Author: Hamda

Hamda is a PhD candidate and a Somali-Canadian-based aspiring writer. Her background is in a Joint Honours degree in Political Science and Public Administration. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science and Feminist and Gender studies specialization in Public Policy. She is particularly passionate about writing articles on Somali news from a gender and policy perspective, highlighting the experiences and perspectives of women.

Beyond Clan Politics: Opportunities for Peace and Growth in Somalia

Somalia is not a failed state or a country defined by its past conflicts; it is a nation of extraordinary potential, filled with young minds eager to rebuild and a diaspora willing to invest their knowledge, skills, and resources.

Uniting for Change: Overcoming Inequality, Violence against Women and Minorities

As I traveled through various cities in Somalia and interacted with different people, I was struck by the common challenges faced by the Somali community. From pervasive inequality to violence against women and minorities, these issues continue to affect the country. However, I also witnessed a growing sense of unity among the Somali people as […]

Awdal’s Development Disparities and the Quest for Independence

Borama, the capital of Awdal State, presents a poignant example of underdevelopment and inadequate infrastructure. While it has the potential to flourish as a center of commerce and progress, the lack of proper roads, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions has stymied its growth.

Arday: A Cultural Revolution Unveiled in Somali TV Series

In the embryonic but promising realm of the Somali film industry, a TV series called “Arday”, which means “student” in Somali, has risen as an innovative and boundary-breaking phenomenon…

Journeying Through Awdal: Roots, Resilience, and Urgent Need for Investment

As a young and proud Somali from Awdal, I was thrilled to embark on a seven-month journey with my family to explore the breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Awdal, Somalia…

Breaking the Barriers: Women’s Struggle for Political Participation in Somaliland

Somaliland, a self-declared state in the Horn of Africa, has long struggled with issues of gender inequality and misogyny within its political system.

Dila Massacre 1991

The Dila Massacre, the focal atrocity, involved a series of clan-based mass executions carried out by rebels of the Somali National Movement (SNM), dominated by the Isaaq clan, against the townspeople just after the collapse of the Somali government in early February 1991.

The Beautiful People of Mogadishu

In September 2021, my mother and I got the opportunity to visit Mogadishu, the White Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was my first visit to Somalia’s capital city since I was born and raised abroad. But my mother was no stranger to the city of hope. Her first trip was in the 1970s, and […]

Somali Women in Photography

Still Life is the handiwork of Sagal Ali, the director of the Somali Arts Foundation, which she founded in September 2020…

Canadian School Renamed After Hodan Nalayeh

The Vaughan Secondary School was renamed Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School last week after the York Region District School Board trustees voted 10-2 in favour. Hodan Nalayeh was a Somali-Canadian media executive, a community activist, and an entrepreneur who had lost her life in the Asasey Hotel Attack in Kismayo, Somalia, in 2019. Among several other […]

Canadian Forces Abuses In Somalia, 29 Years Later (15,943)
Canadian soldiers sent to Somalia as part of the global humanitarian effort captured a 16 year-old child named Shidane Abukar Arone and viciously tortured him to death in their camp.
The Reason Behind the Erroneous Assumption that Somalis are Caucasian (15,508)
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a belief known as the Hamitic theory gained popularity as an anthropological and linguistic theory.
Dila Massacre 1991 (14,683)
The Dila Massacre, the focal atrocity, involved a series of clan-based mass executions carried out by rebels of the Somali National Movement (SNM), dominated by the Isaaq clan, against the townspeople just after the collapse of the Somali government in early February 1991.
Borama Massacre: The Right To Remember (13,787)
After three decades, the right to remember the victims of the Borama massacre and to speak publicly about the killings committed by the SNM militia is still banned by the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.
How Foreign Lobbying for Somaliland Ignores a Tinderbox (10,865)
Foreign lobbyists campaigning for Somaliland base their arguments on carefully selected clichés or guided tours in Hargeisa...
Why the 1969 Revolution is still relevant today (8,627)
Today is the anniversary of the October 21, 1969 revolution that put the armed forces in control of Somalia. It all started with a bloodless coup after the assassination of the first democratically elected president, Abdirashi Ali Sharmarke, on October 15, 1969.
How Las Anod Killings Initiated SSC Self-rule (7,256)
By attempting to violently stifle the power of the people, the oppressive secessionist regime of Somaliland not only hastened its downfall but began the countdown to self-rule for Sol, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC).
The Flag Martyrs Of Somaliland (7,099)
Young people, girls and boys, who were celebrating the country's independence on June 26 outside the city of Borama were seized by police and then were taken to Hargeisa, Gabiley and Mandera Prison...
Factors Impeding Somalia-Somaliland Talks (6,968)
the issues I have discussed will provide readers with valuable insights into the factors impeding Somalia–Somaliland talks. I believe this will empower them to challenge the political elites who benefit from the status quo...
Awdal to Break Free from Somaliland (6,894)
Now that Las Anod regained its freedom, all eyes are on Awdal to break free from Somaliland oppressive choke-hold.
The 4.5 Clan Model: A Somali-owned Solution (6,418)
For decades, Somalia has been using a clan-power sharing model known as “4.5”. Some believe the model has an external origin (Sodere, 1997) and was institutionalized in the Arta (2000) peace process, in Djibouti. In reality, the initial shape of this model was locally devised in January 1991.
How Roble Prepared For His Coup Attempt (5,934)
Few people expected that Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, described as a peacemaker for his apparent neutrality and his apolitical past, would be at the origin of this new crisis.
Somalia Elects Parliament Speakers Amid Controversy (5,929)
Following a tumultuous week, the two chambers of the 11th Somali parliament, whose members were sworn in on April 14, finally elected their speakers...
How Abiy’s Red Sea Speech Aims to Reshape the Horn of Africa (5,832)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's obsession with access to the Red Sea came to light after the broadcast, on October 13, of a speech to parliamentarians...
The Irir Samaale Ploy to Divide and Perpetuate Chaos (5,746)
The clan-based political alliance around Irir Samaale, hatched by the Djiboutian president and his allies in Somalia, the president of the federal government and the head of the separatist region of Somaliland, has recently caused concern among the Somali public...