By Mohamed A Yasin Somalia stands at one of the most consequential crossroads in its modern history. The national debate has moved well beyond elections, constitutional amendments, or the rivalry between competing political camps. The fundamental question now is whether the Somali state can preserve its political cohesion while confronting an insurgency that has spent...
By Abdullahi A. Nor Somalia’s constitutional crisis has evolved into something far greater than a dispute over election dates or political rivalries. At its core lies a fundamental question that will shape the country’s democratic future for generations: Can a constitutional republic function if the limits placed on executive power are no longer respected? That...
By Bashir M. Sheikh Ali For most of human history, people lived in small communities where survival depended largely on family, kinship and custom. They settled disputes, protected one another and organized social and economic life through personal relationships and shared obligations. As societies grew in size and diversity, however, some responsibilities became too large...
By Abdikarim Buh There is perhaps no greater tragedy than watching a young person’s dreams sold back to them as a commodity. Across the Horn of Africa today, an entire industry has emerged that profits not from creating opportunity but from manufacturing hope, packaging illusion, and marketing desperation to those least able to distinguish promise...
By Isha Qarsoon When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, his ministers, or his supporters are confronted with the government’s failure to provide basic public services, they return to one answer: it made Mogadishu safer. They point to the contrast with the capital in 2000 or 2010. Mogadishu is calmer, more functional, and more stable than it...
By Abdiqani Haji Abdi Kenya has spent decades building its reputation as East Africa’s financial, commercial, and investment hub. That reputation rests not only on economic growth but also on confidence in the integrity of its banking system, real estate market, and regulatory institutions. Investors choose jurisdictions where the rule of law prevails and financial...
By Hassan Yusuf A short video circulating widely on social media has reignited an important national conversation. In the clip, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appears to question why Somalia’s internal political issues were reflected in the Kampala summit communiqué, suggesting that such matters should not form part of a regional document. The remarks have generated...
By Anwar Maxamed Diiriye The Somali people, the global Somali diaspora, and lovers of Somali arts have lost one of their brightest cultural icons. On July 31, 2026, Axmed Cali Cigaal, one of the most influential figures in the history of Somali music and theatre, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a brief hospitalization. He...
By Mohamed Abdirizak, the former minister of foreign affairs of Somalia Why the next phase of state-building requires a renewed political consensus A diplomat recently asked me a question that has remained with me ever since. “Will Somalia ever be a united country again?” It was not the question itself that stayed with me. Diplomats...
By Mohammed A Mohammud (Baldho) Introduction Few Somali cities symbolise both the promise and the tragedy of Somalia as profoundly as Galkacyo. Situated at the heart of the country, the city has long served as a commercial gateway linking northern and southern Somalia. It is a place where trade, pastoral livelihoods and entrepreneurship have flourished...