Beyond the Photo Op (igu sawir): Why Somalia Must Rethink Its Conference Culture

By: Hon. Hassan Haji | Date: 26/08/2025 | Email: hassan.haji@me.com | Tel: +252612399777

For over 25 years, Somalia has been caught in a cycle of symbolic participation at international and domestic conferences, returning with little to show beyond fleeting headlines. The Somali phrase “igu sawir”, meaning “take my picture”, captures a governance model fixated on appearances rather than substance. Domestically, ministerial meetings, often graced by high-profile officials like the President or Prime Minister, are orchestrated to project progress but drain resources without delivering results. Internationally, while neighbours like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti secure transformative investments through strategic conference participation, Somalia’s delegations treat attendance as an endgame, squandering opportunities and perpetuating reliance on external aid. This failure stems from weak preparation, unclear strategies, and a political culture that prioritises optics over outcomes. To break this cycle, Somalia must overhaul its approach to both domestic and global engagements, drawing lessons from past missed opportunities like Brussels New Deal Compact (2013) and the London Somalia Conference (2017)

Somalia’s neighbours demonstrate how strategic engagement yields results. Ethiopia arrives at global forums with detailed infrastructure proposals, backed by data and aligned with national goals. Kenya coordinates seamlessly between the government, the private sector, and donors to attract investment in technology and trade. Djibouti leverages its strategic location to secure funding for port expansions and logistics hubs. These nations equip delegations with research, clear priorities, and robust follow-up mechanisms to turn commitments into action.

In stark contrast, Somalia’s representatives often lack cohesive strategies or actionable proposals. Domestic conferences, despite the presence of senior officials, serve as staged events that erode public trust and squander resources. Internationally, vague or misaligned proposals, coupled with inadequate follow-up, leave Somalia with minimal gains, mere “peanuts” compared to the transformative investments secured by its neighbours. This “igu sawir” approach undermines Somalia’s credibility and perpetuates its dependence on external budget support.

The roots of this failure lie in a governance crisis. Somalia’s political system often prioritises loyalty and clan affiliations over competence, resulting in delegations and organisers lacking the expertise or authority to negotiate effectively. Coordination between the government, the private sector, and civil society is weak, and transparent communication with the public about conference objectives or outcomes is virtually nonexistent. This opacity fuels perceptions that leaders prioritise personal prestige over national progress, further eroding trust in a nation already scarred by decades of conflict.

Missed Opportunities: Brussels and London.

Over the past decade, Somalia was presented with unprecedented opportunities to reshape its national trajectory. The 2013 Brussels New Deal Compact mobilised €1.8 billion in pledges to advance five Peace and State building Goals, ranging from inclusive politics to economic foundations. It was a Somali-led, donor-backed framework for transformation, grounded in mutual accountability and long-term reform. Yet its promise was undermined by fragmented leadership, an incompetent cabinet, and the politicisation of senior civil service appointments driven more by loyalty and clan affiliation than merit. Civil society engagement remained limited, and the Compact’s goals were never institutionalised. Ultimately, the initiative collapsed under the weight of donor fatigue and administrative inertia, leaving behind a blueprint unfulfilled.

Similarly, the 2017 London Somalia Conference, co-chaired by the UK, Somalia, the UN, and the African Union, brought together over 40 nations and organisations. It produced a Security Pact, endorsed Somalia’s first National Development Plan in 30 years, and secured pledges for humanitarian relief, military reform, and institutional capacity building. But the Security Pact was never codified, mutual accountability mechanisms fizzled out, and political infighting stalled momentum. While these summits elevated Somalia’s diplomatic standing and reconnected it with international financial institutions, the lack of transparent mechanisms to track funds and institutionalise progress meant these gains were fleeting. Somalia failed to codify agreements into binding frameworks or engage regional states and civil society meaningfully, squandering votes of confidence in its ability to lead.

A Path Forward:

Somalia’s potential is undeniable; its strategic maritime location, vibrant diaspora, and entrepreneurial spirit offer immense opportunities. Yet, these assets are wasted by a governance model that resists change and suppresses competence. To transform its conference participation from photo ops to progress, Somalia must:

Prioritise merit-based appointments, ensuring delegations and organisers include skilled negotiators and technocrats with data-driven proposals.
Set clear objectives aligned with national and local development priorities.
Strengthen coordination between the government, the private sector, and civil society to present a unified front.
Establish robust follow-up mechanisms to convert domestic and international commitments into tangible outcomes.
Enhance transparency by communicating goals, progress, and challenges to rebuild public trust.
Codify past agreements like the Brussels and London pledges into binding national frameworks.
Institutionalise legacies to honour national icons and reinforce unity.

A Call to Action:

Somalia stands at a crossroads. The blueprints from Brussels and London exist, and the pledges were made. What remains is the will to act. By investing in preparation, strategy, and accountability, Somalia can shift from symbolic attendance to a catalyst for economic independence and dignity. Transparent communication can restore public faith, creating pressure for performance. Without these reforms, domestic conferences will continue draining resources for empty visibility, and international forums will yield little more than photos and unfulfilled promises. As new political cycles and global engagements approach, Somalia must not repeat past mistakes. The time for principled leadership and strategic engagement is now. Let Somalia’s leaders move beyond “igu sawir” politics and become architects of a nation that commands respect, not sympathy, on the world stage. Somalia’s future depends on it.