Politics
Somalia’s new constitution lacks widespread buy-in. Proceeding with it threatens the further balkanization of what remains of the shattered republic
Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s election has given renewed hope to the Senegalese public, but will he be able to deliver on their high expectations?
South Sudanese fought bitterly for independence from Sudan, but leadership failures and ethnic divisions have undermined attempts to forge a nation for Africa’s youngest state.
The ideal of 1P1V elections has become intertwined with the personal ambitions of political leaders in Somalia who view it as a method to retain power, warns Omar Mahmood
From war to natural disasters and man-made tragedies, the passage from last Ramadan to this one has been concerningly deadly.
Opinion
A neocolonial conflict dynamic is ravaging Sudan and undermining Sudanese aspirations for peace, justice and sovereignty Introduction
Hamid Khalafallah, a Sudanese writer and academic researcher, reflects on the war in Sudan, displacement and its broader impact on the country’s people Where, then, were the roots that struck down into times past? Where are the memories of death and life? What had happened to the caravan and to the tribe? – Tayeb Salih, Season of Migration to the North
It is a bitter joke that Israeli president Isaac Herzog received a wreath at the genocide memorial in Rwanda while his country is accused of investigating one itself
Matthew Gordon reflects on what a reductive analogy can tell us about the unfolding catastrophe.You know a geopolitical situation has gotten really out of hand when people start invoking Somalia.
Hassan Sheikh is misusing and repeating Somalia’s history of conflict and trauma with Ethiopia to smuggle through major constitutional changes.
Culture
The translation of academic works into various languages is not a simple task; it is a crucial endeavor that pushes the boundaries of knowledge and ideas.
In June 1970, Somalia seized a US freighter Midnight Sun for violating its territorial waters, sparking a small but bizarre diplomatic crisis between Washington and Mogadishu
Professor John ‘Jaamac’ Johnson recalls his visits to Somalia in the 1960s and his interactions with scholars, poets and writers.
For a long time he had been the manager of all of these properties, including the many villas and the banana plantation owned by his Italian uncle. Then, he became the owner after Uncle Giovanni nominated him as his only heir. But that is another story. Indeed, it could be the prologue to the story of Giovanni, the Italian uncle of the Minister and Member of Parliament, one of the elderly Italian concessionaires whose favourite afternoon hangout was the Savoy Bar in the centre of Mogadishu, opposite the Bank.
I would fix him a caseAs alwaysAnd pose for defense with a straight faceBut the absurdity of blaming history points a finger at the second in chargeThus, how many of your muffled shouts does it takeFor his conscience to start screamingThen tearing his eardrums from withinSo he can finally hear the trickling sound of pain
It is very difficult to choose where to start this short piece that I intended to share with much younger and brilliant open-minded people as you are today. However, I do not know a particular wording, phrase, or topic to begin these conversations with myself and, indirectly, to those who I think are my patient readers, my own children included. I would like to start by describing places, events and activities of my adolescence, the beginning of my schooling and later we will extend these conversations between us to a wider perspective.
It isn’t easy to find good books on Somalia’s modern history in English and that often creates a knowledge gap for diasporas filled with partisan stories – some parts true, others clearly not. Those that are available tend to be quite old, making them appear dated in their analysis when they do not totally miss developments we have learned about over the course of the decades since state collapse in 1991. However, we believe this list will provide a solid general introduction for curious readers who want to gain a decent understanding of the topic.
Frantz Fanon (1925-1961) was not only a psychiatrist, but also a critical thinker, political theorist, and above all, a freedom fighter. He wrote extensively on the profound effects of colonialism and racism on the psyche of both individuals and groups, as well as on the societies of colonized people. His works have served as a powerful inspiration for numerous liberation movements and activists across the globe, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Multimedia
Why have I dedicated myself to this arduous task, you may wonder? Well, as Fanon himself eloquently stated in his treatise, “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it, in relative opacity.”
Stuart Reid’s new book, The Lumumba Plot, revisits Patrice Lumumba’s assassination, with strong insight into the role of the US in assassinating Lumumba and bringing down the government of one of Africa’s most iconic leaders.
Leaders across the Horn of Africa have touted the innumerable benefits of building ports for their people, putting them at the heart of their projects to develop their regions.
South Africa’s decision to take Israel to the ICJ on charges of genocide could cost his country, says former South African ambassador and anti-apartheid activist Ebrahim Rasool, but is an act of “enormous integrity”
Geeska is a platform that contributes to shaping the image of cultural media in the Horn of Africa.
Interviews
Professor Minawi speaks to Geeska about the history of Ottoman empire, its role in Africa, and why it’s important to understand its role in our common history.
Somali scholar and senator, Abdi Ismail Samatar, says the new constitution could be a fatal step backward for the country. On the 30th of March, Somalia held a joint session of its parliament where lawmakers from the upper and lower houses passed a bill making major revisions to the country’s constitution which among other things, empowers the president to appoint the prime minister instead of parliament and introduce a direct voting system for the public in place of the existing indirect model.
Dr. Matthew Gordon speaks to Geeska about how Somaliland has transformed since the "republic" was declared and the dangers centralization poses to peace across the territory.
Professor Jörg Matthias Determann speaks to Geeska about a new book he co-edited on Islamic theology and extraterrestrial life.
Somali scholar and critic Ali Mumim Ahad speaks to Geeska about Somali poetry, the responsibility of Somali intellectuals and Somali history