Somalia was expected to hold presidential elections early in February but has clearly missed that deadline, failing to meet yet another obligation after abandoning the one-person-one-vote mandate to its people. This has put the country on the path of political uncertainty yet again. When it holds eventually, it will be a pivotal election for Somalia which has remained one of Africa’s most embattled regions, fighting an extremist insurgency. 

‘My Life For Somalia’

Abshir Aden Ferro, a security expert and entrepreneur thinks he can bring stability to Somalia. The 52-year-old anti-corruption advocate and nationalist promises to tackle the al-Shabaab insurgency in the country if elected into power. 

Mr Ferro, who founded the Alliance for the Future Party in 2019 to provide a foreground for his ambition, remains relentless despite the precariousness of the current political landscape. Ahead of the elections, he has published a book titled “My Life for Somalia,” where he outlined his manifesto and vision for the Somali state. 

What Lies Ahead?

While the chances of Mr Ferro unseating President Mohamed Abdullahi are quite low, if he manages to remove the incumbent, he will not only have militant insurgency to tackle. Years of dispute and infighting between the different regions in Somalia remains a burning issue, which has contributed to weakening the central government and allowing the advancement of al-Shabaab. It is unsure what is going to happen next as the constitution allows the president to sit for only 4 years before a new election is conducted. However, parliament is allowed to extend his tenure, a move which may not be welcome by other presidential candidates in the opposition, including Mr Ferro.

Currently, calls for dialogue have intensified as factions within the ruling class continue to oppose each other on the next steps that should be taken. It remains to see what the future holds for Mr Ferro in Somalia.