Author: AbdiQani Badar

AbdiQani Badar is a historian, political commentator and avid writer. He has written extensively on Somali issues and historical events.

Ankara-Mogadishu Axis

The Ankara-Mogadishu Axis: Partnership, Profits, and Peril

What began as a humanitarian overture amid famine has since evolved into one of Africa’s most consequential bilateral relationships—a multifaceted partnership spanning military bases, offshore energy exploration, …

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US and Israel Launch Surprise Attack on Iran

US and Israel Launch Surprise Attack on Iran: A War for Regime Change

USA and Israel launched a surprise military attack on Iran, shattering any pretense of peaceful negotiations…

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Somalia vs. the UAE: Sovereignty, Gulf Rivalries, and the Hidden War

Inside Somalia’s Rift with the UAE

When Somalia announced, in January 12, it was annulling all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, the language from Mogadishu was unmistakable…

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Are Somalis Black

Why Many Somali Americans Don’t See Themselves as “Black”

Somali Americans occupy a uniquely complex position in the U.S. racial landscape. They are racialized as Black but many of them resist identifying as such.

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Xeer Ciise Book violence

Between the Reflection of Xeer Ciise and the Resolve of Awdal

The ancient port city of Zeila, long a symbol of Awdal’s history and identity, became the epicentre of a violent political and social rupture the last couple of months.

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The 12-Day War to destroy Iran and reshape the Middle East

Broken Trust: The 12-Day War and the Death of Diplomacy

The recent 12-day war on Iran did not erupt in a vacuum. It was the culmination of years of shadow war, nuclear brinksmanship, and shifting regional alliances.

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Ethiopia expansionism in Somalia

A Persistent Existential Threat: Somalia’s Historical View of Ethiopia

The relationship between Somalia and Ethiopia is one of the most protracted and deeply rooted conflicts in the Horn of Africa. For Somalis, Ethiopia …

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Hassan Sheikh's tailor-made constitution

The Unilateral Gamble: Risking Somalia’s Fragile Unity for a New Constitution

On March 30, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made a fateful unilateral gamble, forcing through a new constitutional draft in a move that is now risking Somalia’s fragile unity.

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The Aerial Standoff over Somalia

Aerial Standoff: How Somalia’s Airspace Became a Conflict Zone

A dangerous dispute over Somalia’s skies has escalated in 2024, pitting the federal government against the breakaway region of Somaliland…

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Ethiopia deal with SL

Why Somaliland Poses an Existential Risk to the Somali Nation

The recent actions of Musa Bihi Abdi, the leader of the breakaway Somaliland region, have sparked significant concerns about the existential risk this renegade region poses to all of Somalia…

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