The meaning of Horgal & the study of Horgalism

The word (#Horgal) has become the most used Somali word for the past five years but more so in 2022 and 2023. While the meaning of the word varies, it has distinct political meaning.

Politically, the word Horgal translates into a politician or a leader who works for his own self-interest while totally neglecting the interest of the people he represents. In short, Horgal is a politician who holds no power in the political system. Such politicians are used by the larger system of Horgalism to oppress their own people.

Horgalism is the corrupt political system that creates and empowers politicians over the interest of the people. Horgalism is a system that serves political elites and political families while oppressing the people. Horgalism lets political elites and political families amass resources for themselves while denying the people political rights and basic services. In short, Horgalism is a subsystem in the larger tyrannical and dictatorship system that oppresses and impoverishes civilians while enriching political elites and political families.

Horgal and Horgalism are political terms in Somali politics. Both terms are rooted in a new phenome that originates from northern Somalia. The terms Horgal and Horgalism have a specific cultural and political history specifically in the SSC regions of northern Somalia. However, the terms have achieved widespread use and recognition in 2022 & 2023 due to the Lasanod war between SSC Khaatumo and Somaliland administrations of Somalia.

There is a widespread understanding in the Somali world that Sulayman Koore of Somaliland state of Somalia and regional governors of Ethiopia are examples of political Horgals.