Author: AbdiQani Badar

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

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. In a drastic move, Abdi has unilaterally ceded a portion of Somalia’s coastline to Ethiopia in exchange for shares in Ethiopian Airlines and potential recognition […]

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Abiy Ahmed

How Abiy’s Red Sea speech aims to reshape the Horn of Africa

PM Abiy Ahmed described Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea as “inalienable rights” based on the historical, geographic, human and economic interconnectedness of the entire region. He also presented different scenarios to get a port for his country to thwart an upcoming Ethiopian population explosion that would threaten peace in the region.

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General Odowaa

How General Odowa dismissal brings Somalia closer to a despotic rule

The recall of General Addow from retirement announces three things. First, a malleable faithful in the hands of Hassan Sheikh takes the reins of the army. Second, the army is concentrated in the hands of the president’s clan. Third, all forces coming under the federal government forces stationed in Gedo are firmly under the indirect control of Ahmed Madobe.

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Erdogan’s Journey to Restructure Turkish Society

The Turkish nation has, for the first time since the founding of the republic in 1923, voted overwhelmingly and gave President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the mandate to continue his journey of restructuring Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s century-old legacy in Turkey. But are fears about an Islamist agenda justifiable? Is a total break with the severe secularism […]

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NCC members

Public outcry after Somali leaders’ decision to extend their mandate

On the evening of May 27, the National Consultative Council (NCC) announced that a decision had been made by its eight participants present to overhaul the constitution, opening the way to direct voting. Despite the laudable goal, this has prompted an almost consensual public outcry as it appeared that the president and his pals are […]

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The Irir Samaale Leaders

The Irir Samaale Ploy to Divide and Perpetuate Chaos

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, who see it as a political ploy to divide and perpetuate chaos in Somalia. The […]

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Reflecting on Ukraine Issue: One Year After

The war opposing Ukraine and Russia has been raging for a year and as in any war, the biggest casualty is not only the truth, but also the global economy. It’s also hard to fathom what impact an armed conflagration of such magnitude can have on warring nations, particularly on the rights and freedoms of […]

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Las Anod Protest

Why Somaliland’s Attempt to Subdue Las Anod is Doomed

The war to control Las Anod is in its eighth day and despite public outcry and international condemnation over the atrocities committed, is not about to end. Somaliland’s stubbornness to subdue the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn region despite the locals’ rejection of secession is hard to understand given the lessons from our history. The Somali […]

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Las Anod Uprising

How the Las Anod Killings Started the Countdown to SSC Self-rule

As in any revolution, the people is the spearhead of political change. 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 the Sol, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) regions. The brunt of the occupation Four weeks ago, […]

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1969 Revolutionary Council

Why the 1969 Revolution is still relevant today

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. President Sharmarke was elected in 1967 amid controversy over an election marred by […]

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