The Rise, Risk, and Reality of Sovereignty: Siad Barre’s Somalia and Traoré’s Burkina Faso
Africa’s pursuit of full sovereignty is rarely a linear march; it is a turbulent rhythm of ebbs and flows, where the promise of liberation frequently collides with the harsh realities…
HSM’s Presidency: Experience Matters and Legacy Must Be Earned
The overwhelming majority of Somalis reject the naïve sentiment that political loyalty should replace sound judgment.
My Grandmother’s Faith Was Never in Her Fabric
My grandmother prayed five times a day. She fasted every Ramadan, gave to the poor, and could recite long passages of the Qur'an from memory.
Somalia’s Forgotten 21 Years: A Nation That Refuses to Study Its History Is Condemned to Repeat It
Somalia has failed to learn from one of the most consequential periods in its modern history: the 21 years of military rule from 1969 to 1991.
Fractured Federation: Somalia’s Political Polarization and the 2027 Electoral Crisis
The announcement of a new federal election timetable for 2027 has deepened fault lines, threatening to unravel years of progress and potentially drag Mogadishu back into civil conflict.
BLACK OCTOBER: The Month That Bleeds
If Somalia had a national month of mourning, it should be October. No other October in modern Somali history has produced so much death in so short a span.
The Squeezed State: Djibouti Caught in the Crossfire of the Horn
For decades, the Republic of Djibouti has leveraged its prime location at the nexus of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to transform a barren, arid landscape into…
Somalia Needs Partners, Not Protectors: Why HSM Must Tread Carefully with the UAE
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s reported willingness to restore close ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is deeply concerning.
The Confidence to Win: How Somalis Became a Political Force in the West
In just over a decade, Somali communities across Western democracies have moved from the margins of political life to the heart of decision-making.
Kenya’s Oil Ambitions and Somalia’s Maritime Rights: Where Does the Boundary Lie?
Kenya is moving forward with ambitious plans to establish a major oil refinery in the coastal city of Lamu.