Analysis of the University ‘Foundation Year’ Directive: Substance, Concerns, Consequences, and Policy Considerations
Considering the persistent challenges underlying the quality of higher education in Somalia, the FGS Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education proclaimed, on 16 August 2023, a directive authorizing the introduction of a ‘foundation year’ that would precede the university undergraduate first year and will take effect in this academic year 2023/2024.
The role of 4.5 in democratization and governance in Somalia
This brief aims to promote and inform such discussions on 4.5, as well as clan-based power-sharing arrangements more generally.
Review of the Federal Government of Somalia’s Near Billion-dollar Budget for 2023
This brief analyzes the 2023 federal budget and its main allocations for the administration, security, social services, and economic development sectors. Finally, the brief outlines key recommendations including increasing accountability, building public trust, improving social services, encouraging domestic production and international trade, and expediting the debt relief process.
Hirshabelle’s political settlement: Opportunities for meaningful and inclusive political processes
This policy brief, based on extensive empirical research, therefore provides an overview of the contentious issues at play before outlining a possible framework for transforming of the political settlement.
Agreements on power allocation and the judiciary through Somalia’s National Consultative Council: how to move beyond the current political impasse
This governance brief examines the NCC agreements on the judiciary model and power allocation. It explores the further challenges it faces, and puts forward several policy considerations.
The Rise of Youth Gangs (Ciyaal Weero) in Mogadishu
This governance brief examines the factors that contributed to the rise of Ciyaal Weero, their impact on security and mobility in Mogadishu, and puts forward some policy considerations including control of the import of drugs, development of a government strategy to tackle the youth gangs, and the creation of job opportunities.
Reviewing the Federal Government of Somalia’s 2022 near billion-dollar budget: development priorities and donor dependence
Although the annual government budget has progressively increased by around $816 million over the past 9 years, more than half of the budget (52 percent of the total budget) is made up of donor-funded projects. This brief examines the 2022 federal government budget for security, social services, and economic development and puts forward policy considerations.
Greed or Grievances: The Gedo Conundrum
This brief examines how Gedo became a key battleground for the center- periphery rift in Somalia’s federal politics. It investigates FGS control of Gedo, the complications and challenges surrounding the holding of elections in Gedo, and the triggers of the Gedo dispute: including unaddressed grievances, a lack of state-level security presence, and greed-induced motivations. The brief also puts forward several policy considerations.
Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a’s resurgence: factors, missed opportunities and the way forward
Galmudug State of Somalia (GSS) became embroiled in a bloody conflict after Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a’s (ASWJ) leadership returned to Galmudug in October 2021 under…
Lessons from Somalia’s 2021 Upper House Elections
After about three and half months, the election of the Upper House’s 54 members has been completed. However, the electoral process has not been undertaken without flaws. It empowered the presidents of Federal Member States (FMS) to submit a list of candidates for each…
