The Somali diaspora has played a pivotal role in shaping the religious, political, and social landscape of Somalia, with Salafism emerging as a significant influence. Over recent decades, diaspora networks have channeled ideas, funding, and religious teachings into Somalia, contributing to the spread of Salafist ideology. This trend has had wide-ranging effects on Somali society, impacting governance, community values, and security dynamics. Politically, Salafism intersects with the country’s fragile state institutions, influencing local leadership and policy decisions. Socially, it has redefined norms, education, and community structures, while also fueling debates around identity and tradition. Security-wise, the ideology has been linked directly or indirectly to tensions between different factions and increased radicalization risks. Across the Horn of Africa, these changes resonate beyond Somalia’s borders, shaping regional stability and international relations. Understanding the diaspora’s role in promoting Salafism is essential for policymakers, researchers, and community leaders seeking to address both the opportunities and challenges it presents. This analysis sheds light on the complex interplay between migration, religion, and political transformation in Somalia today.
Somalia’s ongoing crises are intertwined with the rise of Salafism, a radical strain of Islam imported from the Gulf since the 1970s. Al-Shabaab is its most violent offshoot, but non-violent Salafist networks now permeate Somali society, politics, and culture. From widespread niqab and jilbab adoption to moral policing in Somaliland and Puntland, Salafists are reshaping the Somali way of life and suppressing progressive change. Salafist clerics oppose gender equality, Western education, and cultural expression, often forcing artists to renounce music. They strategically conceal their identity, avoiding labels like “Salafi” or “Wahhabi,” while embedding themselves in political and economic structures. Backed by wealthy business elites, movements like Al-I’tisam are gaining influence across Somalia and Somaliland. This form of Salafism differs from its Gulf counterpart many of its leaders were radicalized in Afghanistan or trained in Islamist universities abroad. They have merged political Islam with Salafi ideology, steering Somalia toward an Islamist state under the guise of state-building.