Opinions

Somalia: Al-Shabaab's Growing Clan Divide and the Government's Blind Spot

Somalia, a nation abundantly endowed with natural wealth—untapped oil and mineral reserves, fertile river valleys, strategic maritime positioning, and the longest coastline in mainland Africa—should be a regional powerhouse. Yet, for nearly four decades, the country has been trapped in a cycle of…

Three Years On: Plotters of Somali Woman Politician Amino Mohamed Abdi's Assassination Remain Uninvestigated

Her phone rang. MP Amino Mohamed Abdi sat on the sofa in front of me. Though I sensed the weight of the news she had just received, her expression remained unchanged.

One Person, One Vote in Somalia: A Sound Principle, Flawed Execution

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Somalia's push for a "one person, one vote" (1P1V) electoral system is an ambitious step toward realizing a more inclusive and democratic future.

Saudi Arabia Expands Energy Ties with Africa: A Look at Key Investments, Partnerships

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Kaab TV) – Earlier this week, Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud signed an agreement to develop an executive plan for energy efficiency cooperation, strengthening bilateral…

The Peril of Unchecked Public Land Auctions and the Rise of Oligarchs in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) – Somalia, still reeling from decades of civil war and political instability, is now facing a new deeply troubling crisis: the systemic auctioning of its public lands.

Scientists of the Global South, Unite!

By Louis Gouend

Finland: Does Minister Meri Rantanen, a Finnish far-right party member start county and municipal elections campaign from Somalia? Delving deeper into this issue

Finland's minister of interior affairs and far-right party member Meri Rantanen visited Somalia to find a way to deport Somali asylum seekers from Finland, according to a statement published on the Finnish Interior Ministry's home page, in what many see a move to target the ethnic paperless…

Oped - Somalia leaps towards digital transformation and drives country-wide financial inclusion through QR-based payments brought by BPC.

Somalia, historically characterised by a predominantly cash-based economy, has recently made significant developments toward digital financial inclusion. The country's financial landscape has long been shaped by limited access to formal banking services, with only about 15% of the population banked.…

Mogadishu's Complicity: Hassan Sheikh Schemes to Undermine Puntland's Counter-Terrorism Progress

LONDON, United Kingdom – The Somali Federal Government, having failed in its war against Al-Shabaab, has become envious of the robust operations being conducted by Puntland's security forces against the Islamic State (ISIS) launched in December.

Op-ED: Somali Government Must Commit to Fighting Corruption and Prudently Managing Natural Resources as it Signs Oil Contracts

On March 7, 2024, the Somali government signed a cooperation agreement with Türkiye to explore and develop offshore oil and natural gas resources. The agreement extends to transportation, distribution, refining, sales, and service operations of oil and related products derived from land and sea projects.