Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Two decades after the collapse of the Somali central government have now gone, yet Somalia remains a failed state. Today our country is the world’s greatest humanitarian disaster.

The situation is unbelievable. By every single human measurement Somalia is now in worst condition ever, look at the on going crimes and criminality level — killings, kidnappings, high inflation rate, consistent droughts, terrorism, piracy activity, refugees and IDPs.

Today almost 3.5 million people are in urgent need of assistance. We all have lost family members and friends, millions are wounded, others disable for ever.

Look at the brain death of the Somali people, there are millions of Somali refugees worldwide who are Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Businesspersons, Journalists and Students. These are the people who should have built the country, if they were given a chance to perform.

Fairness, we must accept that this entire catastrophe is done by us. We led our country in to these endless wars with the catastrophic consequences and it should have been better to blame our self, because majority of Somali people did commit mistakes — though mistakes are part of being human, but you have to learn from your past mistakes and never do it again

In our Somali societies - the biggest crime is killing fellow Somalis; the smallest crime committed is engaging in smeary campaign against another fellow Somali or maybe cheered somebody who already killed other fellow Somali for some reason; that is the naked fact.

Through history, when countries shed innocent blood — the only way to gain Allah’s mercy is repentance (Towbah), because the condition for forgiveness is dependent upon honest repentance.

I don’t think that we will regain our unison, dignity and restore Somalia’s leadership in Africa if we don’t gather a week long “National Repentance and Prayer Rally” and ask for Allah’s forgiveness.

As a citizen — a proud citizen of Somalia and a fellow citizen of the World, I am posting this prayer request to all Somalis worldwide that the time has come for us to humble ourselves as a Nation and seek jointly Allah to forgive us and i urge you fellow Somalis and for the human race at large to join us in the praying for the peace for Somalia, irrespective of who, where, when, and how the war began.

The following is a praying guideline that i believe it is the most superior way to asking for forgiveness form Allah.

· (Day One) Praise Allah for who he is and his creation.

· (Day One) Thank Allah for your life, Islamic faith, health and that of your family, nation and world at large.

· (Day Two) Think of every Sin that you have been committed by the people of Somalia through ages past, which include National treason, murder, theft, corruption, sexual violence, political dishonesty, misinterpretation of Islam, intimidation and mistreatment of different clans and confess them in front of Allah.

· (Day Three) Have a general confession of the sins that our leaders at all level have committed and ask Allah to forgive them.

· (Day Four) Pray that Allah leads us in solving the crises that we are facing in Somalia.

· (Day Five) Pray that Allah prepares able pragmatic, nationalist, experience, wisdom, good instinct and proven understanding leaders for us, who will guide and to lead our nation to a new era of peace and broadly shared prosperity.

· (Day Six) Pray that our neighboring countries have a peace, harmony and better diplomatic ties.

· (Day Seven) Pray that Allah brings peace and reconciliation among our people and that we collectively participate in the recovery and development of our blessed beloved Nation.

My fellow Somalis, I personally believe this is the only way that will bring peace to Somalia. Somalia will have the national security, quality education, healthcare, food and jobs that we need and if we don’t repent very soon, we will not regain our sovereignty, unity and dignity and we will be stateless and refugee forever.

May we be encouraged to have a hope in building a new nation and decent life and May Allah bless us for more then we have ever been and may our land cease to be a base of Evil.

GOD Bless Somalia.

By Farah Mohamed ALI

The writer is a senior Somali journalist. He can be reached at [email protected]