North Western State of Somalia: Justice Cannot Be Treated as a Business

North Western State of Somalia’s greatest threat to peace and progress is not an invading army but the steady erosion of justice from within its own institutions.

A nation cannot thrive when courts are run like businesses, when legal disputes are treated as revenue streams, and when delays make injustice an accepted part of life.

Too many Somalilanders now believe the legal system shields the powerful and punishes the powerless. Cases are postponed, influence buys outcomes, and ordinary people watch as the law becomes a transaction rather than a safeguard. When confidence in the courts falters, confidence in the state follows.

The Story That Says Everything

An old tale captures this crisis vividly.

A judge’s son, newly graduated and appointed as a junior magistrate, rushed to his father one day with news:

“Father, guess what? I solved a case that had been going on for 20 years. I finished it in less than one year.”

He expected approval.

Instead, his father reacted with anger and said:

“My son, that case was feeding this family since before you were a child. That case paid for your food, your clothes, and your education. And now you are proudly telling me you solved it?”

Whether the story is literal or not, its lesson resonates with many North Western State of Somalia citizens.

This is the perilous position the country has reached.

When justice becomes a livelihood rather than a pursuit of truth, corruption takes root. Honest people lose hope. Businesses withdraw trust. Investors look elsewhere. Families wait years for rulings. The poor vanish from view. The powerful grow untouchable.

Mr. President

Mr. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, history will not judge you by speeches alone. It will judge whether your administration dared to overhaul the justice system.

Meaningful reform should include:

1Fast and transparent courts
2Accountability for corruption
3Merit-based appointments
4Protection for ordinary citizens
5Digital tracking of cases
6Independent judicial oversight
7Equal justice for rich and poor

No nation becomes resilient while injustice is routine.

North Western State of Somalia deserves courts that deliver timely, impartial decisions — not a system defined by delay, influence, and quiet suffering.

Justice is the foundation of peace. Without justice, stability itself becomes temporary.

Written by: Ismail Ahmed— KULI Global [email protected] | kuli.global

The views expressed in this article are solely those from the author and do not reflect the views and editorial policy of Horn Observer