Author: AbdiQani Badar

AbdiQani Badar is a historian, political commentator and avid writer. He has written extensively on Somali issues and historical events.

Khadija and Umal

Will the Controversy over Minister Khadija’s Pants Spark a Wider Debate

Somalia’s chaotic political and security life has recently sparked new controversy. The attire of a female minister drew the ire of a religious scholar. Those who think it’s just plain wrong to criticize pants or trousers do not appreciate its potential fallout. Those who stick to the apparent dichotomy that emerges from the confrontation of […]

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Muse Bihi

Somaliland: Waking Up To The Hard Reality

This opinion piece first appeared on Caasimada.net on June 16, 2020. The author decided to edit it and republish it on Kormeeraha Magazine. A month ago a friend of mine added me to a WhatsApp group created by people from the northern provinces of Somalia discussing how to save Somaliland from its current downfall. Listening […]

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President HSM Visit to Turkey

Why Somali President Cannot Afford to Upset Turkey

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned from a five-day visit to Turkey on July 8 for an initially planned “two-day visit” after he received an invitation from Turkey. Similarly, he had announced a two-day visit to Abu Dhabi on June 19, a murky visit that also lasted five days. These sloppily arranged visits, if carried […]

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General Odowa

Meet Somalia’s Youngest Chief of Staff

Odowa Yusuf Rageh became Somalia’s youngest Brigadier General at 32 in 2019. Since his promotion by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, he has been targeted by opponents of the President’s policies. The opposition, which now include Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, hostile nations and foreign war profiteers, has called into question the young general’s age and […]

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Beledweyne Terror Attacks

Beledweyne Bombings: Who Is Behind?

On Wednesday evening, a suicide bomber blew himself at Lamagalay compound in Beledweyne killing MP Amina Mohamed Abdi and her security detail. The MP was walking to meet Hirshabelle President Ali Gudlawe Hussein in the heavily guarded compound which houses government’s offices. A second attack, this time with a car bomb, occurred just after the […]

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EU Naval Forces

Somalia says No to EU Naval Forces in its Waters

The UN anti-piracy resolution officially ends tomorrow, March 3, thanks to Somalia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abukar Osman Baale, who put a lot of effort into convincing the UN Security Council that Somalia no longer wanted a renewal of the anti-piracy resolution.

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Shady deals

When Shady Oil Deals Collide With Integrity

A day ago, Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, sent shockwaves through Somalia by tweeting that he had signed seven Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) with Coastline Exploration Limited. This shady company, formerly known as Soma Oil and Gas, had coveted Somali oil for years and even conspired with Hassan Khaire, the disgraced […]

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Drought Kids queuing for water

Somalis Expect Leadership As Drought Hits Hard

Somali regions from north to south and east to west are struggling with severe drought characterized by lack of rain, low rivers and declining pastures. So far, the disaster has displaced up to 200,000 Somalis seeking humanitarian assistance in other areas. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has estimated […]

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US Secretary Blinken

Foreign Hands In Somali Politics

Hours after Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble was suspended from his duties for alleged corruption and tampering with an ongoing investigation, the United States and the United Kingdom, followed by their Europeans allies, lined up to support the Prime Minister and display their contempt for the president’s action. An uncontrolled prime minister Prime Minister Roble, […]

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Puntland Local Elections

Puntland Local Elections : A Victory For The People

Puntland’s local elections, held on October 25, were welcomed by the Somali public and the international community as an unprecedented democratic achievement. The region has set an example of order, equality and electoral transparency for other parts of Somalia which are still reluctant to take the step towards a participatory electoral system. The democratic local […]

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