TheSomaliDiary

Ethiopia and Somaliland sign deal to boost sea access and regional integration Ethiopia, a landlocked country with more than 100 million people, has taken a major step towards gaining access to the sea by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-declared republic that seceded from Somalia more than 30 years ago. The MoU, signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in Addis Ababa on 1 January 2024, grants Ethiopia naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland’s coast, especially the strategic port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden. In exchange, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland’s independence, a significant move given Somaliland’s three-decade quest for international recognition. The deal, which was described as “historic” by both leaders, is expected to boost trade, security, and regional integration in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia, which lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in the early 1990s, has be...

  Introduction : Somalia is a country in the Horn of Africa that has been plagued by conflict, instability, and poverty for decades. The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization that promotes economic integration, cooperation, and development among its member states. In November 2023, Somalia was admitted as the eighth member of the EAC, joining Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.  The main argument of the article is that Somalia’s entry into the EAC is a strategic and beneficial decision that will open up new opportunities for trade, investment, security, and others including but not limited to: 1. Economic benefits : How Somalia can access a larger market, attract more investment, diversify its economy, and reduce trade barriers by joining the EAC. By becoming a member of the EAC, Somalia can access a larger market of over 200 million people and a combined GDP of over $200 billion1. T...

Introduction : Background of the AU mission in Somalia, its mandate, achievements, and challenges. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is a regional peacekeeping operation authorized by the United Nations Security Council in 2007 to support the Somali government in restoring peace and stability in the country. AMISOM’s mandate includes providing security for key institutions, facilitating humanitarian assistance, supporting the political process, and enabling the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali security forces. AMISOM has contributed to the liberation of most of the territory from the control of al-Shabaab, a militant Islamist group that has waged a violent insurgency against the Somali government and its allies. However, AMISOM has also faced many challenges, such as inadequate resources, logistical constraints, political divisions, human rights violations, and attacks from al-Shabaab and other armed groups. As of December 2023, AMISOM has about 1...

Civic engagement is a vital component of sustainable governance, as it allows citizens to actively participate in decision-making processes that affect their communities. In regard to reaching final solution to the three decade long chaos and anarchy in Somalia, it is crucial to adopt and implement civic engagement processes to reach consensus, acceptable and agreed governance where the rule of law, justice and freedom of speech are attained and excercised by the citizens regardless of their clan affiliation, political group etc. Here is a general civic engagement process for sustainable governance: 1. Identify the issue: The first step in the civic engagement process is to identify the issue or problem that needs to be addressed. This could be anything from environmental degradation to social inequality. 2. Conduct research: Once the issue has been identified, it is important to conduct research to fully understand the problem and its underlying causes. This could involve gathering da...

Somali economy is considered to be fragile due to a number of factors. One of the main reasons is the ongoing conflict and political instability in the country, which has led to a lack of investment, development, and trade. The country has been without a functioning central government for much of the past three decades, and this has resulted in a lack of basic services, such as healthcare and education, and widespread poverty. Another factor contributing to the fragility of the Somali economy is the lack of infrastructure, including roads, telecommunications, and electricity. This lack of infrastructure has made it difficult for businesses to operate and for goods and services to be transported throughout the country. Additionally, the Somali economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock, which are vulnerable to fluctuations in weather patterns and disease outbreaks. This has resulted in frequent food shortages and famine, further exacerbating the fragility of the economy. ...

The draft Constitution of Somalia was developed by the Constitutional Commission between 2010 and 2012 and was approved by the National Constituent Assembly in August 2012. However, its adoption has been delayed due to political instability and disagreements between different political actors in Somalia. In fact, the process to finalize the draft Constitution of Somalia became long and complex one, with numerous challenges and obstacles that have prevented its completion. Some of the main reasons why Somalia has been unable to finalize the draft Constitution include: 1. Political instability: Somalia has been affected by political instability and conflict for many years, which has made it difficult to establish a stable government and political system. In such an environment, it can be challenging to build consensus on a new Constitution that reflects the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders. 2. Clan-based politics: Somalia's political system is based on clan affiliations, w...

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, visited the capital of Somalia Mogadishu amidst fifth consecutive rain failure resulting food insecurity and livelihood crisis to 7 millions popualtion. The UNSG is also expected to visit Baidoa the second largest IDP concentrated area within the country. Mr. Guterres is expected to pledge funding for Somalia'a humanitarian crisis. The UNSG Mr. Antonio Guterras visited Somalia in March 2021 at a time Somalia was facing a similar humanitarian crisis caused by conflict, displacement, and drought. During his last visit, he met with senior government officials, representatives of civil society organizations, and members of the United Nations country team to discuss the challenges facing the country and explore ways to support Somalia's efforts to address them. The Secretary-General's last visit came at a crucial time as Somalia was facing multiple challenges, including ongoing conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a h...

The US dollar is a common currency in Somalia The US dollar is commonly used as a currency in Somalia, especially in urban areas and in international transactions. This is due to the instability of the Somali shilling, which has experienced significant inflation and devaluation over the years. The use of the US dollar in Somalia dates back to the early 1990s, when the country descended into civil war and the central government collapsed. Without a functioning central bank to issue and regulate its currency, Somalia has relied on foreign currencies, such as the US dollar, for trade and commerce. Additionally, many Somalis living abroad send remittances to their families in Somalia in US dollars, further contributing to the widespread use of the currency in the country. How has the use of the US dollar affected the Somali economy? The use of the US dollar in Somalia has had both positive and negative effects on the economy. Positive effects : - Stabilization: The US dollar has pro...

Conflict, poverty, and instability have been major problems in Somalia for many years. Despite having one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, the bulk of its population is under the age of 30, and they face a grim future. Many of them are hopeless and desperate, and some of them might turn to violence. For the young people of Somalia, there is however some optimism. They have access to the internet and other online resources that can provide them with opportunities, entertainment, and knowledge. One of these platforms is 1XBET, a Somalian-based bookmaker that provides a selection of sports and games to wager on. In addition to being a gambling website, 1XBET offers a social network where Somalis can interact with other fans, express their thoughts, and seek professional counsel. For its devoted consumers, 1XBET also offers incentives, promotions, and awards in addition to a safe and practical payment mechanism. One way that the young people of Somalia can have fun, unwind, ...

Vector World Maps Given its advantageous position, abundant natural resources, and strong private sector, Somalia has the potential to become an economic powerhouse for Africa. Despite decades of conflict and unrest, Somalia has managed to sustain a thriving informal economy that contributes the majority of its GDP (GDP). The World Bank predicted that Somalia's GDP will reach $4.918 billion in 2020, growing at a 2.9% annual pace. Agriculture, particularly cattle, which accounts for around 60% of the GDP and 80% of exports, is one of the key drivers of the economy. In addition, Somalia has unrealized potential in the fields of fishing, mining, oil, and gas, as well as clean energy sources like solar and wind. Yet, Somalia confronts numerous obstacles that prevent it from developing economically and fighting poverty. They include recurring droughts and floods, unrest and violence, shoddy institutions and governance, a lack of essential services and infrastructure, high unemployment a...