Like many nations in Africa, Somalia has endured the legacy of the foreign expedition of greed throughout the continent. After the Berlin Conference 1884, Western European powers sought to divide Somaliland—one of the most homogeneous regions of Africa—into British Somaliland, French Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Ethiopian Somaliland (the Ogaden), and the Northern Frontier District (NFD) of British... 

For the first time in 22 years, the leader of western donor country, the British Prime Minister David Cameron announced on November 14, 2011, the hosting of an International Conference on ‘Somalia’ not fiefdoms in London. In his speech entitled Foreign Policy in the National Interest, the PM described Somalia as ‘a failed State that directly threatens British Interest.’ In essence, The PM’s... 

Somalia, has suffered over more than two decades of wars, famine, drought, malnutrition, diseases, exodus of hundred thousands of refugee living in squalid camps in neighboring countries, hundred thousands of internally displaced people uprooted by fighting and as a result many lives have been lost. Are we happy where we are? In my view, it has to be a bad leadership and there is an African Proverb... 

September 13, 2011   Reflecting upon the charade that surrounded the UN Consultative Meeting (UN-CM) held at Mogadishu Airport at a time when the entire Somalia is overwhelmed by the worst drought and famine in 60 years, two questions came into my mind: (1) Why the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) has decided to treat Somalis as ‘ignoramus characters’ who could not understand... 

On July 27 Rep. Peter King held his third Congressional hearing on the “radicalization” of Muslim Americans, putting the spotlight on Somali American youth. Only one Somali speaker gave testimony, Ahmed Hussen from Canada. Below Abdinasir Egal, a researcher with African Rights Monitor and organizer of the Somali Diaspora Youth Conference in Boston in mid July, voices his concerns. by Abdinasir... 

By: Abukar Arman - The worst thing that could happen to Somalia at this critical juncture—in its recovery from two decades of bloodshed and chaos— is to disrupt the momentum of security improvement and to derail the reformation process lead by Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and his cabinet. And that is exactly what the Kampala Accord has inadvertently done. But, who would have ever thought... 

In recent days Somalis have been demonstrating in Mogadishu and in all major cities across Somalia as well as in the neighbouring countries, particularly in Nairobi Kenya. These demonstrations could be interpreted as a way of expressing powerlessness and discontent on how foreigners time after time meddle in Somali affairs. Not a soul can refute the fact that most Somalis are weary of unwarranted... 

May 30, 2011 As a follow up to meeting on Somalia held in New York on May 11, members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) travelled to Nairobi, Kenya on May 24-25 for further consultation with leaders of Somalia, African Union (AU) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). After listening  the pathetic speeches of top leaders of the Transitional Federal Institutions of Somalia... 

INTRODUCTION It is difficult to cover all the problems in one article, so I selected interrelated issues which are most alarming ones and these are the consequences of vitamin D deficiency and Autism. READ MORE  Read More →

March 29, 2011 The parliamentary coup in progress in Mogadishu has eclipsed all other important topics in Somalia. The critical issues that deserve in depth examination include the relevance of Djibouti Peace Agreement (2008), the development and implementation of comprehensive strategy for peace and state-building, the foreign-driven constitution-making process and uncountable gatherings, the massive... 

Dahir, a black Somalian Muslim, remained in the room while the woman reportedly made hateful racist remarks and then called the police again. In the second call the woman claimed that Dahir had locked her in the study room, while Dahir claims that he left the door open.  Read More →

Dahir, a black Somalian Muslim, remained in the room while the woman reportedly made hateful racist remarks and then called the police again. In the second call the woman claimed that Dahir had…  Read More →

Transparency International (TI), the global ant-graft watch-dog, has placed Somalia the most corrupt country in the world. Out of the 178 in the latest global ranking released on Tuesday, October, 26, 2010, Somalia slipped one position down from its 177th ranking in 2009 and at the time only less corrupt than Afghanistan. I say, “There has to be a change of mind-set and change of guard in Somalia”.... 

By Dr. Yusuf   O.  Al-Azhari Many qualified authentic Somalis could argue on whether Federalism is the right option for our country in this period of deep decomposition, agony and antagonism of our Nation which dearth any system of Governance to be re-institutionalize for the past two decades which deeply depleted National values and the integrity of Somalia as a Nation. Gazing back on the... 

February 16, 2011 – It’s interesting to witness the intense vilification of the International Community (IC) by Ethiopia and Members of the Djibouti Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP-D) after the IC objected the three-year- extension of TFP-D’s tenure from August 22, 2011. Ethiopia and Djibouti (IGAD) encouraged and defended the self-serving TFP’s decision. MP Hassan Abshir (former... 

Clearly, the performance of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Technocrats has disappointed those who had hope for a fundamental change and held dear the revival of the “Somali Republic” on a sustainable foundation. The TFG of Technocrats has created more problems and distresses rather than confidence, accountability and hopeful future. In effect, it isn’t all that different from... 

By Mohamud Ahmed Email: maash68@gmail.com January 23, 2011 In Somalia, the clock is ticking toward the end of The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. The TFG’s tenure will expire in seven months, and the prospect of an extension is bleak. Farmajo’s administration fills the most unstable government in the world. Oftentimes, its occupants last... 

By Dr. Yusuf O.  Al-Azhari Somalia’s misfortune and inability to find a viable solution to its Political mess dragged on during 2009 and 2010; two years with many political façade, blood shade and massive displacement has just ended. Many speculations and facts have either been written or narrated through the media in these two years, with some positive and negative aspects about the survival future... 

For good governance, politicians accused of forgery, lies, corruption and incompetence should resign or be forced to leave office or thrown in jail if they are caught red-handed. President Sheikh Sharif, Prime Minister (PM) Mohamed Abdullahi Formajo, Minister Abdulkareem Jama of Posts, Telecommunication and Information (PTI) of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) are accused of forgery and... 

On January 19 2011, Southern Sudan will hold a referendum to decide if the South should secede from the North. It is all but certain that Southern Sudan will be the newest country in the African Union. The South’s secession sets new precedent in Africa. Such precedent presents ONLF with an opportunity to reaffirm and further their struggle to win independence from Ethiopia. The ONLF has enjoyed... 

A call for re organisation As I sat quietly, contemplating on my day, almost half aware, of the noises and the people riding the bus with me, I heard someone murmuring “are you Egyptian..?” he said.  …I carried on looking away through the windows…starring at the nothingness “Are you Egyptian..?” this time I could not ignore the voice it was loud enough to alert me.  I looked... 

The New Prime Minister was appointed on October 14, 2010 and October 20, 2010 the President and the New Prime Minister went to Parliament to plead confirmation but a block led by Sharif Hassan, the Speaker blocked and the speaker insisted that the vote a secret ballot instead of the usual of raising hands. However, it is reported that a deal was struck between the President, the Speaker and Prime Minister,... 

The draft constitution issued by the Independent Federal Commission on July30, 2010 is flawed but the Commission run advertisements through different Media outlets to promote and condition the Somalia people. The draft raises many questions without answers and it is contentious and controversial and it is the product of Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, the Speaker and former Prime Minister Omer Abdirashid... 

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo), the new Prime Minister designate was a former colleague of mine and fellow civil servant in Somalia’s Foreign Ministry. He was there almost a year when I joined the service in mid 1983. In the Foreign Ministry in Mogadishu, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed was a quiet, unassuming, conscientious and capable man. Like many who joined the service, he had idealistic and... 

Strategic Interests by J. Peter Pham, Ph.D. World Defense Review columnis Just when it seems things can get no worse for Somalia’s dubiously legitimate, utterly ineffective, and wholly self-serving “Transitional Federal Government” (TFG), the embattled clique pulls a surprise by sinking even deeper into the mire and, in the process, prolonging the agony of the Somali people and threatening...