Somalia: An Open Critique of Newswire Coverage

Dear Western newswires covering Somalia and other war-affected countries,

After working in Somalia three times, interviewing hundreds, and traveling to all three regions, I've come to the conclusion that Western newswires too often misrepresent the country by extrapolating summaries of what's happening in central Mogadishu to represent the entire country. It's simply unfair to the many communities where people live well but cannot secure cross-border social capital or investment due to negative assumptions. This is not to deny the many security and political troubles, but to clarify them.

Many informed readers of Africa news will understand the nuance in the news, but many -- including major decision-makers in diplomacy and aid -- will not. And this can cost the peaceful majority of the population much needed support in terms of peacebuilding, recognition of promising new leaders, and development.

All due respect to the BBC's brave Mohamed Olad Hassan, but a story on his native Somalia includes this summary, echoing others: "Somalia has been mired in anarchy since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other to plunge the country into nearly two decades of seemingly endless chaos."

Seemingly endless chaos? While horrific fighting has indeed raged in different parts of the country at different times, it has not brought chaos to the whole country. My local friends and I, for example, spent time off picnicking with camel steak and cardamom tea in the savannah, enjoying social gatherings, swimming at gorgeous beaches, and watching wildlife. While working we also met with very professional people at universities, government offices, and business associations.

Chaos, like anarchy, really can't be applied to the country as a whole. If Somalia has trouble it's not chaos or anarchy defined as a lack of government. Its trouble may be that there are too many authorities, not too few. The moving lines of control between them are what lead to disputes about which group has legal authority there.

Similarly, the New York Times' hardworking and well-respected Jeffrey Gettleman leads off the Times' country summary with this: "For decades, generals, warlords and warrior types have reduced this once languid coastal country in Eastern Africa to rubble. Somalia remains a raging battle zone today, with jihadists pouring in from overseas, intent on toppling the transitional government."

After reading such a thing, an investor invited to build a mutually beneficial local fishery pier in serene coastal Zeyla or Beyla or Eyl or Las Qoray would refuse to send $0.01 to the place, assuming that black beard, Somali bin Laden, and their hordes will swoop down and tear the thing apart at any moment.

While enjoying a cardamom espresso up at the Ambassador Hotel in stable Hargeisa, also while cutting into a savory garlic grouper fish steak at the city center public Jubba Coffeteria in Bosaso, I saw a number of Chinese businessmen working with local oligarchs to install cell phone towers across the country without such paralyzing fears about the relative risks.

What if East Asian or Latin American reporters covering New York or London summarized at the end of their articles conclusions like, The major urban center remains embroiled in gang warfare with gunmen often catching civilians in the crossfire. For decades, the community has suffered government mismanagement and chronic poverty. Would this ring true because people would read that its about the urban slums or would it misrepresent the city as a whole?

If my friend Zrrrt, an alien anthropologist from the planet X-94 from the Andromeda Galaxy (third planet on the left) came to Earth, landed in the South Bronx, and dug up a story to send back home, I think s/he might make friends with local people who nearly all complain of a community where the police oppress the street culture, the government takes people's money, and the hamburgers all taste like shit. Worse, gangsters keep shooting up the alley ways, so poor Zrrrt leaves in a hurry.

Wouldn't Zrrrt then give misrepresentative presentations back on X-94 about Earth, unfairly using the South Bronx to represent a society that also includes Fifi, fjords, and hippy communes?

Surely, Somalia has serious danger spots, but we have to be more specific. Since I began traveling to Somalia in 2005, I've lost two co-workers to a terror bomb where I was working, another co-worker to a car accident caused by driving where there was no road, and had numerous other security problems. I've also had the grand opportunity to meet some award-winning idiots in government and community leadership roles. So I don't mean to downgrade the woes affecting many situations in Somalia.

But like you, I've also met hundreds of peaceful, fun people, including well-respected women leaders, and enjoyed many days in serene calm talking about wonderful investment opportunities if only internationals could come to terms with the fact that while risky, much of Somalia suffers much less turmoil than the war front areas of the south central region or even the level of risk of other communities like in Kenya or Colombia which do broker helpful business partnerships.

Thanks for considering a small, but vital adjustment in coverage on Somalia. If the adjustment is not made for reasons of clarification, at least make the adjustment so that readers will not stereotype or discriminate against people of Somali origin based on limited information about their country. Many strong new leaders, including respected women leaders, hold the key to improving the country, but they need for the international community to know or anticipate that they exist and have supportive constituencies with which to build the momentum for change.

Photo credit: Daniel J Gerstle (A popular camel milk drive through serves up a warm one)