A year ago, I had the privilege to discuss elections with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
In this⤵️
@somalipubagenda
commentary, I reflect the discussions we had on elections, what has changed & suggestions for fixing a predictable crisis.
My wife in the podium explaining her experience in balancing study, family and work.
This is the day we have been waiting for many years.
Congradulations to you
@shukri_siyad
and City University Class of 2019
I have recently traveled to
#Baidoa
.
This is a short reflection on my observation of the booming business, the expansion of the city, the airport, public transport, food, people I met & more.
Read my ⤵️blog‘Getting back to Baidoa: a changing city’.
It was exactly ten years ago today, 14 August 2009, when I came to
#Mogadishu
.
This is a short reflection of the ten years I have lived in
#Mogadishu
.
I had the opportunity to visit the exact place Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan was born. It is about 18 km away from Buuhoodle.
This monument was built in 13 August 1923.
2020 was another productive year for
@somalipubagenda
and its centers (
@SPACLD
@SPACPPSD
).
It is an honor for me to lead a talented, youthful, hard-working, professional and competent team for the third consecutive year.
Proud moment for our family. After five years of study, my dear wife
@shukri_siyad
presented her thesis today at
@CU_mogadishu
. It is not easy to raise 2 kids, study and manage the good work of
@TayoTranslation
at the same time.
I have recently traveled to
#Dolow
for the first time.
In this blog post, I summarize my experience and observations of my short stay at the border town.
Read my ⤵️blog ‘Feeling the heat at the border: my visit to Dolow’.
Going back to
#Buulaburte
– my hometown – had a lot of emotional attachments.
The last time I was in the city was August 2010, when I was about to start my sophomore year at
@MogUniver
.
This is a reflection on my visit to
#Buulaay
.
After about 5 years away, I traveled back to the coastal city of
#Kismayo
.
In this blog post, I talked about my visit to Goobweyn, people I met, and my experience at the airport, beach, water, transport & more.
Read my⤵️blog ‘Catching up with Kismayo’.
According to
@Gobjoognews
,
#Somalia
's Prime Minister paid over $1 million ($1,064,167) for the construction of football playgrounds & an airport.
The money is not part of the approved govt budget for 2019.
Where did this money come from?
@DrBeileh
Is there an alternative solution to the 17 September agreement?
This
@somalipubagenda
piece I authored presents a potentially viable option that could be considered for the best interests of
#Somalia
, given the current political stalemate.
20 years ago today, on a Thursday morning, 7th December 2000 (10th Ramadan 1421) my father died in
#Buulaburte
.
Seeing him laid in the grave was the most emotionally painful memory in my life.
This is a tribute to my beloved father Abdullahi Sugunto
I have recently travelled to
#Jowhar
for a
@somalipubagenda
study.
I was able to visit some of the historic places in town: Xiintooy, Scarico Di Fondo & Isnaay sugar factory.
Read my blog👇‘Bitter-sweet lessons of Jowhar’
After almost 3 years, I traveled to
#Beledweyne
.
Visited my school, met my teachers, classmates & friends who are doing great things & observed the booming business.
Read my blog “Back in Beledweyne: Vivid Memories, Inspiring Stories, & a Bright Future”
2018 has been an amazing year for me with many achievements: finished my MPA, read 26 books, established & wrote analytical pieces for
@SomaliPubAgenda
, and took important career decisions.
Looking forward to 2019 with a good self-discipline and more readings and writings.
Meet
@MahadWasuge
executive director & researcher
@somalipubagenda
striving to change Somalia’s governance landscape through insightful research products & governance education. Read the inspiring story of Wasuge here:
Hirshabelle president tried many times to travel to Beledweyne. All failed.
The president needs to consider 1 of 2 options:
1. Let SEIT manage the 25 seats in
#Beledweyne
& address concerns after elections.
2. Relocate the capital city to Hiran & travel to Beledweyne next day
It was great to present
#Galmudug
reconciliation study jointly conducted by
@somalipubagenda
&
@InterpeaceTweet
to stakeholders in Nairobi.
Many thanks to
@Ahmed_Nabaddoon
for bringing together participants from different institutions who attended z event physically & virtually
Eleven years ago today (14 August 2009), I came to
#Mogadishu
with a mission to study at university.
This is a short reflection I wrote last year of ten years I have lived in
#Mogadishu
.
2021 was another productive year for
@somalipubagenda
and its centers and programmes (
@SPACLD
,
@SPACPPSD
@SPA_PAF
).
It is an honor for me to lead a talented, youthful, hard-working, professional and competent team for the fourth consecutive year.
2022 was a very productive year for
@somalipubagenda
.
This👇is a summary of our 2022 work: 15 publications, 19 forums, 22 podcasts, 30 bloggers trained, media appearances, new partners & more.
Grateful to our team, fellows, Board, partners & readers.
Can Hassan Sheikh Mohamud get it right the second time?
In this👇
@somalipubagenda
commentary, I contend that by committing not to seek re-election early on in his second term,
@HassanSMohamud
may be able to achieve significantly more in the next 4 years.
I recently traveled to Beledweyne for a
@somalipubagenda
study.
My short stay revived my memories.
In this ⤵️blogpost, I reflect the indelible memories of
#Beledweyne
and why it has a special place in my heart.
In this
@somalipubagenda
commentary, I argue that
#Somalia
’s political class doesn’t care about reform(s) because its members are comfortable with the status quo of the country’s politics that allows them to accumulate financial riches & political power.
The 2018 humanitarian funding to
#Somalia
totaled $1.138 billion.
The 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia projected by the UN is $1.09 billion.
Yet, displacement in
#Beledweyne
& other towns is recurrent every year.
No Transparency. Little investment in prevention.
This semester, I was teaching ‘Unlocking E-Government Potential’ to
@MogUniver
Public Admin 4th year.
Today (the last class of the semester)
@AhmedShAbdulla4
&
@ibradheere
from
@mocisom
were our guest speakers. They presented how
#Somalia
Trade Information Portal (STIP) works.
My Latest:
In this
@somalipubagenda
commentary, I contend that the neglect of public goods in
#Buulaburte
illustrates 3 realities about public sector governance in
#Somalia
: dependency mindset, limited govt-led initiatives & poor state-society relations.
I have recently traveled to
#Garowe
In this blog ‘City inspirations and elections in the air: my visit to Garowe’, I reflect my observations on the increasing investments in Garowe, food, intellectual debates, city inspirations & enthusiasm for elections
In 2021, I wrote & published 7 blog posts.
6 of my blogs were travel blogs on my visits to
#Buulaburte
,
#Jowhar
,
#Baidoa
,
#Beledweyne
,
#Dolow
&
#Kismayo
.
My blog on my visit to my hometown Buulaburte after ten years away was the most read blog in 2021
I recently attended the Somali Youth Summit (
@SY_Summit
) in
#Jigjiga
.
In this blog post, I reflect my road trip to Jigjiga, the sessions at the
#Somali
Youth Summit (
#SYS2023
) & observation of my first visit to Jigjiga.
Read the blog post here ⤵️
How can one person protect the interest of 2 countries & remain loyal to both?
This
@somalipubagenda
piece I co-authored with
@moirbad
contends z need for specific provisions in the Constitution that prohibit dual nationals to hold senior public offices
How can a dual citizen protect the interest of 2 countries & remain loyal to both?
This
@somalipubagenda
piece I wrote with
@moirbad
contends the dual citizens aspiring to hold nigh-ranking public offices in
#Somalia
to renounce their second nationality
Today (December 3 2021) marks the 10th anniversary of my teaching.
In this blogpost, I reflect my teaching experience from elementary classes to undergraduate university students in the past 10 years.
Read my ⤵️blog ‘Ten Years of Teaching: A Reflection’
My friend
@DhRoble
recently asked me when he will see my appoint letter to a public office. It is a question I am asked frequently.
This👇🏾excerpt from a piece of work I am currently working on answers that question:
“I am often asked when I will join the government. I believe
2023 was another productive year for
@somalipubagenda
and its programmes & centers (
@SPACLD
,
@SPAPolicyLab
,
@SPA_PAF
).
Grateful to our team, Board, fellows, partners & readers.
It is an honor for me to lead a talented, youthful, hard-working, professional & competent team.
Read this👇year-long
@somalipubagenda
study on fiscal federalism in
#Somalia
I co-authored with my colleague
@FarhanShabel
.
The study sheds light on the complexities surrounding fiscal federalism and explores options for a workable fiscal arrangements.
At the
#Somalia
Partnership Forum in
#Mogadishu
. The government and the international community discuss progress made and future plans on economic reform, inclusive politics, security and justice, and social services.
#SPF2019
#SomaliaFuture
Mar aan kulannay masuul dowladeed oo aan markaas is barannay ayuu i weydiiyay halka aan wax kusoo bartay. Marka aan u sheegay in aan dalka wax ku bartay, waxa uu igu yiri, self-made’ ayaa tahay.
Waa runtiis. Inta aad aragtaan ee dhaqdhaqaaqda waa ‘self-made’ soo halgamay.
The
@MogBF
is and has been my main source of access to books (read my blog last year).
I cannot attend sessions & meet with authors, but
@shukri_siyad
will buy some great books for our library this year.
Keep up the good work
@M_Diini
#MBF2019
The
@somalipubagenda
published a brief on the federal government of
#Somalia
’s $929.9 million 2022 fiscal budget.
Here are some key insights in the brief
This tweet & the subsequent termination of
@SeraGaid
contract with the FGS is very sad and ill-advised.
FGS leadership should convince us that they are honest about conducting fair and contested OPOV elections when the government cannot tolerate a citizen expressing her views in
Posturing partisan politics by posting views against the FGS that employs u is utterly wrong. Spewing partisan political rhetoric while working for the
@MoIS_FGS
shows you r not committed the vision & policies of the FGS pertaining to SSR in the midst of ATMIS drawdown.
#Somalia
's 2021 election would be more like 2016 indirect election
1⃣From 51 delegates to 101 for z lower house
2⃣From 1 FMS election constituency to 2
3⃣Federal & FMS level election bodies
4⃣FMS legislators to elect senators
5⃣Same 2016 process for Somaliland representatives
The govt may underperform other national priorities, but education has been consistently a priority for the incumbent govt.
As of January 2019, the no. of students attending 24 public schools in
#Mogadishu
for free were 16,760.
Read 👇
@somalipubagenda
“4 yrs later, Hirshabelle state election clashes with another federal indirect election. The incumbent federal leaders again seem to want to accelerate Hirshabelle state election so that the state can participate in the 2020-21 process.”
@somalipubagenda
Today I joined a panel discussion on “Exploring the State Failure in
#Somalia
: Causes and Factors” along with distinguished scholars: Dr. Abdirazak Takar, Dr. Adan Shidane & Mr Asad Nuh.
Thanks
@EastAfricaAsso
for convening its 2nd East Africa Development Forum in
#Mogadishu
.
🎧Maamul Wanaag I Historical Roots & Legacies of Somalia’s Current Governance Systems
In this 14th episode of
@somalipubagenda
’s
#MaamulWanaagPodcast
, I discuss with Professor Lee Cassanelli the historical legacy of
#Somalia
’s current governance systems.
Join the conversation tomorrow evening.
I will discuss the key highlights of the recent NCC agreement, opportunities, challenges and the way forward with
@MAbdirizak
.
In this👇
@somalipubagenda
brief,
@ahmedmmusa3
,
@writingpolitics
& I analyze:
➡️ actors, power & economic dynamics in the production of aid data
➡️factors affecting the reliability of the info. produced
➡️& the broader effects of this new knowledge economy
"Both Norwegians" that is true and Norway must be very happy to see their citizen in such a position. But we Somalis have to deliberate and clarify (in the constitution and the citizenship law) the public offices that
#Somali
dual nationals can qualify.
“Somali Public Agenda believes that giving research opportunities to the young female graduates would inspire more females to join the research field and write about the pressing gender, social, economic & political challenges in Somalia.”
@somalipubagenda
Despite the limited financial resources, the pandemic, security, and other challenges of 2020,
@somalipubagenda
has been able to consistently produce quality papers & organize important discussions.
Read our annual report, which summarizes our 2020 work
Geesinimo ma qori baa?
Gardaradu ma libin baa?
Garawshuhu ma ceebaa?
Gunnimadu ma samirkaa?
Gaabsadaa ma nacasbaa?
Goosanwaa ma fulaybaa?
#Badhan
#Sanaag
#Somalia
The
@somalipubagenda
2019 Annual Report is out today. Check it out.
“Many thanks are owed to our supporters and readers whose confidence and encouragement inspire us to do more work for the common good.”
Our report on
#Turkey
's role in education, healthcare and infrastructure developments in Mogadishu is finally out.
You can read the English and Somali versions of the report here 👇
Since 2017,
#Somalia
president
@M_Farmaajo
has signed only 4 bills into law:
1⃣Revenue Management Bill
2⃣National Disability Organization Bill
3⃣Anti-corruption Commissions Bill
4⃣National Telecommunications Bill
What does this tell? The scorecard of our 10th parliament.
In the early morning of May 29, I woke up to the terrible news of the death of my friend Abdullahi Shirwac.
This⤵️is my tribute to the late Abdullahi Shirwac.
He left us too soon, but his legacy will remain inscribed in our hearts and minds forever.
Alxamdulillaah. After two and half years of study, hard work and self-discipline,
@RoehamptonUni
in London awarded me Master of Public Administration with merit.
In partnership with
@sitcocenter
, we have successfully completed 'Qualitative Research' training course to 14 young
#Somali
researchers.
Iyadoo aan iskaashaneyno
@sitcocenter
, waxa aan tababar 'Qualitative Research' ah usoo gabagabeynay 14 cilmibaarayaal
#Soomaaliyeed
Twelve years ago today (14 August 2009), I came to
#Mogadishu
with a mission to study at university.
This⤵️ is a reflection I wrote two years ago on the ten years I have lived in Mogadishu.
The total FGS budget projected for fiscal year 2021 is $670 million, a $194 increase over last year’s $476 million budget.
Expected domestic revenue is $260 million (38.8%).
A total of $410.8 million donor revenue (61.2%) is expected to complement domestic revenue.
Buundada Baardheere dhismaheeda waxa uu
@HassanAKhaire
ku bixiyay $317,000.
Fatahaadda webiga ee
#Beledweyne
iyo magaalooyinka kale oo ay Soomaali oo dhan u gurmanayaan waxa ay madaxda qaranka uga baahan tahay qorshe ka weyn in ay bixiyaan hal bil oo mushaarkooda ah.
#UPDATE
: President Farmaajo, Speakers of the Lower House and the Upper House of the parliament and the PM have announced to donate that their salaries of October to the flood victims in the country and the money will be handed over to the Emergency Commission.
#GurmadkaFatahaada
#Somalia
’s state-level elections have a unique feature.
The election happens, but the winner(s) are known in advance
The results of recent
#Jubaland
,
#SouthWest
&
#Galmudug
elections were all fait accompli.
#Hirshabelle
’s election will happen tmrw, but z Prez is already known
Read this
@aasiya_mohamed
reflection on her internship experience with
@somalipubagenda
.
'A Personal Reflection on a My Three-Month Internship at SPA'
via
In one year,
@somalipubagenda
managed to produce seven papers – three governance briefs and four commentaries – on election-related topics.
Read how our
#ElectionSeries
is informing policymakers and citizens on
#Somalia
elections
2021 was another productive year for
@somalipubagenda
.
This👇is a summary of our 2021 work: 12 publications, 5 forums, 11 Gaxwo & Gorfeyn meet-ups, podcasts, media appearances, partners & more.
Grateful to our team, fellows, Board, partners & readers.
South Korea, Paraguay & El Salvador heads of states have one 5-year term.
Mexico, Kyrgyzstan & Philippines have all one 6-year terms for their heads of states.
Can we replicate one-term presidency arrangement to
#Somalia
?
@MoCASomalia
@somalipubagenda
A great piece on
@Moalimuu
by
@mary_harper
.
Moalimuu was my classmate at the university. He was reporting the events in
#Mogadishu
while attending the classes.
He has done and still doing a lot of sacrifices for
#Somalia
.
Wishing him a quick recovery.
It took me almost three years to put the painful feelings of the death of my beloved brother Abdi Abdullahi into writing.
He left us too soon, but his memory will stay with us. May Allah reward him with his Jannatul Firdowsa Al-Aclaa. Aameen.
Thirteen years ago today (14 August 2009), I came to
#Mogadishu
with a mission to study at university.
This👇🏾is a short reflection I wrote in August 2019 on ten years I have lived in
#Mogadishu
.
We believe that research and analysis is not enough for
#Somalia
’s institution building process.
The Center for Public Policy and Service Design envisages to help public sector institutions design and deliver human-centered public policies and services.
We have launched a new Center.
The Center for Public Policy and Service Design (CPPSD) is a research and action center at
@somalipubagenda
, the first of its kind in the country. Its aim is to help public institutions design human-centered public policies and services.
Thank you
@HusseinSabrie
and
@NageeyeKhaliif
for the visit, the interesting analysis and discussion on a number of nations issues, and the invaluable suggestions.