Human Security

In April 2014, I wrote a  commentary entitled, “Is there Any Hope for Africa?”

I wrote that commentary despairing over the endless man-made disasters in Africa over the past couple of decades.

Omar Mateen, the American gunman who slaughtered 50 people and wounded another 53 at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, on 12 June 2016, used an AR-15 assault rifle to kill his victims.

EZULWINI, SWAZILAND: It is the 3^rd of June, 2016. The clock ticks towards 4pm at the Royal Swazi Hotel during the 39^th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

Ethiopia is one of the most populous countries in Africa, with recent estimation of the country’s population placing it at over 100 million people. Ethiopia has a long history of migration to different parts of the world.

More than just a house, our home is where the light of sunset greeted us on the north side of the windows, and on the east side sunrise enjoyed my mama’s favorite room where she braided our hair when she was not crocheting sweaters. Our home is where we communed in prayer and fasting.

The dilemma of hosting refugees at the expense of national security plagues the Kenyan government.  What is the destiny of 600,000 refugees that will no longer be hosted on Kenyan soil?

A mother

Always on the outlook

For family’s safety 

In mind

As she gazes across

No matter what

She hopes

Yet; she is

The Worried Mother asking

What is ahead?

Her baby

We are concerned about the rising conflicts over livelihood in our country, especially the incidents and associated fatalities between pastoralists and sedentary farming communities.

In the ongoing debate on refugee protection, we risk pushing new solutions without properly considering where and why we have succeeded and failed thus far. Refugee protection as we know it has been creaking at the joints for decades.

Due to the many and mostly unproductive gatherings that Diaspora Somalis hold in luxurious hotels in Western capitals, I rarely go beyond the headlines of such stories unless I see the name of Prof. Ahmed Samater in them.