Legacy and Shortcomings: Evaluating the Tenure of Hargeisa Mayor Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge
- Gallaydh News Desk
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
HARGEISA-The political arena in Somaliland's capital city has officially entered a new era. In a highly anticipated transition, the outgoing Mayor of Hargeisa, Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge, formally handed over the reins of the municipality to the newly elected Mayor, Eng. Abdirizak Farah Wiiwaa. This transfer of power concludes a dynamic five year administration under Mooge, marking him as the second shortest serving mayor since 2002 and the fourth to be democratically elected to the position.
However, the name Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge will not easily fade from the historical record. He entered office carrying the weight of unprecedented public optimism and exits leaving behind a complex legacy characterized by tangible infrastructural triumphs and highly visible political shortcomings.
This comprehensive editorial analysis delves deep into the Mooge administration, exploring his achievements, his unfulfilled promises, and how history will ultimately judge his consequential time in office.
The Dawn of Hope and a Historic Mandate
To fully grasp the magnitude of this transition, one must look back to the watershed local elections of May 31, 2021. Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge secured a staggering 26,000 votes, cementing his status as the highest voted politician in the history of Somaliland's local council elections.
His victory was not merely a numerical triumph but a fascinating display of cross party consensus. Running on the ticket of the opposition Waddani party, Mooge managed to secure the implicit backing of the ruling Kulmiye government. Then President Muse Bihi Abdi publicly acknowledged that the ruling party deliberately withdrew a strong contender to ensure Mooge’s path to the mayoralty remained clear. This rare political alignment, combined with his massive populist appeal, placed an immense burden on Mooge to deliver the transformative change he had passionately campaigned for.
The Tangible Triumphs of the Mooge Administration
During his five years at the helm, Mayor Mooge brought a visible and aggressive work ethic to the municipality, focusing heavily on foundational urban development projects.
A Revolution in Road Infrastructure: The crowning achievement of Mooge’s tenure is undoubtedly road construction. Between 2022 and the end of 2024, the local government officially recorded the completion of 71 roads, totaling 103.35 kilometers. While official data from late 2024 onwards remains unpublished, independent estimates suggest the total number of paved roads climbed to roughly 139 by the end of his term. This aggressive infrastructural push significantly eased the chronic traffic congestion that had long paralyzed the rapidly expanding capital.
Safeguarding Public Land: In administrations prior to Mooge, land grabbing and municipal corruption were rampant, eroding public trust. Mooge took a bold, uncompromising stance against the embezzlement of public property, successfully protecting vast tracts of government land and earning widespread public commendation.
Urban Renewal and Sanitation: The main Hargeisa dry riverbed, known locally as the Dooxa, had historically served as an unregulated dumping ground. Mooge spearheaded massive cleanup campaigns to clear decades of accumulated waste. His administration consistently improved waste management protocols and attempted to create dedicated resting areas for the public.
Institutional Modernization: Mooge leaves his mark on the city's administrative infrastructure by transforming dilapidated district offices into modern, respectable government centers. Furthermore, he directed municipal funds toward repairing several public schools, an initiative rarely undertaken by local governments in Somaliland.
Fiscal Responsibility and a Historic Surplus: In the Horn of Africa, political transitions are routinely marred by incoming administrations inheriting crippling institutional debt. Mooge forcefully broke this cycle. He leaves office without a single cent of municipal debt. Even more remarkably, he leaves a cash surplus in the municipal treasury, empowering the incoming administration of Eng. Wiiwaa to immediately initiate development projects without facing fiscal strangulation.
Rejecting Term Extensions and Honoring the Vote
Beyond physical infrastructure, Mooge made a deeply principled political decision that elevated his public standing. When a controversial legal mandate extended the terms of Somaliland's local councils by an additional two and a half years, Mooge chose a drastically different path from his peers.
He categorically refused to capitalize on the extension, insisting on honoring the exact five year mandate the public granted him on May 31, 2021. Although he was technically ousted this May through a "no confidence" vote orchestrated by rival council members, his refusal to fight the motion revealed that he was already mentally prepared to vacate the office. By choosing not to cling to power through legal technicalities, he sent a powerful message regarding the sanctity of the democratic vote, preferring a dignified exit over overstaying his welcome.
Broken Promises and Administrative Shortcomings
Despite his considerable successes, Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge leaves office with several glaring unfulfilled promises that have undeniably dented his political armor.
The 150 Street and the "Green City" Mirage: Two of his most prominent campaign pledges were the construction of the critical "150 Street" and the transformation of Hargeisa into an environmentally friendly "Green City." He vacates the office with the 150 Street project still uninitiated, depriving the city of a major economic and aesthetic artery. Furthermore, the tree planting initiative failed to take root. Today, Hargeisa remains largely barren, with the invasive and thorny Prosopis juliflora (Garanwaa) remaining the dominant greenery in the city.
The Plight of Vulnerable Street Vendors: One of the heaviest criticisms leveled against Mooge is his administration's treatment of the city's poorest residents. He leaves office while municipal police continue to routinely chase and confiscate the goods of vulnerable female street vendors. The administration completely failed to construct designated, safe markets that would allow these micro entrepreneurs to earn a living without fear of municipal harassment.
A Deficit in Transparency: While Mooge campaigned fiercely on a platform of good governance, his administration ultimately lacked financial transparency. Open, competitive bidding for municipal contracts and public financial disclosures were virtually nonexistent. In this regard, he operated much like his predecessors, failing to dismantle the opaque financial culture deeply entrenched within the local government.
A Fractured Council and the Specter of Tribalism
Perhaps the most profound failure of Mooge’s tenure lies in political management. He promised to eradicate tribalism and build a "United Hargeisa." Yet, he departs leaving behind a local council that is bitterly divided and highly dysfunctional.
This deep seated fracture was glaringly obvious during the transition period. His own deputy mayor refused to share the stage with him during the official handover ceremony, opting instead to hold a separate, private transition in his office the day prior. The deputy openly accused Mooge of weaponizing tribalism, a stark indicator that the populist mayor's dream of eradicating clan based politics was ultimately swallowed by the chaotic reality of council dynamics.
A Living Political Lesson
Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge serves as a living political case study for Somaliland. His tenure proved that a dedicated reformist can indeed pave miles of roads, protect public assets, save taxpayer money, and respect constitutional term limits.\
However, his time in office also delivered a sobering reality check. It demonstrated how incredibly difficult it is for a single individual to completely dismantle a deeply rooted system of administrative dysfunction, political tribalism, and lack of transparency. The future will remember Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge as a highly active mayor who delivered undeniable physical progress, yet found himself hindered by the very systemic flaws he originally swore to eradicate.