Several months ago, at the US. Institute
of Peace in Washington, a young Somali attorney spoke about the humanitarian
crisis in her native country, Somalia. Confident and poised, she described the
plight of thousands of Somalis gripped by poverty, famine and displacement. The
audience, comprising mostly representatives of American government agencies and
international aid groups, listened attentively to the articulate and forthright
speaker. Her name: Osob M. Samantar
Osob, 31, laughed as she told me she had
always been opinionated, even as a child. While she was in 8th
grade, her school held a career day, during which various professionals descended
upon the campus. One of the visitors — a lobbyist who spoke during the last
session — left a lasting impression on Osob. The lobbyist asked students to
debate whether the driving age should be increased from 16 to 18. It was a
lively and memorable discussion, and Osob was impressed. She followed the
lobbyist to the parking lot and asked her, “Excuse me, how can I become a
lobbyist?” The lobbyist turned to her and simply said, “Go to law school, kid,”
and then drove away in a gold Jaguar. To say that Osob has been hooked ever
since is an understatement.
As Osob grew older, the benefits of a legal
education became increasingly apparent to her. “It is vital in terms of
critical thinking, communication, and writing skills,” said Osob, now a
contract attorney in Washington DC. She is also working to build the Somali
Forward Group—an entity that does consultancy work in Somalia in financial,
legal, and policy fields. “Our main focus is institutional capacity building
and human capacity injection,” Osob said.
She believes the Somali diaspora, which
has had the privilege of extensively learning about the rule of law, diversity,
and technical expertise, can share and give back to the Homeland. In fact, Osob
advises Somalis in the diaspora who want to return home, to be genuine people who will
put Somalia’s interests above their own personal agendas.
When she is not working, Osob volunteers
at the Somali Embassy in Washington and helps with various events throughout
the year. “We are all proud of her and her dedication,” said Ahmed I. Awad,
Somalia’s Ambassador to the United States. “She was instrumental in the opening
of the embassy in 2015.”
Most recently, Osob teamed up with equally
talented women under a group called “Famine Resistors,” which is raising funds and
awareness, and is looking for “creative ways to prevent and gather solutions to
put an end to the vicious cycles of recurring famine.”
Osob comes from a family steeped in
Somali history. Her late father, Mohamed Ali Samantar, occupied important
positions during his lifetime, and served as vice president, defense minister,
and prime minister. He was also considered the architect of Somalia’s national
army in the 1970s—once one of the strongest in Africa. But to Osob, like any
little girl growing up, her father was the perfect role model.
Today, Osob’s other role model is her older
sister, Zahra, who has also held important government positions in Somalia, including
as the Minister of Women and Human Rights. “Zahra is the champion for women,
human rights, and minorities,” Osob said. She saw Zahra in action in Mogadishu
several years ago. “People meet her and she welcomes them with a smile and kind
words,” said Osob, glowing. “That’s the type of person I want to be.”
Osob draws inspiration not just from her
talented family members — she is also a big fan of Oprah Winfrey. “Oprah built
an empire from scratch,” Osob said, smiling. “She is associated with greatness,
success, and grander.” As an avid reader and listener of podcasts, Osob recommends
one podcast: “Making Oprah,” to appreciate and understand Oprah’s humble
beginnings.
Osob is optimistic about Somalia, in
spite of the huge challenges the country faces. She dismisses the naysayers who
think Somalia may never experience better times again. “Hope,” she said, “is
still alive.” However, there are important tasks that need to be done.
“We need reform in all sectors in order
to align with the federalist system,” she continued. As an attorney, she
believes fixing the country’s weak judicial system is paramount. Moreover, equally
important areas that need to be developed include “providing real security in
Mogadishu, a reform in the agriculture and fishing industries, a reasonable and
fair tax code, improvements in public school and health system, and most of
all, injecting experienced personnel.”
In spite of the fact that Somalia’s
challenges are massive, Osob is not one to be easily discouraged. She is
optimistic and sees a bright future for the country. “Look at America 100 years
ago,” she said, “a country that had civil war, slavery, Jim Crow and
institutional racism, child labor, and an unequal criminal justice system.” She
believes that no country is perfect, but that there has to be a commitment to
“reconcile our differences and never shy away from incorporating marginalized
groups into the decision-making process.”
Osob said that she recently read a quote
by Harriet Tubman: “If you are tired, keep going. If you are scared, keep
going. If you are hungry, keep going. If you want to taste freedom, keep
going.”
Osob Samantar is the perfect embodiment
of this quote as she moves forward, tirelessly advancing the cause and
addressing the critical needs of Somalia’s displaced people.
