came away with is that you have to take responsibility for your own future. Too often, I felt that many people in positions of influence were more focused on their own interests than on solving the everyday problems ordinary citizens face. Whether you agree with me or not, that's the conclusion I reached after spending nearly two months here. At the same time, I also believe every generation will one day be judged by the choices it makes, including ours. Complaining alone won't build roads, create jobs, lower prices, or improve people's lives. The next generation has a responsibility to think differently, prepare differently, and build differently. To everyone in the diaspora, my advice is simple: stop underestimating the opportunities you already have. Build your future while you have access to education, stable institutions, and resources that millions of people around the world would love to have. Then come back to Somaliland—not because you think you'll fix every problem, but because you'll understand your home in a way that no screen can ever teach you. Observe, listen, ask questions, meet people, and make your own conclusions. You may leave with more questions than answers, but I promise you'll leave with a different perspective. I know I did. When I board my flight back to the United States, I'll be taking much more than souvenirs and memories with me. I'll be taking lessons that will shape the rest of my life, and for that, I'll always be grateful that I came back to see Somaliland for myself.

Please Upvote if you made it to the end :)