15 April 2025 | 13:21 CAT
2-minute read

Somalia’s electoral push, Mozambican dialogue, and lessons from US Aid cuts

Somalia has launched a national voter registration campaign as part of a broader effort to stabilise its political landscape, said Pedzisai Ruhanya, Director of Zimbabwe’s Democracy Institute, in an interview on Radio Islam International. Speaking to Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat on the Africa Report segment of Sabahul Muslim, Ruhanya said the initiative aims to lay the foundation for free and fair elections, which could in turn facilitate Somalia’s reintegration into the African Union’s democratic framework.

The country has faced decades of instability following the collapse of Siad Barre’s regime in 1991, compounded by persistent violence from some groups. According to Ruhanya, a transparent electoral process inclusive of all political actors is seen as a crucial step towards long-term peace and democratic governance.

In Mozambique, recent high-level reconciliation talks signal a positive turn following post-election violence. The talks were initiated between President Filipe Nyusi and opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who had gone into exile in Portugal after disputing the election results. Contrary to public expectations, President Nyusi did not arrest Mondlane upon his return — a move Ruhanya commended for promoting dialogue over repression.

He described the face-to-face meetings as “very important from an African context,” arguing that Africans must solve their own problems through dialogue rather than relying on external intervention. The example set by the leaders, Ruhanya said, could foster a culture of peaceful conflict resolution at grassroots level.

Turning to US foreign policy, Ruhanya addressed the broader implications of aid cuts by former President Donald Trump. While acknowledging the negative impact on sectors such as health and education across Africa, he stressed that Trump’s actions were guided by a mandate to serve American interests. Rather than criticising Trump, Ruhanya called for African leaders to emulate this approach by prioritising their own citizens through better resource governance.

He urged African governments to tackle corruption and redirect revenue from minerals like gold and platinum towards public services. “Fill those gaps. Stop corruption. Serve the interests of your communities,” he said, arguing that self-reliance and fiscal integrity should replace dependency on external aid.

Listen to the Africa Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.