Author: Omar Salad

Based in Mogadishu, Omar is an IT specialist with a unique perspective shaped by his studies in political science. He applies this combined expertise to Somalia's recovery process, having facilitated and contributed to numerous strategic meetings on the subject.

Gamal’s Uphill Battle For Re-election

After weeks of an uphill battle, Gamal Hassan, the Somali Minister of Planning, saw his candidacy to represent his clan in the Federal Parliament blocked. The controversial announcement made yesterday by the Puntland Electoral Commission put an end to his re-election bid. Puntland’s State Election Implementation Team (SEIT) has published the much expected list of […]

How The Looming Deadline Reveals The Ugly Truth Of The Indirect Election

There are two days left to conclude Somalia’s parliamentary election as the February 25 agreed deadline approaches. With 70% of the 275 seats filled, politicians are resorting to dirty tricks to get their allies elected. Interestingly, the looming deadline revealed the ugly truth about the indirect election. For the past few days, things have been […]

PM Roble’s Offensive on State Security

Since Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble came under investigation for his involvement in the diversion of land belonging to the Somali National Army (SNA), he has gone on the offensive and stepped up attempts to undermine the security of the state. On January 1, Abdullahi Mohamed Nur, the Minister of Internal Security, ordered NISA agents […]

Will Roble Give In To Opposition Demand To Halt Elections?

Following the hubbub from an opposition group on the conduct of the federal elections and foreign diplomats supporting these latest grievances, Prime Minister Mohamed Roble is seeking support to respond to the opposition demand to halt the elections. The dozen “potential” presidential candidates, united under the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) headquartered at the Jazeera […]

Puntland Political Crisis Threatens Peace In Bosaso

Tension remains high in Bosaso as the Puntland Security Forces (PSF) and forces loyal to Said Deni, the president of Puntland, face each other following the dismissal by decree of the PSF commander. Said Deni tried last week to remove the PSF director Mahamud Osman Diyano and his officers. Deni has so far failed to […]

UK-drafted Resolution Renews UN Sanctions On Somalia

On November 15, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution drafted by the United Kingdom subjecting Somalia to a draconian sanctions regime for another year. The resolution is roughly similar to the previous one as it re-imposes the same limitations and prohibitions on the struggling nation while Somalia’s concerns about violations by foreign troops […]

Why Mulongo Was Expelled From Somalia

Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expelled the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo. A statement, dated November 4, 2021, sent to the African Union (AU) Commission in Addis-Ababa and the Office of African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the federal government of Somalia […]

Is Ahlu-Sunna A Terror Organization?

Since October 1st, Ahlu-Sunna-Wa-Jama’a (ASWJ) Militia, an extremist politico-religious group disbanded early last year, took over the town of Gurie-El and the surrounding region in Galmudug. ASWJ leaders arrived a month ago in the region to seemingly join a religious gathering after a year and a half of exile abroad. Galmudug state forces assisted by […]

Kenyan Bombs Rain On Gedo

A week ago, Kenyan Air Force indiscriminately bombed rural areas and towns in Gedo’s El-Waq district, a border region between Kenya and Somalia. The air campaign caused death among civilians, destruction of properties and communication infrastructure, and displaced thousands of residents. Terror under the Kenyan bombs Kenya had already undertaken similar airstrike but this one was particularly […]

Reactions to Presidential Decree to Limit Prime Minister Roble’s Powers

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 (15,510)
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 (13,789)
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 (10,867)
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 (7,101)
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 (6,969)
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 (6,895)
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 (5,747)
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...