Dear Friend,
Somalia. Piracy is threatening shipping through the Gulf of Aden and forcing ransoms that average 5 million dollars per Western ship. Two decades of civil war and instability have given rise to Al Shabaab, an Islamist group with ties to Al Qaeda. Yet the commercial airline, Turkish Airlines, has recently begun regular flights back into Mogadishu, and the international community has planned the first election since the collapse of the government this August. I finally see the opportunity for Somalia to again become a member of the international community. I see hope for my country and this is why I have decided to run for President of Somalia.
I have lived in the United States since my government collapsed. My children no longer know Somalia. The world has come to see Somalia as a broken country and this saddens me greatly. Yet I know Somalia can recover, rebuild itself and fill a responsible role in commerce, security and human rights in Africa and the world. My time away from my country has impressed upon me the true gift that is democracy: human rights and free markets. My dream is to return to my country and help her transform into a free, open and prosperous nation.
Somalia needs help. Under my leadership, we will encourage foreign investment in our people and economy. As a college Professor, I am aware of the need for a nation to embrace an educated workforce to attract the large technology companies that today drive growth; so we will educate our people. I will make Somalia an example of Human Rights for all other African nations to emulate. I want to implement the rule of law in Somalia so terrorist organizations think twice before establishing networks there. In other words, I will modernize Somalia while retaining its cultural heritage.
I ask for your support so I may help lead my country toward a more hopeful future. I ask from my heart that you give me and Somalia a chance at a real future. Be a partner in peace and help make a difference that will be felt around the world when piracy no longer
threatens international commerce and civil war is ended.
Sincerely yours.
Said Mohamud
Candidate for President of Somalia
President of the People Party of Somalia
