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Somalia faces many challenges in providing adequate and accessible healthcare to its population, particularly in rural and remote areas. Lack of infrastructure, resources, and security hinders the delivery of quality health services and the prevention and control of diseases. However, modern technologies such as mobile phones, the Internet, and telemedicine offer new opportunities to digitize health care and improve health outcomes in Somalia. This paper explores the current state of healthcare in Somalia, the potential benefits, and challenges of using modern technologies to digitize healthcare, and the best practices and recommendations for implementing such technologies in the Somali context. This paper examines a telemedicine project that connects remote healthcare facilities with urban specialists. We assess its effectiveness and sustainability, showing its potential to improve healthcare in rural areas of Somalia. The review concludes that modern technologies can play a vital role in digitizing healthcare in Somalia, but they require careful planning, coordination, and evaluation to ensure their effectiveness and suitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hopes of Somalia transitioning to a democratic electoral system have once again dwindled following its recent decision to conduct the 2021/22 general elections using the old indirect clan-based model. Although this model has been widely faulted for being systematically unjust since it privileges the interests of the big clans, Somalia has for a long time relied on it to arrive at its political leaders. But the big question remains; why is it difficult for Somalia to transition to a democratic electoral system that will provide for competitive politics? The paper finds that implementing the proposed first-past-the-post electoral system in Somalia has proved difficult due to the following issues: A fragile security situation; weak state institutions; clan and sub-clan divisions; tensions between central government and federal member states; lack of political goodwill; financial and logistical challenges; and constant interference from external actors. The paper also observes that changing the electoral system is not the solution to the challenges facing the country. On the contrary, the cure to Somalia’s political conflict can only be found in its own traditional institutions. As imperfect as the clan-based model may appear, it has succeeded to a great extent in promoting unity among the different clans. It is against this backdrop that this paper recommends the strengthening of the old clan-based electoral system to realize a stable Somalia so as to pave way for democratizing the country’s electoral system in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somalia adopted federalism in 2004 and embarked on its implementation in 2012. This paper provides critical insights on the reception and performance of Somalia's federal project since 2012. The analysis has shown major practical challenges facing Somalia's federal structure: constitutional ambiguity and lack of consensus on federalism, difficulties regarding the formation of the federal member states and their border demarcations, the status of Mogadishu and questions concerning fiscal federalism. The paper argues these challenges as well as the general public's inadequate knowledge of federalism are pushing the nation towards decentralisation. It contends the regional politics and shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East are affecting Somalia's federal future, thus enforcing the 'federalism is a foreign initiative' notion. The paper suggests that a close study of Somali perceptions reveals that federalism is an externally imposed idea, which renders the weakening of the Somali state a strategic state policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Bank of Somalia faces challenges in implementing effective monetary policies due to limited authority over the nation's monetary system and the incomplete development of the banking industry. This constraint may impede the bank's ability to regulate inflation effectively. Nevertheless, this paper investigates the asymmetric impacts of inflation on public debt sustainability in Somalia from 1977 to 2021. This research employs a Nonlinear Autoregression Distributed Lag (NARDL) model. The research explores how inflation impacts changes in public debt and uncovers potential nonlinearities or threshold effects within this dynamic association. Findings reveal asymmetric effects of inflation on public debt, indicating that inflation's increase positively influences public debt while its decrease adversely impacts it. Additionally, foreign direct investment exhibits a negative long-term correlation with inflation, and GDP shows a positive yet statistically insignificant connection with inflation in the long run. The study underscores the significance of prudent debt management practices and advocates caution when accumulating public debt, especially during periods of heightened inflation. Moreover, this study highlights the implications for governments in Somalia and similar economies facing analogous challenges. It emphasizes the importance of accounting for inflation's impact on public debt dynamics and advocates strategies to control inflation to mitigate the risks associated with rising public debt. The study supports the presence of asymmetrical effects between these variables, enriching theoretical frameworks. Despite, acknowledging limitations, such as temporal constraints and model assumptions, the study recommends future research employ more sophisticated methodologies, extend sequential scope, integrate qualitative approaches, explore policy interventions, and enhance data collection mechanisms for a more comprehensive analysis. Moreover, based on the study outcomes, policy recommendations proposed to enhance fiscal stability. These include implementing measures to curb inflation rates, prioritizing prudent debt management, strengthening fiscal responsibility, enhancing monetary policy's role in inflation management, diversifying investments, improving data monitoring, and focusing on long-term economic planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cultural factors are often mentioned as a possible explanation for the observed differences between immigrant populations compared to general populations with regards to COVID-19 disease burden and vaccination rates, but usually without any further exploration of what this entails. This paper aims to capture the thoughts of immigrants themselves and explore how they think culture may or may not have affected vaccination rates and health behavior during the pandemic. Methods: We performed qualitative interviews with 18 immigrants from Poland, Somalia and Sri Lanka living in Norway. Group interviews and individual interviews were transcribed and analyzed using systematic text condensation. Results: We identified four main themes the participants thought could influence spread of infection and vaccine hesitancy: cultural factors, transcultural factors, host society factors, and other personal factors. Social habits, religious traditions, attitudes towards and trust in the healthcare system, sense of community and societal duty were understood as cultural factors that influenced health behavior and vaccination hesitancy. However, different cultural factors could have varied impact on immigrants' behavior related to COVID-19 and possibly other health settings for different immigrant groups. In addition, we found examples of other factors related to being 'between cultures', and we found structural and socioeconomic factors not linked to culture. Conclusions: Our paper brings awareness to how rules and guidelines may hit harder and interfere more in the way of life in some communities than others. In the continued work towards equity in health promotion and healthcare services, policymakers ought to keep the existence of such cultural differences in mind, to be able to make policies well fitted to ensure good health and quality of life for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical study investigates how human capital, infrastructure, and government policies influence prospects for rebuilding manufacturing and enabling economic development in Somalia. A structured survey of 300 professionals examined direct impacts on the manufacturing industry. Analysis revealed human capital and stable governance positively affected economic progress, while infrastructure's effect was insignificant. The paper addresses Somalia’s critical need for promoting manufacturing amidst prolonged instability. Findings suggest policy and workforce development strategies for leveraging manufacturing for growth by overcoming binding constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Concerns on money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing increased, as ML accounted 2%–5% of the global GDP, with Switzerland, the USA, Canada, India and Russia having high laundering rates. Banks were fined over US$320bn in 2008, but money laundering still accounted for 3.6% of global GDP in 2009, thereby indicating the need for effective regimes. Therefore, this study aims to critically analyze the antimoney laundering (AML)/CFT regime of Somalia, identify loopholes in the regime, raise awareness and propose recommendations for regime improvement. Design/methodology/approach: The qualitative research approach is used to compare Somalia's AML/CFT regime with the corresponding regime of Malaysia through the black letter method combined with document analysis. Malaysia is selected as a benchmark for two reasons: firstly, it is an Islamic country like Somalia, and secondly, Malaysia has complied with integrity-related standards. Findings: This study revealed that an impactful AML/CTF regime is reached by closing loopholes in the law, reevaluating and improving regulatory agencies and measures, facilitating formal financial services and collaborating with regional and international standard setters. According to the results, Somalia AML/CFT regime is counterproductive in criminalizing offenses; regulating digital currencies and mobile money, disclosures and nonfinancial business and provisions; and governing training requirements for regulatory agencies and financial institutions. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind in the study of Somalia's regime building. Also, this study incorporates rich scholarly discourse on effective regime building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somali post-conflict development faces many challenges that affect the sustainability of the water sector. This paper reviews and analyses the post-conflict development activities in the water sector through local communications and reviewing published materials and databases from international players in Somalia, funding agencies and financial tracking service. The paper has shown that there has been great attention and support given to the country during its post-conflict development. However, most of these initiatives and projects have focused on emerging issues such as tackling food security and water, sanitation and hygiene services. The paper also shows that the continuous funding of emerging issues in Somalia has reduced its long-term sustainability of the water sector and limited its national and long-term benefits but has increased corruption due to increase the gap between actors and local people. Therefore, new transparent cooperative initiatives are needed based on transparent involvement and coordination among donors, local authorities and implementers to improve and develop the water sector and the livelihood in Somalia through a solid water governance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the origin, sustenance and implications of a persistent rumour that is responsible for low measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination uptake in the Somali diaspora in a number of countries across the globe. The rumour stipulates that the MMR vaccine – the silent shot – causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although the association between MMR and ASD is non-causal, and various public health initiatives have promoted health information campaigns, the rumour continues to circulate in the Somali diaspora in many countries, including Sweden. This paper shows that there are valid reasons for this. The findings from this paper draw on a systematic scoping review and qualitative interview data from Sweden. The results show that the Somali community experiences higher than average rates of ASD compared to the general population. Moreover, ASD does not exist in the Somali language or their home country, is considered a Western disease that only affects Somali children in the diaspora, and is a highly stigmatised disease. Also, the Somali diaspora has had negative experiences with ASD diagnosis and care. The rumour has been sustained by the absence of an answer to their ASD fear and through active diaspora networks on social media. The network that surrounds the rumour has arguably further helped to create an epistemic community for a community whose concerns have been silenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This paper sheds light on the trends of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and obstetric transition in Somalia over the last two decades. Methods This is a descriptive study comparing aggregate secondary data from the 2006 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey to show the transition. Results A 44% reduction of the MMR from 1044 to 692 per 100 000 live births was observed comparing the two surveys. Conclusions Somalia has moved from stage I to stage II of the obstetric transition pathway spectrum and there is optimism that the ongoing strengthening of the health system is paying off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we argue that the current insurgency and counterinsurgency discourse is dominated by concepts that are too narrow and too isolated from the wider civil war literature within which insurgency and counterinsurgency occur. Rather than accounting for the complex political processes and wide range of forces and actors that shape conflict dynamics, the dominant insurgency and counterinsurgency debate tends to reduce highly messy contexts to a competition between the often false dichotomy of insurgents and counterinsurgents, usually understood as the state versus one or more non-state violent actors. In order to understand civil war contexts like South-Central Somalia, we argue that orthodox reductionist concepts and assumptions underpinning the dominant insurgency and counterinsurgency discourse provide limited value. Building on recent critical literature, the paper proposes a refined conceptualization. Instead of understanding insurgency and counterinsurgency as peculiar forms of war, strategies, or sets of guerilla tactics, we follow Jaqueline Hazelton's line of thought, suggesting that insurgency and counterinsurgency are mere elements of a broader process of violent order-making. Thus, insurgency and counterinsurgency are, in our view, comprehensive processes of organized challenge to and consolidation of established political order within the context of civil war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that Somalia's Weberian state apparatus and legal -rational bureaucratic model need revision. Given the country's clan -based societal organization and dominant agrarian and pastoral economy, an alternative form of government that includes clan leaders, businesspeople, and urban-based nongovernmental organizations works best for Somalia. In such a system, the central government is a moderator articulating and aggregating diverse demands instead of power monopolizing. The success of the Islamic Courts and al - Shabaab Movement in working with the local population in their areas of control suggests that an informal form of government is more suitable for Somalia's traditional society than a formal system based on the concept of anonymous citizenship that is alien to the local value system. The unpropitious legacy of colonialism, and the failure of its democracy during the 1960s, leading to civil strife, wars, foreign intervention, and state failure that continue to grip Somalia validate the paper's research approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper examines the complexities of conflict in the Horn of Africa, with a particular focus on Somalia. The study investigates the multifaceted political, social, and economic factors that contribute to the widespread terrorism and violence prevalent in the region. A central element of this investigation involves an in-depth analysis of the organization known as Al-Shabaab, encompassing its historical roots, current activities, and potential future implications. The paper delves into the historical context of the conflict in Somalia, identifying key events and dynamics that have shaped the current situation. The examination of political factors encompasses an assessment of governance structures, power struggles, and regional and international involvement. Additionally, the study explores social drivers, such as identity issues, religious ideologies, and communal tensions, which contribute to the perpetuation of violence. Furthermore, the research paper addresses the economic dimensions of the conflict, including the role of resources, inequalities, and economic grievances in sustaining instability. A comprehensive evaluation of Al-Shabaab's origins, objectives, and tactics elucidates its significance in the conflict landscape. In seeking potential solutions, the paper considers both short-term measures and long-term strategies to resolve the conflict. The analysis encompasses efforts by regional and international actors, examining their successes and challenges in countering the violence and addressing the root causes. The identification of best practices and lessons learned from previous endeavours inform the formulation of effective approaches for lasting peace and stability. Overall, this research paper presents a thorough examination of the conflict in the Horn of Africa, shedding light on the intricate web of factors contributing to the persistence of violence in Somalia. By elucidating the actions and motivations of Al-Shabaab, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the conflict landscape. The proposed potential solutions aim to provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in their pursuit of sustainable peace and development in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between prior conflict experience and the impact of foreign fighters on armed groups. This paper addresses the findings in existing research that describes foreign fighters as both assets and liabilities by disaggregating foreign fighters into first-conflict foreign fighters and veteran foreign fighters. While prior experience determines the potential impact of foreign fighters, I introduce the concept of foreign fighter integration to understand how this experience is utilized or leveraged by armed groups. The theory-building framework helps explain why we see certain groups leverage foreign fighters in ways that shape their repertoires of violence, tactics, or even ideology, while, in other instances, the influence of foreign fighters appears to be limited – with any consequent effects restricted to the small factions into which foreign fighters have been assigned. Using this theoretical framework of experience and integration, I re-examine in the cases Somalia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to demonstrate how and where foreign fighters impact armed groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty in Somalia is deeply rooted due to prolonged civil conflict, political instability, and environmental adversities. With approximately 70% of the population living in poverty, Somalia ranks sixth in Sub-Saharan Africa for poverty prevalence. The combination of widespread and severe poverty poses significant challenges to socioeconomic and economic progress unless appropriate policies are implemented. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence the sustainability of poverty alleviation in Somalia. In this paper, we examined the impact of four sustainability goals, namely, SDG 2 (no hunger), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), and SDG 17(social protection) in relation to poverty alleviation in Somalia. A judgemental survey using 130 respondents was conducted using face-to-face (42%) and online (58%) techniques. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data and estimate the model parameters. The results found that SDG 2, SDG 4, SDG 8, and SDG 17 are all factors that contribute to poverty reduction in Somalia. Based on these findings, the study suggests that the government and policymakers should invest in sustainable agricultural practices (SDG 2) that not only ensure food security but also create job opportunities and income sources for impoverished communities. The government should also allocate resources to prioritize quality education (SDG 4) to equip individuals with the necessary skills for decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). Finally, the government should focus on social protection (SDG 17) in rural and urban areas, thereby reducing unemployment and providing pathways out of poverty, focusing on various dimensions of social protection interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somalia is a complex and fragile setting with a demonstrated potential for disruptive, high-burden measles outbreaks. In response, since 2018, Somalian authorities have partnered with UNICEF and the WHO to implement measles vaccination campaigns across the country. In this paper, we create a Somalia-specific model of measles transmission based on a comprehensive epidemiological dataset including case-based surveillance, vaccine registries, and serological surveys. We use this model to assess the impact of these campaign interventions on Somalian's measles susceptibility, showing, for example, that across the roughly 10 million doses delivered, 1 of every 5 immunized a susceptible child. Finally, we use the model to explore a counter-factual epidemiology without the 2019–2020 campaigns, and we estimate that those interventions prevented over 10,000 deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somalia has a large mobile money user base, with over 83% of mobile phone users using mobile money services. Compare this to the penetration rate of financial services, which is just 5% among rural populations and 1% among internally displaced people. This paper seeks to determine the factors influencing mobile banking adoption in Somalia Through a comprehensive survey involving 130 participants, integrating online as well as face-to-face approaches was employed. The data that was collected that subsequently assessed employing the SPSS software, facilitating a thorough investigation into the subject. This research reveals that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and trust significantly influence individuals' intentions to adopt mobile banking services in Somalia. Focusing on enhancing the user experience, emphasizing practical benefits, and fostering trustworthiness emerges as crucial strategies for boosting mobile banking adoption rates. Notably, perceived cost and risk play a lesser role, possibly owing to cost-effective transaction options and high trust in the reliability of mobile money services. These findings emphasize actionable steps for mobile banking stakeholders in Somalia, pointing towards the importance of user-centric enhancements, clear communication of practical advantages, and continued efforts to build and maintain trust in the mobile banking ecosystem. Based on these findings, a recommendation would be to focus on improving the user experience of mobile banking applications in Somalia. Furthermore, collaboration between mobile network operators, financial institutions, and the government could foster a supportive environment for mobile banking adoption, leading to increased accessibility and usage for the broader population in Somalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Myocardial infarction and cardiovascular disease are significant global health issues, particularly in Somalia. The Somali population faces challenges due to armed conflict, limited education, and underdeveloped healthcare infrastructure. Cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are prevalent, and Somali people face increased susceptibility.Methods: This study examined Somalia residents' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards myocardial infarction using a cross-sectional paper-based questionnaire. The sample consisted of 313 urban residents in Mogadishu, aged 20 and above. The questionnaire was written in Somali and was designed for the demographic. Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were categorized into two groups, with associations between knowledge, attitude, and practice with sociodemographic and health characteristics assessed using Logistic Regression.Results: This study analyzed data from A random sample of participants who arrived at the hospital for various reasons regarding their perceptions, attitudes, and responses towards myocardial infarction. The mean age was 42 ± 19 years, with 54% being male and 46% female. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity, followed by dyslipidemia and diabetes. Over half of the respondents had no formal education, and only 3.8% had a smoking history. About 5.7% had a previous history of myocardial infarction. The mean knowledge score was 11.07 ± 0.697, with 53.35% of respondents not knowing enough about myocardial infarction. The majority of the patients showed a favorable attitude, but only a slight majority could recognize symptoms of myocardial infarction. The majority of the patients had inadequate practice and behavior, with 53.6% not practicing regularly or engaging in sports.Conclusion: The research highlights gaps in Mogadishu's Somali community's knowledge and practices regarding myocardial infarction. It emphasizes the need for health education, primary care, and community involvement to improve cardiovascular health awareness and reduce MI incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores community perceptions about traditional authorities' roles during the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants. We have selected the case of Somalia, where both government institutions and traditional authorities have partnered with international actors and institutions, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to prevent and counter violent extremism (P/CVE). International actors have related to traditional authorities based on the assumption that these actors wield a kind of social power that facilitates the reintegration of former members of the violent extremist organisation al-Shabaab. Based on mixed methodology research we explain social reintegration in Somalia from the community perspective, and find that P/CVE programmes are expressive of co-optation of traditional authorities. We make the case that 'risk coping' helps explain why a majority of civilians prefer the government-led formal reintegration pathway of ex-combatants to the traditional authorities pathway. We conclude by discussing the implications that this has for NGOs/INGOs active in this P/CVE sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is focused on exploring the distinction between theories of leadership and more contemporary visions of relational leading. In order to do so, the specific case of traditional clan structure seen in the Somali state will be examined, and parallels between the two will be drawn. This paper argues that the old Somali tradition shares much in common with current writing on relational leadership (Uhl-Bien, 2006) and, therefore, can expand our understanding and support for a form of leadership that transcends traditional, individualist, hierarchical leadership. This argument will be supported by a detailed investigation into clan politics, leadership, and state formation within clan culture in Somalia as a case study. Therefore, this research will evaluate how approaches to leadership of clan culture institutions and political figures co-exist, overlap, and have intervened in the context of political competition in post-conflict Somalia. By exploring the case of Somalia and its clan structure and clan-based political leadership in pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial periods, this research offers an expanded understanding of relational leading and its benefits for social and cultural transformation. The literature reviewed reveals that Somali traditional clan leadership has similar relationality in its style to that of relational leadership. In writing this literature review, I have utilized a qualitative approach from data collection to the development of ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afaan Oromoo is a widely spoken language as both a vernacular and lingua Franca in Ethiopia, Kenya and in Somalia. Despite this, the governments of these countries have become less interested at this language to use it in the form of print media industry in general and for radio broadcasting in particular for nearly one century. However, with the rise of nationalism and identity politics that was consolidated in the Horn after 1960, it became a paradox that the radio station of the three countries started to broadcast in Afaan Oromoo. Unfortunately, this issue of linguistic-identity politics has not been addressed in the studies of Oromoo history. Therefore, the paper explores how Afaan Oromoo became the language of broadcastings in these countries amid the struggle over identity politics in the region. It also examines the reactions of the Oromoo to these the broadcastings. This paper argues there is direct relationship between vernacular language and ethnic identity of its speakers. For this study, pertinent data were collected and the findings were presented qualitatively based on historical research methods using mainly narrative, descriptive, analysis and interpretation. The research findings reveal that Afaan Oromoo broadcasting for which only five minutes allowed was began by a few exiled Oromoo at Mogadishu in 1962 became one of those important languages that were transmitted from radio stations at Mogadishu, Nairobi and Harar. The exiled Oromoo wanted to reveal the Oromoo grievances and theirrejection, and to callonthe Oromoo masses in Ethiopia to rise up against the severe oppression they were subjected to. The Somali government increased the broadcasting time by allocating one hour duration on daily basis in order to conduct propaganda campaigns against Ethiopia. The Kenyan government also launched similar program in 1963 by allocating four hours transmission daily in order to counterattack the broadcasting from Mogadishu and to get the Oromoo support in Kenya against the Shifta War in the Northern Kenya. It was this situation that forced the Ethiopian government to launch the first radio broadcasting in Afaan Oromoo in 1972 at Harar to impress on the large Oromoo masses in Ethiopia. Through this process Afaan Oromoo became the contested language in the identity politics of the Horn of Africa and laid the foundation stone for the linguistic politics that followed the 1974 Ethiopian revolution. In fact, the linguistic politics not only brought Afaan Oromoo to become the language of radio broadcastings but also contributed to the consolidation of Oromoo Nationalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the Somalia-Somaliland unresolved politico legal issue on their relationship. The contestation between the two has been dragging for a long time as a domestic issue, but due to the growing interest of both western, (re)emerging eastern and middle eastern powers, the Somalia-Somaliland sovereignty dispute is getting a new momentum and started to involve regional geopolitics. Deep political division within Somaliland over the power and resource sharing precipitated by exclusionary politics and failure of democratization efforts as well as insecurity in Somaliland's eastern regions has finally led to armed conflict and deadly confrontations in Lasanod in Early February 2023. Because of fragility and the sensitivity of the conflicting political agendas between Somalia including Puntland and Somaliland, it attracted the attention of the United Nations Security Council, and regional bodies. Traditionally, the Horn of Africa has always been volatile for political and security dynamics. Over the past five year, the region has been shaken by the Gulf crises, followed by the US-Chinese competition over the Bab al-Mandeb strait that connects red sea to the gulf and the Indian ocean. To avert possibility of fresh escalations that may lead to regionalizing the dispute, consolidating extremism, or importing international proxy, the paper will assess three potential scenarios as methods to pursue by both authorities and by the United Nations in search for a solution of the Somalia- Somaliland question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of refugee resettlement in the United States has been altered significantly by the policies of the Trump administration, which were driven by white nationalist and neoliberal ideologies that view refugees as a burden to the state's welfare system and pose a security threat to the country's citizens. Using the case of refugee resettlement agencies that serve refugees from Somalia in the Midwestern cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota and Garden City in Kansas, the paper seeks to understand how refugee resettlement agencies have been affected by, and responded to the challenges posed by the policies of the Trump administration. The paper argues that the policies have created a hostile environment within which to resettle refugees, with devastating impacts on refugee resettlement into the local communities. With their survival under threat, refugee resettlement agencies have turned to local communities for support in order to survive the challenging times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farah and Ngugi paint Somalia and Kenya as spaces where the incompetence of the new leaders, with the collusion of the colonial masters, has produced unpleasant effects on the lives of the masses. The two writers implicitly project that both civilian and military regimes are despicable Siamese twins in their political intercourse with the people. Using mimicry as a theoretical anchor, this paper aims to foreground the colonial strategies rehashed by the postcolonial leaders of Somalia and Kenya to sustain their political and economic supremacy over the governed. This paper concludes that the reviewed spaces remain inhospitable for those at the periphery of the power structure, particularly those who aspire to become economically independent. The paper equally concludes that for the indigent masses, the said spaces have become even worse dystopias of uncertainty - uncertain as to who will be the right autochthones to rekindle hope in them for a dignified existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate how Covid-19 has affected the microfinance institutions in Somalia. This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach by conducting a case study in Mogadishu and Hargeisa. The data of the study was collected through a questionnaire distributed to microfinance institutions in Somalia in 2021. The paper found that the number of MFIs that have been negatively affected by the epidemic was higher than the number affected positively or naturally. It also found that most MFIs witnessed high credit risks, and more than half of them have reduced lending to less than half due to Covid-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African Union's (AU's) doctrine underlying Peace Support Operations (PSOs) highlights the fact that the AU should take the lead in providing political direction for all AU PSOs. This includes mainstreaming the standards and operating procedures applicable to the Protection of Civilians (PoC). The PoC guidelines mandate the AU to support and complement the efforts of the host state by enhancing its capacity to secure civilians and prevent abuse against them. The guidelines have allowed the AU to develop and grow its institutional capacity and emerge as the continent's leading institution. It provides fragile member states with technical support through African-led and AU-mandated missions (crafting the concept of operations, training and implementation and procedures for peace operations). However, little is known about how the AU transfers its PoC policy to member states during peacekeeping missions. This paper assesses the institutional capacity of the AU and its ability to influence specific national PoC policies and approaches through AU PSO and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UN PKOs). The paper highlights that although the AU has made progress in PoC policy, it has not been implemented effectively and practically in South Sudan and Somalia, despite being a significant priority for the organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An almost-forgotten piece of Italian fascist architecture still stands in Somalia at the easternmost point of the Horn of Africa. This is a lighthouse in the shape of fascio littorio, built in 1930. During this period, fascist architecture boomed across Italy and its style influenced and reached the colonies from Libya to the Italian East Africa, as a medium to develop thalassocratic ambitions and to challenge competitors. This paper offers an original view on the real purpose of this controversial marine structure, by exploring its fascist use of Classical elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, debates about the localisation of humanitarian aid have intensified. Dominant discourse focuses on reform, although calls for the broader decolonisation of aid are mounting. This paper examines the impact of neoliberal‐inspired competition that incentivises institutional expansion and clashes with localisation. It introduces the concept of the 'conflict paradox' to illustrate how armed conflict and restricted humanitarian access for international actors can both empower and disempower local and national humanitarian actors (LNHAs). These themes are then demonstrated using case studies of Myanmar, Somalia, and Somaliland, revealing the potential for LNHAs to demand humanitarian system change, as well as the challenges to doing so. The paper concludes that for localisation to progress towards decolonisation, fundamental ideological shifts away from the neoliberal competitive mindset are essential. Notably, there is a need to move from low‐quality localisation (subcontracting) to high‐quality localisation grounded in solidarity and an emancipatory agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution deals with the representation of African law in comparative legal literature. It aims at moving forward from an understanding of African legal systems as bounded entities, frequently dubbed "pluralistic" but too often described as derivative from western law, that is the law of the former colonial powers. The paper reacts to common representations of African law based on the "stratigraphic approach" and on the notion of legal pluralism. While remaining a valuable tool for the study of African legal systems in a structuralist fashion, the stratigraphic approach ultimately fails to capture the more dynamic dimension of legal relations and the agency of legal subjects better conveyed by the notion of legal pluralism. The notion of legal pluralism, in turn, points at the existence of plural normative orders in all legal systems, therefore it seems to have lost its specificity to post-colonial African societies. Moreover, research on legal pluralism has become progressively dominated by academic lawyers adopting a normative and theoretical approach with little regard for empirical observation of law in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The subservience of the AU to its influential partners compels it to protect their interests, even when these interests are detrimental to AU (peace) objectives. This is the case in Somalia where Ethiopia and the United States have waged a proxy war through the AU. Considering the current conflict stalemate, this paper questions if the AU ignored viable indigenous options for peace in Somalia. Using process tracing as the method of analysis, this paper argues that ignored local administrative processes that have stabilized the north, and once used by the ICU in south-central Somalia, are the best options for stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rouya Turkiyyah is the property of Insight Turkey and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Access to electricity is a prerequisite for development, included in both the Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Still, universal access to electricity is elusive to large parts of the global population. In Somalia, approximately one-third of the population has access to electricity. The country is unique among non-island countries as it has no centralized grid network. This paper applies a geospatial electrification model to examine paths towards universal access to electricity in Somalia under different timelines and with regard to different levels of myopia in the modeling process. This extends the previous scientific literature on geospatial electrification modeling by studying the effect of myopia for the first time and simultaneously presenting the first geospatial electrification analysis focused on Somalia. Using the Open Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET), the least-cost electrification options towards 2030 and 2040, respectively, are compared. We find that under the shorter timeline, a deployment of mini-grids and stand-alone PV technologies alone provides the least-cost option under all but one scenario. However, under the longer timeline, the construction of a national transmission backbone would lower overall costs if there is high demand growth and/or low cost of centralized grid electricity generation. We also compare different levels of myopia in the modeling process. Here, OnSSET is first run directly until 2040, then in five-year time-steps and annual time-steps. We find that running the model directly until 2040 leads to the lowest costs overall. Running the model myopically leads to a sub-optimal, more costly technology mix, with a lock-in effect towards stand-alone systems. On the other hand, the myopic approach does provide additional insights into the development of the system over time. We find that longer-term planning favors the centralized grid network, whereas short-sighted myopic planning can lead to higher costs in the long term and a technology mix with a higher share of stand-alone PV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The declining student enrollment in faculties of education is a critical issue for the development and progress of Somalia. This paper aims to investigate the major factors contributing to this decline from the perspective of graduate teacher education. Qualitative research was conducted through interviews with 20 teachers from different institutions in both higher and general education, with data saturation used as a limiting factor. The findings reveal that community perception, teacher motivation, and the implementation of policies and acts relating to the teaching profession are the primary causes of the decline. Notably, the study found that schools and scholarships did not significantly affect the decline in student enrollment. These results suggest that there is a need to restate the status of teacher education in Somalia. This can be achieved through collaborative efforts between the community, government, and universities. Specifically, there is a need to address the negative perception of teaching as a profession, improve teacher motivation, and ensure the implementation of relevant policies and acts. By addressing these issues, we can create a more conducive environment for teacher education and ensure the upcoming human capital is adequately prepared to drive development and progress in Somalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: WHO recommends attending minimum four ANC consultations during pregnancy to ensure early detection of complications. The objective of this study was to quantify ANC attendance and factors associated with it. Methods: Participants were randomly selected using the WHO Cluster survey methodology in Southern and Central Somalia. A paper-print questionnaire was used to collect all data. Outcomes of interest were: access to at least one ANC consultation, completion of at least four ANC consultations, initiation of breastfeeding and place of delivery, while exposures included factors related to the latest pregnancy and demographic characteristics. Associations were assessed through logistic regression. Results: Seven hundred ninety-two women answered the questionnaire; 85% attended at least one and 23% at least four ANC consultations, 95% started breastfeeding and 51% had an institutional delivery. Encouragement to attend ANC increased the odds of attending at least one consultation (aOR = 8.22, 95%CI 4.36–15.49), while negative attitude of husband or family decreased the odds (aOR = 0.33, 95%CI 0.16–0.69). Knowing there is a midwife increased the odds of at least four visits (aOR = 1.87, 95%CI 1.03–3.41). Attending at least four consultations increased the odds of delivering in a health structure (aOR = 1.50, 95%CI 1.01–2.24), and attending at least one consultation was associated with higher odds of initiating breastfeeding (aOR = 2.69, 95%CI 1.07–6.74). Conclusions: Family has a strong influence in women's ANC attendance, which increases the likelihood of institutional delivery and initiating breastfeeding. Women and families need to have access to information about benefits and availability of services; potential solutions can include health education and outreach interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid population growth, industrialization, and agricultural activities have impacted water resources in the arid and semi-arid areas of Somalia. The Lower Juba region in Somalia has been the most affected region. Therefore, an analysis of the hydrological patterns is essential. This paper assesses streamflow and evapotranspiration in the Wabiga Juba basin in Somalia using a hydrological simulation model, namely, the water evaluation and planning (WEAP) system via the soil moisture method. The datasets included 53 (average precipitation) and 13 (streamflow) year periods from two meteorological stations. The estimated values for potential evapotranspiration (11,921.98 to 20,775.39 MCM) were higher than the actual evapotranspiration (4904.10 to 8242.72 MCM) by 50 to 79.5%, respectively. The annual streamflow in Juba Dolow and runoff proportion of the Wabiga Juba River was estimated to be 10% of the annual precipitation. Most of the surface runoff occurred in April (47%), May (31%), October (5%), and November (14%). The streamflow variation responded to the pattern of precipitation. The model performance achieved a Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency (NSE) coefficient of 0.71, coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.91, and percent bias (PBIAS) of 14%. The WEAP model of the Wabiga Juba basin is a baseline study for water resource management in Somalia to mitigate water shortage impacts due to limited water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience enhancing programmes are key to supporting people facing natural and man-induced shocks. International agencies, donors, NGOs, and governments adopted resilience as a framework for designing interventions. However, there is little evidence of the impact of these programs, especially in a fragile context. This paper evaluates the impact of a joint strategy in Somalia. Results show a positive and significant effect on a resilience construct. This paper contributes also to the literature of impact evaluation by using quasi-experimental (but solid) evidence, and by showing the effect of integrated assistance. This finding suggests investing in a diversified approach to enhance resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper frames Somalia's modern history as a trajectory from aspiring high modernist nation-state formation to 'disassembled' state, examining how this has been accompanied by – and in part driven by – processes of identity formation and the penetration of marketised political relationships. The paper shows how armed conflicts and post-conflicts contributed to the emergence and consolidation of 'clan units' at the congruence of political-military entrepreneurship and emerging norms of public authority. It documents how failed wars and elite security politics (putchism and coup-proofing in both government and opposition) created the conditions for a parallel process of the monetisation of patronage, leading to the creation of a political marketplace in Somalia. The paper shows how peace processes and efforts to build social order from below contributed to a potential for consensus on the political 'rules of the game', but how this opportunity was squandered through the prioritisation of building a conventional state apparatus and the war on terror. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Middle Eastern Studies / Ortadoğu Etütleri is the property of Turkmen Cooperation & Cultural Foundation Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Somali education sector had almost collapsed by the time Somalia's government collapsed in 1991. However, an education sector re-emerged in the self-declared independent Republic of Somaliland. Despite limited resources and lacking international recognition as a state, education continues to be provided. This paper sets out to analyse the role played by the state in this process. Although practices of organising primary education provision are largely located outside the state framework, the state continues to be productive for non-state actors in their continuous attempts to deliver education. Despite its distant role, the state is not completely powerless within the organisation of the sector. The paper describes first how the state accumulated sufficient power to be in charge of the education sector. This is followed by three cases unpacking how the state and its power is re-produced between state and non-state actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In gender studies, the distinction between biological sex and the social aspect of gender is of pivotal concern, and it needs to be examined not only from a feminist perspective but from masculinity studies as well. Undoubtedly, men have fared better within the patriarchal structure "in terms of the access to and the wielding of power, than have women" (Buchbinder, p. 68), but it is crucial to understand the implications of gender-based expectations on men to possess those privileges. The invisibility concerning masculinity as a gendered category has made it appear natural and coherent. In the context of masculinity as a gendered category, this paper will analyze the configuration of hegemonic masculinity or a raganimo in Nuruddin Farah's (b. 1945) Maps. The study will reveal how the dominant masculinity insinuated by culture as natural is, in reality, a make-believe formulated by various discourses. The paper foregrounds that the shaping of masculinity in socially prescribed norms in Maps is a discursive practice instrumentalized by patriarchal Somali society to generate, circulate and exert power. The aim of this paper is not to promote the positioning of men as agents of power, but to understand the working of gender and the underpinning of power in masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of summer precipitation in north China (NCP) has long been a challenge partly because its low correlation with previous sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (SSTA) limits the application of SST in NCP prediction. This study aims to extract optimal predictors of NCP from the SST field using an objective method—empirically optimal screening (EOS). It finds that the optimal precursory signal of NCP lies in the change of SSTA from winter to spring rather than the SSTA itself. This study identifies two optimal precursory signs predicting a positive (negative) NCP anomaly: the anomalous SST cooling (warming) from winter to spring in the coastal area of Somalia and Peru. Interestingly, these two presummer conditions have considerable independence, but they lead to a similar summer development of La Niña (El Niño). In summer, the tropical precipitation anomaly pattern associated with La Niña (El Niño) development excites a meridional wave train over the western Pacific and the circumglobal teleconnection in the Northern Hemisphere. Both of the anomalous wave trains show abnormal high (low) pressure over northeast Asia, which induces the south (north) wind anomalies over north China and produces abundant (deficient) precipitation there. These results highlight the importance of the SST evolution from winter to spring, break through the limitation of SST application in NCP prediction, and thus bring a prospect of improving NCP forecast skills. Significance Statement: Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are most used as predictors in climate prediction. However, the forecast of summer precipitation in north China is limited by its low correlation with prior SST anomalies. In this paper, we find that the optimal precursory signal of north China precipitation (NCP) is not the SST anomaly itself, but the changes of SST anomalies from winter to spring in the coastal area of Somalia and Peru. These two precursory signals are almost independent yet indicate similar summer situations leading to NCP anomaly. These results highlight the importance of the dynamic evolution of sea surface temperature in improving the forecast skill of NCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that access to quality education and skills development programs for refugees, returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is not only one of the fundamental human rights that states and non-state actors have obligations to fulfill; it is also an integral part of sustainable development efforts which will have significant contributions to socio-economic transformation in host countries, countries of origin and countries of destinations in the event that refugees become migrant, which is sometimes the case. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region, consisting of eight member states, namely, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, host more than 13 million forcibly displaced people. This results from protracted and devastating conflicts; drought and famine and other natural or man-made calamities. Within the IGAD region, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan produce 80 to 90% of displacement due to protracted civil wars. However, almost all the member states have refugees, IDPs or migrants sheltered in their territories. Access to higher education among refugees, returnees and IDPs is very low at only 3% compared to 36% globally. The figure for Africa is still dismal, at less than 1%; and the same holds true for the IGAD region. In an effort to address this major challenge facing these population categories, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a high level regional (Ministerial Conference) on refugee education held in Djibouti, 12-14 December 2017. That Conference adopted what is now called the Djibouti declaration and Plan of Action for refugee education in the IGAD region. The major purpose of this paper was is to outline the refugee situations in general and the state of higher education in the region in particular.

The paper assesses the ways the Somali diaspora in Denmark is contributing to peacebuilding in their home country through what is known in peace studies as Multi-Track Diplomacy. It starts by defining the concepts of peacebuilding and Multi-track Diplomacy, showing how the latter works as an instrument for the former. The paper then describes and analyzes how, through a varied array of activities that include all tracks of diplomacy as classified by the Diamond&McDonald model, members of Danish diaspora function as interface agents between their home and host societies helping to build the conditions for a stable peace. The article also analyzes how the diplomacy tracks carried out by the Somali-Danish diaspora, as well as the extent of their reach, are shaped by the particular characteristics of this group vis-à-vis other Somali diasporic communities: namely, its small size and relatively high levels of integration and acculturation into the Danish host society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper assessed access to WASH service in the Jariban district of Somalia. One hundred and sixty-seven households were sampled to administer a questionnaire. Central tendency and logistical regression were used to analyse the data in SPSS 26. The findings show that access to safe drinking water sources is 57.5%. Of the 42.5% of respondents who did not access safe drinking water source, only 10.8% confirmed that they treat drinking water at the point of use. The main reason for household water treatment was the positive mindset (.272) of the household head towards water treatment. The majority (80.2%) of the respondents access approximately 13 litres per person per day. Woman-headed households were more likely to treat water before drinking than male-headed households. Only 26.9% of the respondents accessed basic sanitation. Of the respondents, 55.7% did not share latrines, while 44.3% share resulting in open defecation. WASH access in the study area remains low, resulting in health-related risks, including diarrhoeal disease. The limitation is that the paper only focused on access to WASH facilities in fragile contexts. A cross-sectional analysis of biological, physical and chemical properties of water at the source and point of use is recommended for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that brokers are key actors in the cross-border livestock trade between Kenya and Somalia, where formal regulations are weak or absent. We elucidate the economic and social rationales for livestock brokerage as well as a series of brokering practices taking place at the intersection of profit making, kinship and trust. Besides producing social capital based on trust, brokers facilitate the formalization of livestock trading by linking livestock production sites in southern Somalia to consumer markets in Kenya. Brokers thereby take on various roles and functions that contribute to integrating markets across fragmented territories. Based on extended fieldwork conducted in and around Garissa livestock market as well as in Nairobi, the paper outlines the political economy of livestock intermediaries in the important Somali-Kenyan cross-border livestock trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using contemporary and historical approaches, this paper empirically interrogates the recent and current trajectories of the statebuilding and peacebuilding processes and politics of southern Somalia (recognised as a state) and Somaliland (unrecognised as a state). To understand how the (post-)violent politics has preconditioned the form and face of becoming a Weberian state, the paper traces the internal dynamics and external dimensions of the two entities. In so doing, it offers empirical and theoretical contributions as to why the attempts at statebuilding and peacebuilding conversations in southern Somalia fail from time to time while Somaliland by contrast appears to be different. Although comparisons and contrasts between the two entities have been varied from the outset, there are similarities as well as differences in terms of structural differences, state differentiations, competing actors, different stakes and similar practices of clan politics. If evaluating institutions and actors in the longue durée approach suggests why a state is a state in Somaliland but not in southern Somalia, assessing both the state structures and the stakes involved reveals why power struggle and resource competition have become violent in one entity but not the other. Based on research data collected mainly in southern Somalia and Somaliland, the paper contributes to the research on the political conflicts in fragile and failed states in Africa, post-war Somali reconstruction and statebuilding and peacebuilding processes in war-torn societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The aims of this paper is to determine intentions to adopt takaful mediating perceived trust in case of Somalia. Design/methodology/approach -- This study utilizes relative advantage, compatibility and complexity constructs as an original factors of diffusion innovation theory (DOI). Moreover, the three external constructs of awareness, culture, and trust are added into the DOI constructs. The authors distributed 419 questionnaires to the contributors of the study. The survey was conducted using convenience sampling technique in Somalia and our respondents were potential takaful product users. The DOI theoretical model was put to the test through structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings -- The findings show that relative advantage, compatibility, culture has positively and significantly influence on adoption of takaful with mediating perceived trust. On the other hand, perceived complexity and awareness is positively related to adoption of takaful but there is no mediation with perceived trust. Originality/value -- This research is an original attempt for investigating the factors that determines the adoption of takaful products regarding customers with mediating trust in Somalia by changing the DOI theory. Therefore, it presents a unique contribution to the takaful field in context of Somalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the successes and challenges of NATO and EU interventions off the coast of Somalia. It begins with identifying the mandate of multinational naval missions to fight piracy. After discussing achievements and significant developments in anti-piracy operations, the paper scrutinises NATO's successes and challenges in taking up the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa region. The article continues with providing reasons for the EU's involvement in combating Somali piracy and explains the need for the continuous expansion of Operation Atalanta's mandate. It then elaborates on the EU's successes and challenges with regards to addressing the threat of piracy off the Somali coast. The study argues that piracy can only be eliminated if multilateral coordination at sea and ashore is enhanced; law enforcement becomes more effective; operational information is more widely shared; and security capabilities are strengthened in the Horn of Africa region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]