The Star and the Struggle: How Somalia Found Its Soul
For decades, the blue of the Somali sky carried a deeper meaning than a mere horizon—it was the colour of a dream deferred. From the scorched plains of the north…
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 ...
Djibouti at 46: How Far Has the “Confetti of the Empire” Come?
The Republic of Djibouti celebrates its 46th years of independence from France on June 27th. For almost half a century, the country located in the Horn of Africa that General…
The Reason Behind the Erroneous Assumption that Somalis are Caucasian
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a belief known as the Hamitic theory gained popularity as an anthropological and linguistic theory.
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…
Las Anod: Under a Rain of Bullets and Shells
The shelling of Las Anod and surrounding fighting continues unabated, emptying the town of 80% of its residents.
Why the 1969 Revolution Still Matters 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…
Victims Remember the Café de Paris Crackdown
Djibouti's Gadabursi community and friends commemorates the fateful attack on the Café de Paris that occurred in Djibouti on September 27, 1990.
The Pragmatic Embrace: A History of Western Flirtation with Al-Shabab Elements
Western flirtation with Al-Shabab elements stems from a recurring chapter in a history where the “war on terror” continuously negotiates with the very terror it seeks to end, creating a…
The 4.5 Clan Model: A Somali-owned Solution
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)…