By Mustaf Takoy
Wednesday October 29, 2025
When The Copenhagen Post published my story about being denied a Danish student residence permit despite being awarded a fully funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship at the University of Copenhagen. I thought maybe this painful experience would open the eyes of those in power.
Soon after, my phone didn’t stop ringing. Journalists from all over international and local wanted interviews, headlines, and stories. But I said no. Not because I was afraid to speak, but because I believed my government had finally heard me.
I was contacted by the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Director General of the Immigration Office himself. They told me personally that the government is aware of my case and that they are working to find a solution. Out of respect and trust, I stayed silent. I wanted to believe and hope that Somalia would stand up for her son.
But days turned into weeks, those 12 days felt endless. Yet, at the end of it all, they did nothing. My calls went unanswered. My messages were ignored. The same people who had promised to help simply disappeared. I was left alone, forgotten not by strangers, but by those who had given me their word.
This pain is not just mine. It is the pain of many Somali youth who work hard, dream big, and represent our nation with pride, yet find no support when they need it most. I never wanted sympathy, I wanted justice, fairness, and recognition for the hard work that brought me this far. It wasn’t Denmark’s rejection that broke me, it’s the silence from my own home. The silence that tells you, you are on your own.
Still, I am not here to spread bitterness. I am here to speak to my fellow Somali brothers and sisters, especially the youth: Let us stop believing in division and clan-based politics. Let us stand together as one nation, one people. If our fathers failed us, let us not fail our children.
Because what has destroyed our country is not a lack of talent or potential, it is the selfishness of our politicians, the endless divisions they create, and their refusal to put the people first. They place their own interests above the future of Somalia. We deserve leaders who unite us, not ones who profit from our pain. We must rise above their divisions and reclaim the hope they have tried to steal from us.
To my Somali youth, I say, never stop dreaming, never stop standing up for what is right, and never let anyone limit the greatness within you. I am still hopeful, and I still believe that change will come but only when we, the youth, decide to be the change.
Before I end, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who showed solidarity, compassion, and support during this journey. Your prayers, kind words, and encouragement gave me strength.
Special thanks to The Copenhagen Post and journalist Romy Tarantino thank you for telling my story with dignity, truth, and respect. You reminded the world that our stories matter.