Author: abdaz mohaz

Somalia’s president used the opening of the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa to demand larger and more concessional flows of climate finance, arguing that the continent’s development prospects and global decarbonisation goals “are inseparable.” The intervention underscored Mogadishu’s efforts to leverage its vulnerability to climate shocks into diplomatic capital. Somalia faces one of the highest levels of exposure to droughts and floods in the Horn of Africa, compounded by decades of conflict and fragile institutions. Adaptation projects in agriculture, water management, and infrastructure remain underfunded, and the government depends heavily on external support. By framing its call within a…

Mogadishu has unveiled a sweeping blueprint aimed at steering Somalia toward economic modernization and institutional resilience, underscoring the government’s determination to move beyond decades of fragility. The plan, announced in late December, sets out priorities for infrastructure, governance, and investment, positioning Somalia as a potential growth hub in the Horn of Africa if political and security conditions stabilize. The blueprint emphasizes rebuilding state institutions, improving fiscal management, and fostering private sector development — areas long identified as critical bottlenecks in Somalia’s recovery. It also aligns with commitments made to international financial institutions, which have tied debt relief and future lending…

A rescue operation turned deadly in Puntland this week when a boat carrying civilians capsized, leaving at least five people dead. The incident, reported by Somali authorities, underscores both the acute humanitarian vulnerabilities faced by communities in the Horn of Africa and the structural weaknesses of Somalia’s emergency response systems. The accident occurred as local teams attempted to aid residents affected by flooding, part of a broader pattern of climate-driven disasters that have battered Somalia in recent years. Heavy rains, flash floods, and recurrent droughts have displaced thousands, eroded livelihoods, and deepened food insecurity. Relief operations are often hampered by…

Somalia is pressing ahead with plans for electoral reform, as officials in Mogadishu seek to move beyond the clan-based power-sharing system that has defined the nation’s politics for decades. The initiative, described by leaders as a “march toward fair elections,” reflects both the urgency and fragility of Somalia’s state-building project. Since its civil war in the early 1990s, Somalia has relied on a formula that allocates parliamentary seats along clan lines — a system widely criticized as unrepresentative and prone to political deadlock. The current government under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has vowed to introduce a more direct and transparent…

Somalia finds itself at a pivotal moment, navigating electoral reform, economic modernization, and urgent humanitarian crises, while simultaneously deepening ties with its neighbors in a volatile region. Over the past week, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, while Mogadishu pressed forward on an ambitious blueprint for development and sought to consolidate momentum toward fairer elections. Against this backdrop, the nation also mourned the deaths of civilians after a rescue boat overturned off Puntland’s coast. Somalia’s internal trajectory has been shaped by a dual agenda: building institutions and managing crises. The government’s unveiling of a…

Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi is expected to visit Qatar in the coming weeks as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to revive long-stalled talks with Somalia’s federal government, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The visit, still unconfirmed publicly by Somaliland’s government, is reportedly being brokered by Qatari officials who have long sought to mediate between Hargeisa and Mogadishu. Dialogue between the two sides — which have no formal diplomatic ties — has remained frozen since the collapse of previous talks held in Djibouti in 2020. Somaliland, a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa, has operated autonomously since…

A coalition of Somali women journalists and rights defenders has launched a groundbreaking initiative to combat harassment, workplace discrimination, and violence against female media workers, marking a bold push for gender justice within Somalia’s embattled press sector. The campaign, unveiled in Mogadishu under the banner “Breaking Chains, Smashing Barriers,” brings together newsrooms, legal advocates, and grassroots activists in a collective effort to protect women journalists — who often face a dual burden of repression: one rooted in Somalia’s wider hostility toward press freedom, and another driven by patriarchal norms and gender-based threats. Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries…

A searing new report released on World Press Freedom Day has accused Somali authorities of fostering a “culture of repression” against journalists, documenting dozens of violations including arbitrary arrests, censorship, intimidation, and digital surveillance over the past year. Published by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and supported by international watchdog groups, the 2025 State of the Media Report paints a grim picture of press conditions in Somalia — particularly in Mogadishu and contested federal states. The report catalogs over 70 incidents involving threats or violence against media professionals, including the shutdown of independent radio stations, harassment of female…

A landmark legal defense roundtable held in Mogadishu has called for the creation of a regional framework to protect journalists across Eastern Africa, responding to rising threats against the press amid shrinking civic space and political volatility. The event, hosted by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) in collaboration with international press freedom organizations, brought together legal experts, civil society leaders, and representatives from media unions in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The focus: forging a path toward legal harmonization that guarantees journalists’ rights regardless of national borders. Journalists in the region continue to face censorship, arbitrary arrest,…

The head of Somalia’s leading journalism union met with the newly appointed African Union mission chief in Mogadishu this week, raising concerns over the safety of reporters and urging AU forces to strengthen safeguards for press freedom in conflict zones. The meeting comes at a pivotal moment for Somalia’s media sector, which continues to operate under pressure from both militant groups and government authorities. Journalists face harassment, arbitrary detention, and violence — particularly in regions where Somali National Army (SNA) and AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces are conducting joint military operations. Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary-General of the National…