INTERVIEWS

MOGADISHU | “The New Arab” | Interview by: Al-Shafi’i Abtidon ​Between the hammer of a relentless drought and the anvil of dwindling international funding, Somalia today stands on the brink of a profound human and humanitarian test—one that threatens not only livelihoods but the very dignity of its people and …

Since the Civil War broke out in Somalia, many Somalis have immigrated to different parts of the world. Those who immigrated to the United States became politically active and held elected and appointed high-profile government positions. The vast majority of them lived in the state of Minnesota. However, Somalis that …

On the eve of World Refugee Day marked every year on 20 June, UNHCR Representative for Somalia, Johann Siffointe, spoke with Hiiraan Online about the status of refugees, returnees and internally displaced people and the role his agency plays in protecting the forcibly displaced. Q: How many refugees, asylum seekers, …

Christophe Hodder’s job description is unique: he is the first United Nations climate and security expert within the framework of a UN peace mission. His position is funded by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office due to that country’s stance on the subject of climate and security in the world body’s agenda. …

Somalia’s Planning, Investment, and Economic Development Minister Gamal Hassan spoke with Aggrey Mutambo on the country’s economy and fighting corruption. Q: Somalia relies almost entirely on remittances. How is the government making it easier for diaspora investments, and how what is the effect on the economy? A: Remittances only account …

While Somalia and its partners, including the United Nations, focus on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, other parts of the international organization remain concentrated on supporting the Somali authorities in a range of areas – including the current desert locust infestation. The pests continue laying eggs and hatching in their breeding grounds in …

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 28 August 2019 the appointment of Adam Abdelmoula of Sudan (as well as a national of the United States) as his Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, where he will also serve as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the United Nations …

Abdullahi Nur Osman, the president of the Hormuud Telecom Foundation, recently visited Beledweyne and other flood-affected southern Somali towns to see how local relief efforts were going.  Local businesses, including Hormuud, and local communities have raised huge amounts of cash and gathered food commodities for the flood victims.  However, there …

Accessing populations is a major challenge for the humanitarian sector in parts of Somalia. Widespread insecurity threatens the safety of aid workers, and can limit the ability to show accountability for funding. But some are asking whether humanitarians — and the donors funding them — have become too risk-averse, leaving …

Last month, the aid community in Somalia issued an urgent call for support as unexpectedly poor rains have left 2.2 million people facing severe or emergency food insecurity — half a million more than originally predicted. The United Nations is asking for $710 million to provide emergency assistance to a third of Somalis by the end of the …