In a display of regional solidarity and support, I presided over a reception ceremony to welcome Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, whose historic World Cup opportunity was abruptly halted last month.
The event, held at Eastleigh's prestigious BBS Mall—renowned as the largest shopping complex in East and Central Africa—celebrated Artan's groundbreaking achievement of being selected as the first-ever Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup tournament. His selection placed him among an elite group of 52 match officials chosen for the 2026 competition, marking a significant milestone for Somali sports on the global stage.
Despite this professional setback, Artan received a warm reception from both the Somali diaspora community and Kenyan supporters.
The event served as both a celebration of his achievements and a statement of cross-border support in the face of disappointment.
I emphasized resilience and perseverance, encouraging young people across East Africa not to be discouraged by obstacles in their pursuit of dreams. It is important to continuing to striving for excellence despite unexpected challenges.
I also outlined deliberate moves by the 5th administration led by HE president William Ruto in supporting sports and talent.
President William Ruto’s administration allocated KSh 26.4 billion to complete 39 stadiums nationwide to support youth talent this including The newly constructed and soon to be commissioned state of the art 60,000 capacity Talanta Stadium
This geared towards uplifting talent and successfully hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This historic continental tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania under the 'Pamoja Bid'.
Also in attendance was H.E Ahmed Abdullahi (Governor Wajir) H.E Jabril Abdulle (Somalia Ambassador to Kenya) H.E Hussein Mohammed (President FKF) Hon. Farrah Maalim (MP Dadaab) Hon. Yussuf Hassan (MP Kamukunji) and host Abdiweli Maalim (Chairman BBS Mall)
To be clear, if you're a Somali who doesn't work and doesn't integrate, you're BAD. If you're a Somali who does work and does integrate, to the point that you're an elected official proudly serving your community, also BAD.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques @KingSalman and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulate President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his country's Independence Day.
Should she not? How is this controversial? How do Republicans of all people, who are obsessed with reflecting their Chrisitan faith in the halls of power, have the nerve to criticize Muslims for saying this?
The gaslighting is just too much.
On June 23, 2026, I participated in the High-Level Panel on EAC Digital for Development Forum 2026, in Arusha, Tanzania. I shared with the participants the experience of Somalia in moving from a collapsed state to a revived "cashless" community with easy transactions. The historical trajectory of Somalis relying on Hawala (money wiring), a system that started as an "informal' sector but morphed into a dynamic infrastructure, putting Somalia as a major player in this new e-economy. Happy to have been there.
Delivered by C‑section from her dead mother's body. 23 years old. 'israel' bombed and killed her. Buried them under rubble. The baby girl was named after her. Doctors gave her a 50/50 chance of survival. She died 5 days later and was buried next to her mum.
Check the date.
This map is not from "centuries" ago – it depicts European colonial boundaries in the Horn, which were imposed in the late 19th century - but as someone who spends a LOT of time looking at maps of historical boundaries in the Horn, I'll share how you can date this map precisely +