JOHANNESBURG — After President Trump said he wanted to cut immigration from “third world countries” and then described people from Somalia as “garbage,” Somali Americans and residents of Somalia reacted with shock and disappointment. The president urged Somali Americans to “go back” and “fix” Somalia, calling the country “hell.”
Somalia has faced decades of instability: the fall of Siad Barre’s regime in 1991 led to state collapse, clan conflict and, in recent years, a persistent fight against the Islamist militant group al-Shabab. Waves of displacement have sent millions of Somalis abroad, including a growing community in the United States.
Somalia-born U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar pushed back on the remarks, calling them vile and reminding critics that Somali Americans contribute to the country in many fields and work to improve their communities. People inside Somalia expressed similar rejection of the president’s language, saying they are actively trying to rebuild their country despite security risks, poverty and governance challenges.
Civic groups and individuals on the ground provide striking examples of that work. Dr. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan, a dentist in Mogadishu, founded the capital’s only free ambulance service — a critical operation in a city that regularly endures bombings and other attacks. Adan and his team often arrive within minutes of explosions, sometimes facing the danger of secondary devices, but insist the work is necessary because every life matters.
“If we don’t go, who will?” he said, stressing that Somalis are generous and committed to helping one another.
Nonprofits are also addressing gaps left by the state. The Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, led by Ilwad Elman, operates Somalia’s first rape crisis center, runs programs to rehabilitate youths who were forced into militias, and offers education and trauma recovery services — including beach-based activities for children recovering from violence.
Other community initiatives range from sports to independent media. Former Somali Premier League player Abdiaziz Kediye started the country’s first amputee soccer team, giving athletes who lost limbs in conflict an opportunity to compete and regain confidence. Bilan Media, an all-women newsroom, challenges stereotypes and holds authorities accountable while training a new generation of female journalists.
“We have many positive things happening in Somalia,” said Farhia Mohamed Hussein, a reporter at Bilan. She pointed to young entrepreneurs, artists and musicians, and a growing number of women taking leadership roles. “We have challenges, but people continue building — Somali people never give up.”
Analysts note that the Somali diaspora also plays a major role in supporting communities at home and abroad. Ahmed Soliman, a Horn of Africa researcher at Chatham House, said Somalis both inside Somalia and overseas have made substantial contributions to their communities and to international partnerships.
Those partnerships remain important despite inflammatory rhetoric. The United States has been engaged in Somalia for decades, training Somali forces and cooperating to counter al-Shabab. U.S. military strikes against the insurgent group increased after the Trump administration took office, according to data cited by the think tank New America drawing on U.S. Africa Command figures.
Ilham Ali Gassar, a Somali member of the East African Legislative Assembly and an expert in governance and peacebuilding, said demeaning statements are painful but noted that the long-standing cooperation between the two countries is deeper than any single leader or political moment.
Reporting from Mogadishu was contributed by Abdirahman Hussein.
