By Abdinur Mohamud, Ph.D., & Melek Eyigun, Ph.D

Three decades after the Somali civil war, the Somali Studies International Association (SSIA) returned to Mogadishu and held its 15th triennial congress under the stewardship of the Somali National University (SNU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education of the Federal Government of Somalia.

Beset by prolonged conflict and security challenges for more than three decades, it became logistically impossible to organize such an august gathering in a Somali soil, resulting in the re-orientation of SSIA congresses outside of Somalia. From Hamburg, Germany, to Columbus, Ohio, USA, over a dozen congresses were held since its inception in 1979 under the direction of the SSIA board. For decades, many Somali studies scholars and students wondered if or when will the congress return to Somalia.

Following successful congresses in Hargeisa, Somaliland in 2018 and Jigjiga, Ethiopia in 2021, the former rector of SNU, Professor Hassan Mahadallah, saw an opportunity and took a bold initiative submitting a proposal on behalf of Somalia for hosting the next SSIA congress in Mogadishu in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education led by Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir.

Fortunately, this timely but daring initiative paved the way for the eventual return of the SSIA congress to Mogadishu, Somalia, which effectively hosted the congress on the date of December 15-18, 2024.

Moreover, it is noteworthy to underscore that conference organizers selflessly delivered a well-planned, well-organized and well-attended educational platform with a variety of multidisciplinary topics that were relevant to Somalia and the Horn of Africa region. The flow and quality of the program as well as the keynote addresses, academic presentations and panelists dispelled any concerns on transparency and independence issues. In fact and contrary to these reservations the conference proved a successful joint effort between SNU, the flagship national university and the Somali Federal Government eager to show a very stable and secure Mogadishu which is ready for business.  Attendees included founding members Profs. Abdalla Mansur, Ali Jimale Ahmed, who joined through Zoom, and Poet Said Salah Ahmed. 

Other attendees include current conference chair Dr. Abdulkadir Diesow (Mogadishu, 2024) who also served as vice-chair for the SSIA congress in Turku, Finland (1998), Professor Abdulkadir Osman Farah, SSIA conference chair Aalborg, Denmark (2004), and Dr. Abdinur Mohamud, co-author of this article, SSIA conference chair, Columbus, Ohio (2007), and other academics, government officials & students from inside and outside the country. 

Background

According to Prof. Lee Cassinelli of the University of Pennsylvania who is a founding member, the foundations of the SSIA were laid initially in an informal meeting of interested scholars in Chicago, USA in 1978. The focus of the new association was to promote scholarly research, both within and outside Somalia, in social science disciplines, natural sciences, and humanities. The aim of the new association was the publication of research-based articles and the promotion of interest in and knowledge of Somalia and its peoples. The founders envisioned the new association to encourage international cooperation and facilitate the exchange of ideas among scholars engaged in research on Somalia and the Somali people. Scholars attending the Chicago meeting include Profs. Charles Geshekter, B.W. Andrzejewski, Said Sheikh Samatar, J. Joseph Pia, Richard Greenfield, and Lee Cassanelli.

Subsequently, the first congress of the Somali Studies International Association convened in Mogadishu from 6–13 of July 1980 with Hussein M. Adam and Charles Geshekter publishing its proceedings twelve years later, in 1992. Following SSIA’s successful accomplishments in generating interest and enthusiasm among active and new scholars helped pave the way for strengthening the SSIA to hold 15 triennial congresses to date (with three-year intervals) and few extraordinary conferences such as the one held in Turku, Finland in 1998.  

The following countries hosted one or more of the fifteen SSIA congresses since its founding in 1978. Mogadishu, Somalia (1980), Hamburg, Germany (1983), Rome, Italy (1986), Mogadishu, Somalia (1989), Worcester and Boston, USA (1993), Berlin, Germany (1996), Turku, Finland (1998), Toronto, Canada (1999), Aalborg, Denmark (2004), Columbus, Ohio & concurrently with  Djibouti (2007), Lillehammer, Norway (2012), Helsinki, Finland (2015), Hargeisa, Somaliland (2018), Jigjiga, Ethiopia & Gothenburg, Sweden (2021), and finally a return to Mogadishu, Somalia after three decades in (2024).

Much of the success of the SSIA congresses stem from a strong collaboration between the SSIA board, fondly known as the “Gurti” in Somali, and the organizing committees of host institution(s) and a shared realization that the success of an international congress of such magnitude rests on the ability of the host institutions to collaborate with other higher education institutions in their region as well as raise necessary logistical supports from governmental and non-governmental agencies. Support from host governments is often pursued to ensure smooth immigration processes as well as security and other logistical supports.

Read more: The Return of Somali Studies International Congress to Mogadishu

Abdinur Mohamud, Ph.D., & Melek Eyigun, Ph.D