The Limits of Remedy: Ignorance, Madness, and the Incurable Plague of Stupidity in the Somali Region of Ethiopia

"Ignorance can be educated, and insanity can be treated, but there’s no cure for stupidity." – Hirsi Neero

As I sat in the warm ambiance of Momochocha Cafeteria, taking a much-needed break, the aroma of my long-missed coffee latte filled the air. The warmth of the cup in my hands was a subtle reminder of simple pleasures often lost in the whirlwind of responsibilities. I scrolled through social media, my mind unwinding from the weight of the day, when a particular Facebook post by Hirsi Neero caught my attention. His words were sharp, cutting through the noise of my feed like a blade of truth: "Ignorance can be educated, and insanity can be treated, but there’s no cure for stupidity."

That quote lingered in my mind, unsettling in its raw accuracy. It spoke not just of individuals but of societies, of nations trapped in cycles of their own making. As I took another sip, letting the richness of the latte settle, my pen found its way to paper, compelled by the weight of those words. I did not ask Hirsi Neero what prompted him to write such a piercing observation, nor did I inquire about the context that birthed his frustration. It did not matter. His words fitted perfectly into my moment of thought that evening, resonating deeply with the realities of the Somali Region – where ignorance has been confronted, madness has been medicated, but stupidity remains an incurable plague that continues to cripple progress. This article is born from that moment of reflection, an exploration of the lines between ignorance, madness, and the incurable disease of stupidity that continues to haunt our political and social landscape.

The Educable Ignorance and the Treatable Madness

Ignorance is the absence of knowledge. It can be addressed by providing education, by broadening one’s horizon, and by encouraging the pursuit of truth. The Somali Region has seen moments of enlightenment where education has uplifted communities, fostered leadership, and birthed intellectuals who dared to challenge the cycle of backwardness. Every scholar, every poet, every leader who seeks reform is proof that ignorance is not permanent – unless it is willfully embraced.

Similarly, madness, whether personal or collective, can be medicated. The region has experienced moments of political insanity, cycles of war and revenge, and decisions that defied logic, yet history has shown that even the most chaotic periods can be healed with time, patience, and the right leadership. Reconciliation, peace accords, and institutional reforms have all attempted to treat the collective traumas that have haunted the land.

But there exists a deeper rot, one immune to knowledge and resistant to logic. That rot is stupidity.

The Incurable Disease: Stupidity in Governance and Society

Stupidity is not the mere lack of knowledge; it is the refusal to learn. It is not just madness; it is the rejection of sanity. In the Somali Region, we have witnessed leaders who, despite overwhelming evidence, repeat the same mistakes, mismanage resources, and stoke ethnic, clannish divisions for personal gain. We have seen educated men act with reckless abandon, proving that degrees do not cure stupidity if wisdom does not accompany them.

What explains the continuous cycle of weak governance? The failure to unite under shared interests? The inability to break free from petty rivalries? It is not ignorance, for knowledge is available. It is not madness, for the region has moments of clarity. It is sheer, stubborn stupidity – an insistence on repeating failures, a commitment to short-term gains at the cost of long-term prosperity, and an addiction to self-destruction.

Though much improvement has been felt in the last seven years, the stupidity of waiting for another ghost to descend from the heavens to lead us – rather than trusting our own processes, institutions, and capacities – remains deeply ingrained. Instead of embracing a system that nurtures strong governance, many still indulge in the illusion that a mythical savior will appear, as if history has not already proven that no single man can fix what is broken in the absence of collective responsibility. The obsession with who should come to power or who should go is often fueled by personal and clannish sentiments rather than merit, competence, and a structured process. This is not just a leadership crisis; it is a reflection of societal dysfunction that prolongs our suffering

The Political Elite and the Delusion of Power

It is said that power does not corrupt; it merely reveals character. In the Somali Region, power has revealed an astonishing level of short-sightedness among some leaders. Every new administration promises reform, yet many fall into the same traps – favoring ethnic loyalties over competence, prioritizing personal survival over regional development, and mistaking loyalty for ability.

Policies are drafted with no intention of implementation. Alliances are formed only to be broken the next day. Leaders who should be architects of progress become merchants of chaos. And when everything falls apart, the blame is placed on external forces rather than internal failures. This is not ignorance; this is stupidity.

A Society That Chooses Its Chains

But the problem does not rest solely with leadership. A society that tolerates mediocrity, that celebrates incompetence, and that allows emotions to override reason is equally guilty. Stupidity is voting for the same failed leaders and expecting a different outcome. It is allowing history to repeat itself when lessons have been written in blood. It is watching the region suffer while refusing to hold those responsible accountable.

There are those who would rather see their ethnic group win than see the region prosper. There are those who mistake loud rhetoric for visionary leadership. There are those who celebrate temporary victories while the region remains shackled to poverty and division. This is not mere ignorance; it is stupidity by choice.

Breaking the Curse: The Path Forward

If ignorance can be cured with education and madness can be treated with medicine, what is the antidote to stupidity? It lies in courage – the courage to change, the courage to challenge, and the courage to think beyond self-interest.

The Somali Region must recognize that progress will not come from repeating past mistakes. It will not come from electing leaders based on ethnic loyalty. It will not come from waiting for others to solve problems that require local solutions. It will only come when the people demand accountability, embrace unity, and reject the comfortable illusions that have kept them in chains.

Stupidity may have no cure, but it can be resisted. It is a choice, and the Somali Region must choose wisely – before another decade is lost to the same affliction that has hindered its rise.

Mohamud A. Ahmed – Cagaweyne

+251900644648