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Mogadishu – Somalia is at the forefront of countries dealing with the impact of climate change.

Droughts and devastating flooding are among the most visible consequences, but the impact goes much deeper: these climate events threaten livelihoods and aggravate already-severe security and humanitarian challenges.

As Somalis deal with rebuilding their country after decades of conflict and civil strife, persuading them to focus on climate change and what it means for Somalia’s future is no easy feat.

Not so for Abdishakur Abdirahman Mohamud ‘Daaha.’

Galkayo – Quite a few cities in the world are split – sometimes by historical differences, sometimes by administrative divisions and, in some cases, by national borders.

But very few of them have such a turbulent recent history as Galkayo, a city which straddles two of Somalia’s Federal Member States, Puntland and Galmudug.

The route to this transformation has been long, and the city’s young dwellers played a pivotal role in reshaping Galkayo's future through formal avenues, such as active participation in elders-led peace negotiations under the leadership of the Mudug Youth Forum, as well as informal initiatives such as awareness-raising campaigns, projects, and safe spaces fostering dialogue and building trust.

Kismayo – In many developed countries, when lawyers are asked about why they entered the legal field, they often note the impact of fictional television shows watched during formative years – they mention how inspiring it was to see onscreen lawyers in action, fighting for justice and accountability against seemingly insurmountable odds.

This was not the case for Ali Abdullahi Mubarak.

For Mr. Mubarak, a promising young lawyer in Jubaland, Somalia’s southernmost Federal Member State, his path to the law was shaped by very real experiences growing up during his country’s civil war and ensuing civic strife.

Mogadishu – The importance of access to health services for all Somalis came under the spotlight this week at an event in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to mark the Universal Health Coverage Day (UHCD).

“Achieving universal health coverage and ensuring access to health services for all Somalis

Camels have shaped Somalia’s cultural identity long before Somalia was sovereign.

When Somalia gained independence in 1960, Somalis found it fitting to describe the moment as “Maandeeq,” which means milk-camel, to stand as a symbolic name for their newly-acquired freedom.

Today, camels endure as a dependable resource and symbol of resilience for Somalis despite a decades-long humanitarian crisis marred by recurrent drought and violent conflict. Recognising the camel as a key indicator of stability and an important vehicle for peace presents an opportunity for enhancing political analysis.

Mogadishu – The importance of increasing Somali women’s participation and inclusion in their country’s political and decision-making arenas was underlined at a recent gathering in the Somali capital, which also included the launch of an initiative to help prevent gender-based violence. 

“It is an indisputable fact that women played a critical role in overcoming challenges of conflict, drought and hunger in Somalia over the years, but the question today is whether they have been fully recognized for their efforts – I believe it is only fair to do so,” said Somalia’s Federal Minister of Family Affairs and Human Rights Development, Lt. General Bashir Mohamed Jama.

Kampala – For a person with a disability in Somalia, going about daily life is no walk in the park.

Two young Somali men can attest to that – Abdirahman Mohamud Kulane and Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdullahi. The pair are two of some 360,000 Somalis estimated to have some form of vision impairment.

Given their own experiences and those of the 2.5 million Somalis believed to be living with a disability, Mr. Kulane and Mr. Abdullahi have been determined to speak up and take action. The two men share a long-term commitment to raise awareness in Somalia about the rights of persons with disabilities. 

Baidoa – Aden Sheikh Issack has a small allotment on an eight-acre communal farm in Barwaqo, a small settlement of internally displaced people (IDPs) on the outskirts of Baidoa in Somalia’s Bay region. 

He fled there when the conflict and hunger in his former residential area became too much to bear

Mogadishu – The close and productive partnership between Somalia and the United Nations came under the spotlight at the recent launch of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).

UNTMIS was established on 1 November, following the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of

New York – Underlining the importance of consolidating peace and security gains in Somalia, the Security Council today decided that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) shall be called the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia and that the latter Mission shall