Author: Abdihakim Siyad

For decades, North Eastern Kenya occupied a distinctive place in Kenya’s electoral politics. The counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo and Marsabit often leaned toward opposition politics, particularly during the era of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bids. While local clan dynamics, individual candidates and constituency interests always influenced voting patterns, the broader regional perception remained consistent: North Eastern was generally viewed as an opposition-leaning bloc whose electoral choices reflected both historical grievances and a desire for alternative national leadership. Today, however, that political identity is undergoing one of the most significant transformations since the return of multiparty democracy.…

Somalia’s electoral debate has entered a new and more complicated phase after former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmaajo” and the Nabad iyo Nolol movement unveiled an alternative electoral proposal just days after the Somali Future Council (SFC) presented its Transitional Direct Elections Model (TDEM) 202 What initially appeared to be a contest between the Federal Government and a united opposition has rapidly evolved into a broader debate over competing visions for the country’s political transition, with Farmaajo’s intervention reshaping the dynamics ahead of the next round of internationally mediated negotiations. The significance of Farmaajo’s proposal lies not only in its…

As Kenya steadily marches toward the 2027 General Election, political conversations across North Eastern Kenya are becoming louder, more frequent, and increasingly familiar. Aspirants are positioning themselves, alliances are taking shape, and communities are beginning to debate who should occupy the region’s most influential political offices. Yet beneath the excitement of another electoral cycle lies a question that many residents have been asking for years: why does a region blessed with immense potential continue to struggle with some of the same development challenges decade after decade? For too long, elections in North Eastern Kenya have largely revolved around personalities, clan…

For much of the past three decades, Somalia’s security challenges have largely been viewed through the lenses of terrorism, piracy, state-building and humanitarian crises. International military engagement in the country focused primarily on stabilisation, counterterrorism operations and supporting the reconstruction of state institutions. Today, however, a different strategic picture is beginning to emerge.Recent reporting by Le Monde Afrique suggests that Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa are increasingly attracting the attention of major global and regional powers for reasons extending far beyond counterterrorism. According to the publication, Turkey is pursuing plans to develop a major launch facility on Somalia’s…

Somalia’s long-running political standoff between the Federal Government and Puntland took a dramatic turn on Thursday night after Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre delivered one of his strongest public attacks yet against Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, defending the Federal Government’s recruitment of security personnel from Puntland and declaring that the soldiers stationed in Bosaso ultimately answer to the national government. Speaking during the closing ceremony of Somalia’s Independence Week celebrations in Mogadishu, Prime Minister Hamza delivered a passionate speech that many political observers are likely to interpret as the clearest indication yet of the Federal Government’s determination to expand…

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud used the closing ceremony of Somalia’s Independence Week celebrations to deliver one of his most comprehensive national addresses in recent years, outlining an ambitious vision centered on security, democratic transformation, national reconciliation, education and Somalia’s sovereignty. Speaking before thousands of Somalis gathered at Taleh Junction in Mogadishu, the President declared that the country stands at a historic turning point, insisting that Somalia has moved beyond the politics of division and is entering a new era built on democratic governance, institutional politics and national unity. At the heart of his speech was a renewed commitment to eliminating…

As Somalia celebrates the 66th anniversary of its independence, the nation pauses to honor the brave men and women whose sacrifices made freedom possible. Every July 1, Somalis commemorate the historic union of the former British Somaliland Protectorate and the former Trust Territory of Somaliland under Italian administration in 1960, a milestone that gave birth to the Somali Republic. Behind that historic achievement lies the story of countless patriots who refused to surrender their dream of a free nation. Among the most celebrated of these heroes is Hawo Osman Taako, popularly known as Haawo Taako, a fearless young nationalist whose…

For generations of Somalis, the mere mention of Talex Road evoked painful memories. It was a place associated with tragedy rather than celebration, where the sound of explosions often replaced the laughter of families and where ordinary citizens lived with the constant fear that any journey could become their last. The road became one of the most recognizable symbols of Mogadishu’s long struggle with insecurity. Bombings, targeted assassinations, attacks against government officials, and the loss of countless innocent lives turned Talex into more than just a street it became a reminder of the heavy price Somalia had paid during decades…

As another election season slowly begins to take shape across Northern Kenya, a familiar political ritual is quietly returning. Across Garissa, Wajir and  Mandera conversations are already taking place long before official campaigns begin. In villages and towns, inside hotels and community halls, under tents erected for political gatherings and in private meetings attended by influential figures, discussions are underway about who will occupy political office after the next election. For many residents, these developments are neither unusual nor unexpected. They have become part of the political culture of the region. Elders are consulting, political aspirants are building alliances, community leaders…

In what appears to be one of the most significant shifts in rhetoric from Somalia’s Federal Government in recent years, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has publicly softened his stance toward Somaliland, offering an apology for hostile remarks directed at the self-declared republic and signaling a willingness to reassess Mogadishu’s entire approach toward the northern regions. Speaking during Somalia’s 66th Independence Day celebrations in Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh delivered a message that contrasted sharply with the confrontational tone that had characterized recent exchanges between Villa Somalia and Somaliland authorities. The President acknowledged the historical contribution of Somaliland to Somalia’s independence struggle…