Mohamoud Walaaleye
In a political environment where public trust is often weakened by broken promises and a perceived gap between words and actions, Waddani Chairman Hersi Ali Haji Hassan has earned a reputation for something increasingly regarded as rare in politics: keeping his word.
An article Omer M. Farah wrote, which I translated, begins:
“Across Somaliland’s political landscape, where skepticism toward politicians can run deep, Hersi has, over the past 14 years, emerged as a prominent political figure whose supporters and even political opponents have repeatedly described him as a man who speaks plainly, stands by his commitments and seeks to turn his words into action.”
That reputation dates back to his time as Chief of Cabinet and later Minister of Presidential Affairs during the first five years of the late President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo’s administration.
During that period, Hersi was praised for his willingness to honour commitments made to individuals and the state, a quality that helped establish him as one of the more influential figures in Somaliland’s political arena.
A Promise to President Silanyo
One account cited in support of Hersi’s reputation comes from Abdirashid Duale Qambi, a politician who has held several positions in successive Somaliland governments.
Speaking in a recent interview, Qambi recalled an encounter with Hersi shortly after President Silanyo’s government took office.
“Four months after President Silanyo’s government came to office, I asked Hersi to arrange a meeting for me with President Silanyo,” Qambi recalled.
Hersi arranged the meeting, and Qambi eventually met the President.
According to Qambi, Late President Silanyo was visibly moved when he saw him and appeared concerned about his circumstances.
After their conversation, Qambi said, the President turned to Hersi and asked whether he could entrust Abdirashid to him.
“Hersi replied to the President, ‘Mr. President, leave Abdirashid to me,’” Qambi recalled.
Qambi said Hersi subsequently fulfilled the commitment he had made to President Silanyo—and went beyond what had been expected of him.
For Qambi, the episode illustrated a central feature of Hersi’s character: a willingness to make a commitment and then follow through.
A Reputation That Crosses Political Lines
Hersi’s reputation for truthfulness, according to the account, is not limited to his political allies or those who have worked closely with him.
It has also been acknowledged by people who have stood on the opposite side of Somaliland’s political divide.
Qambi described Hersi in unequivocal terms, saying: “A man called Hersi is someone whose character speaks for itself. He is a truthful man, a determined man, and a generous man.”
The broader argument surrounding Hersi’s political character is that he belongs to a relatively small group of Somaliland politicians known for expressing their views openly, rather than tailoring their words to political convenience.
For his supporters, that straightforwardness has become one of his defining political characteristics.
A Personal Testimony
The account also comes with a personal endorsement from Omar Mohamed Farah, the writer, who said he had interacted with Hersi over an extended period during Hersi’s tenure as Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Farah said their interactions involved both professional and personal matters and gave him an opportunity to observe Hersi closely.
“I personally witnessed an unusual degree of honesty in him,” Farah said, describing the quality as something that distinguished Hersi from many of the national leaders and politicians he had encountered.
The testimony places Hersi’s reputation for truthfulness not simply in the realm of political rhetoric, but in personal experiences recounted by people who interacted with him directly.
The Value of Keeping One’s Word
At the heart of the argument is a broader question about political leadership: whether public confidence can survive when political promises are repeatedly separated from political action.
In societies where politicians are often viewed with suspicion, the ability to keep one’s word can become more than a personal virtue—it can become a political asset.
For Hersi Ali Haji Hassan, the accounts presented by Abdirashid Duale Qambi and Omar Mohamed Farah suggest that truthfulness and keeping commitments have been central elements of the reputation he has built during more than a decade at the heart of Somaliland politics.
Whether viewed through the lens of political leadership, personal integrity or public service, the message is straightforward: in politics, words matter—but the credibility of those words is ultimately measured by what follows them.