Posts classified under: Volume 5

Institute for Somali Studies > Volume 5
30
Jan
Date January 30, 2025

“Pen to Poet Is Weapon”—the Politicalin Abdirahman Mirreh’s Poetry (1976-1994)


Abstract





This paper examines the political themes in three collections of poetry by Abdirahman Gaileh Mirreh (1942-2000). Motivated by what he witnessed in his native Somalia, Mirreh’s poetry is driven by his belief in democracy, freedom, and human rights. This paper explores how Mirreh's call for a change in the Horn is rooted in his belief that stability and progress in Somalia can only be achieved by moving from dictatorship to democracy, from a focus on self-interests to an emphasis on collective prosperity, and from clannish to patriotic politics. Even when he was forced out of Somalia, Mirreh’s democratic convictions never waned and were strengthened by the effects of democracy that he witnessed in the West. This paper highlights how Mirreh’s political poetry can be perceived as a roadmap for the betterment of the political scene in the Horn.





Keywords:





Abdirahman Mirreh, Somali Poetry, Political Poetry, Mogadishu University, ISOS,


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0 Comments Author dheeg9412
30
Jan
Date January 30, 2025

Notes on the Somali Foreign Investment Law(Law No: 13 of 21st January 2016)


Abstract





Somalia has a cluster of laws governing the relationship between foreign investors and Somali society. This article gives a commentary and indepth analysis of the Somalia’s current foreign investment law (Law
No:13 of 21st January, 2016) as well as other related laws in order to articulate standard of investment protection and provide a road map for foreign investors, showing up the incentives provided by the current law to the foreign investors. A comparison with some other foreign laws is undertaken to highlight the key weaknesses that can be improved in the Somali New Foreign Investment Law.
In addition, the article attempts to propose some recommendations to improve the gaps in the Somali’s current foreign investment legal regime, particularly the recent enacted foreign investment law.





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Somalia, Foreign investment, property rights and settlement of investment disputes, Mogadishu University, ISOS,


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0 Comments Author dheeg9412
30
Jan
Date January 30, 2025

Problems of the General Part of the Somali Penal Code


Abstract





The Somali Penal Code [PC] came into force in 1964, almost 60 years ago. Over this period of time new crimes and complex forms of criminal activities appeared. This PC is expected to remain the main legal
instrument in fighting crime. This situation dictates modernization of the Somali PC.
This article is focused on the General Part of the PC as more difficult, challenging and applicable to special penal laws as well. Improvement of some key provisions is proposed. The conservative nature of penal law has been taken into consideration. This is why abrupt changes are not recommended, as they might be counterproductive, especially in the current situation.





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Somalia, law, penal code, criminal offence, guilt, justification, Mogadishu University, ISOS,


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0 Comments Author dheeg9412
30
Jan
Date January 30, 2025

Somali Elite Political Culture: Conceptions, Structures, and Historical Evolution


Abstract





Somalia celebrated the 60th anniversary of its independence in 2020 while still striving to recover from the state collapse and protracted civil war. Over 60 years' continuous failure to build the Somali state indicates a general trend and recurring phenomenon of the elite political culture.
This paper explores what has made the Somali government fail repeatedly and impede its recovery. Its premise is that the ruling elite political culture is responsible for that. Thus, the paper conceptualizes the basic terminologies of elite political culture and explains Somalia's elite formation and structures.
Moreover, it traces the historical development of the elite political culture and how the blended elite culture of Somali tradition, Italian political culture, and military dictatorship contributed to its collapse. This culture developed to the worse as a considerable obstacle for state recovery. Finally, the paper
recommends that recovering the Somali state depends on breaking the vicious cycle of state failure by transforming the ruling elite political culture and reforming state institutions.





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Somali state, Somali elite, political culture, Somali elite political culture. Mogadishu University, ISOS,


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0 Comments Author dheeg9412
30
Jan
Date January 30, 2025

Somalia’s Aid Dependency in 1960-1990


Abstract





Prompted by the unfortunate situation of the last 30 years whereby Somalia heavily relies on foreign aid, this article aims to probe the magnitude of the aid dependency of Somalia between 1960 and 1990. The
article finds that Somalia heavily relied on external economic, development, humanitarian, and military aid throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. This aid mainly originated from the Western World, oil-rich Arab countries, and the former Soviet Union. The economic and development aid received by Somalia in this period had a negligible positive impact on the economy.





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Somalia, aid dependency, economic aid, development aid, humanitarian aid, military aid, grants, Mogadishu University, ISOS,


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0 Comments Author dheeg9412