Hodan M. Hassan

Reverse Migrant I Passionate about African-led solutions

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

Congratulations to @Hakiimov on your appointment to Chief of Staff @TheVillaSomalia. Your thoughtful leadership and rich experience make you the right person for the job. Best of luck!

[SNTV News @sntvnews1]

President @HassanSMohamud has on Friday appointed @Hakiimov as the new Chief of Staff for @TheVillaSomalia.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

This x100!

[Mohamed A. Warsame @warsame_words]

My thoughts on the "somalization of the Sudan" phrase being peddled as scholarly. I'm truly baffled at how it is becoming more and more normal to coin bizarre abstract nouns that synonymize temporary conditions of a country or peoples into permanent disparaging & dehumanizing lingo. Though I wanted to record the below audio with my own voice, the #AI TTS turned out better in quality 👇🏿

During my second stay in Germany between 2013 and 2016, I encountered quite a few Syrian refugees, many of whom were warm and gracious. Yet, there were those who, perhaps burdened by the weight of their own plight, sought solace in deriding my country of origin, Somalia. They lamented their fall from once having been the pride of the Arab world to a failed-state condition somewhat resembling Somalia. I chose not to retaliate, understanding that this was their way of coping with trauma. Maybe they just didn't want me to pity them.

Among these refugees were highly educated individuals – doctors and engineers – who now found themselves chronically unemployed, surviving on meager government support, and stripped of the pride and dignity they once held. As I now witness the unfolding of events in Sudan and the resulting comparisons to Somalia, those discomforting memories resurfaced.

Phrases like "somalization of Sudan" are casually being employed, as if the notion were a concrete, academic concept devoid of ambiguity. As though it were akin to the term "balkanization," which refers to the fragmentation of a larger state into smaller entities. "Somalization," one might surmise, tells the tale of a nation descending into perpetual conflict and political dysfunction.

Yet, is the concept of "somalization" valid? While Somalia did indeed disintegrate after the civil war in 1991, the idea of a perpetual state of lawlessness is misleading. Today, multiple Somalias coexist, each in various states of conflict and peace, comprising a mosaic of federal states. There are pockets of peace where people haven't heard the sound of gunfire in many years, and there are regions in a constant state of fear. Thus, to assume that such a condition is universally applicable is a sign of ignorance rather than scholarly insight.

Observing these tendencies, I am struck by the paradox of the human condition. We extol our personal resilience in the face of adversity, often competing to prove who has endured the most, as if our hardships were badges of honor. Very much like gang subcultures where scars are glorified as embodiments of authenticity. Yet, when it comes to our nation's, we revel in belittling and mocking the misfortunes of others.

The resilience we so proudly claim for ourselves becomes a source of shame when applied to our collective identity. This, it seems, is the peculiar nature of our species. As we navigate the complexities of life, we should remember that empathy and understanding should guide our interactions, both as individuals and as nations. For in doing so, we can begin to transform our collective traumas into shared strength and wisdom.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@Aadawe @HarunMaruf @VOANews @beautiwell Excellent work Amira! We need to keep a spotlight on these public health issues.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@sgem2016 @Osman_Moallim @igassar @DrHodanIsse1 @GiGi_Faiza @ZainabSirad A3 - In the short-term, it is a collective effort with all three levels of govt - federal, state and local authorities contributing to maintaining stability.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@ZainabSirad @sgem2016 @Osman_Moallim @faisalroble19 @DrHodanIsse1 @GiGi_Faiza @idil_ibrahim @igassar A2 In addition, the FMS, especially the FMS Ministry of Interior, will play a critical role in helping shape the governance arrangements following liberation - in close partnership with the local communities.

[Justin Sandefur @JustinSandefur]

Most U.S. foreign aid doesn't go to foreigners -- at least not directly.

I dig into the numbers on how USAID can change that.

1/n

https://t.co/rYa4RX6cLb

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

When Somali women are given the chance to compete in the political sphere, they are a force to be reckoned with💪🏾

[Harun Maruf @HarunMaruf]

More than half of the Somali-Americans running for office in the United States are women. I have this special report on the political successes of Somali-American women in contrast with the challenges faced by women seeking public office back home https://t.co/ciMkJBwKyS

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

Excellent interview with @LopesInsights.
"Very often our leaders give in very easily to the pressures they are under in exchange for a seat at the top table."

Very important point - need to recognize where we have power and to exercise it, primarily at the negotiating table.

[African Business @AfricanBizMag]

Will Africa again become dependent on unrefined raw materials or will it position itself to add value? These questions will weigh on the negotiating capacity of the AfCFTA. You don't get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate, says @LopesInsights https://t.co/jBU3olCMKH

[Hannah Wanjie Ryder (芮 婉 洁) @hmryder]

Perhaps it is easier to agree a #debt suspension when it is just one country... and of course it is welcome. But many countries have faced war and not had this kind of international support to date...

[Ladan @ladanaffi]

Study examines the opportunities and challenges women face in running for and being members of Somalia's federal parliament.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

Inspired by a recent @michaelharriot post...

If there was a Somali Olympics Games, what competition would you compete in?

I will go first:

I am confident that I would get at least a silver medal in the "banana with almost every meal" category. 🍌🍌🍌

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@Nas_Isms I needed it as well today 😂

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

When Google Translates goes horribly wrong 🤣

The correct translation for this saying is something similar to "my home is your home" OR "feel at home"

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

It is interesting that with all the challenges faced in Somalia, there is rarely a shortage of water, electricity or diesel in the major cities. The private sector is quite efficient.

[Louise Dewast @LouiseDewast]

No gasoline, no diesel, no electricity, and now this is the amount of water coming out of our tap. Usually love living in #Nigeria but this is though, especially when it's 35 degrees + outside.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@Gobannimo I had the pleasure of joining my friend @ladanaffi when she interviewed Saado Amare back in 2016. Saado's journey and experience is one that should be in history books. But of course the role of women in war and peace is often relegated to just passive victims.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@Ahmed_Nabaddoon @LKulmiye @Aadawe @GiGi_Faiza 🙏🏽🙏🏽 @Ahmed_Nabaddoon

Happy Women's Day to all!

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@DrMIShire Much deserved Mohamed.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

@Gobannimo Agree 💯. Parties should be intentional about including women in key positions within their structures since many future politicians, members of cabinet, etc are often coming from senior party leadership.

[Hodan M. Hassan @HodanMHassan]

Glad to see donors are investigating @NRT_Kenya. The so-called conservancies in Kenya, esp around Laikipia, always seem to have non-Kenyans as the "stewards" of the land. These folks develop luxury bush camps and showcase how they employ locals. Always felt like a scam to me.

[Oakland Institute @oak_institute]

BREAKING: @NRT_kenya ’s donors are launching an investigation into allegations of human rights abuses & land theft made in our report. We will work w/ impacted communities to ensure this is not a sham investigation. To learn more tune in to our webinar: https://t.co/DjNmpYgVIL

[Somali Public Agenda (SPA) @somalipubagenda]

Join us tomorrow night, 9pm.

We will have @TwitterSpaces conversation on #Somalia’s federal elections and the recent NCC agreement with @MAbdirizak, former #Somalia Minister of Foreign Affairs

@MahadWasuge will be the moderator.