Somali Youth Entrepreneurship Conference kicks off in Mogadishu

Somali youth and sports minister, deputy Mogadishu Mayor, representatives from the UN, Pan African   Youth Union and Somali Young entrepreneurs attended the conference today in Mogadishu.

Conference agenda includes addressing challenges as well as the opportunities that loom for Somali Young Social entrepreneurs today.  Somali Youth vision- an organization that advocates youth development has organized the conference.

Somali youth minister Mohammed Abdullahi  Nouh and deputy mayor  of Mogadishu Jellani Nour  Ikar gave opening speech at conference .  Both officials encouraged youth to boost entrepreneurial spirit in agriculture, fishing and small factories sectors.

“Somali Government is delighted to see Somali youth organizing such conferences and let me emphasis here that the only way we can end poverty is to be a productive society “said Somali youth and sports minister Nouh.

Key thematic issues of the conference includes:

·         Key challenges for investing  in young  people innovations

·         Building relationship between young entrepreneurs and big corporation in the country.

·         Barriers and obstacles of creating young business Union associations and networks.

·         Developing national polices that encourages young entrepreneurs.

The conference is the first in its kind to be held in Somalia since the collapse of Somali central government in early 1990s.

Sharif Hassan answers the call and declares candidacy

In a highly waited event in the Southwest State of Somalia’s capital-Baidoa, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan declared his candidacy on Sunday for Somali’s presidential elections in 2016.

In a brief speech at the event, the candidate who also remains the state president said he listened and accepted the voices of South west state residents who asked him to run for presidency in the elections this year.

“Answering the advice of the state residents, Iam hereby to declare my intentions to run for the presidency in this year’s elections” said Sharif Hassan Adan.

Analysis

Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, known his nickname by the public Sharif Sakin [The Sharp one] is one of the heavy weight politicians in the country. Former Federal Parliament Speaker in two different terms, finance minister, a star in Asmara Group “Liberation Movement” which engaged armed struggle after the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in 2007. Many political analysts regard him a master in Somali politics and formidable force in this year’s elections in Somalia. This year, he has particular mission to accomplish. And if he succeeds that mission, it means a political earthquake in Somalia. Since the independence his clan used occupy Parliament speaker-ship as share of Somali politics. This time he wants to end that norm. A test that if he passes will grant him to be either the next prime minister or the president of Somalia. Furthermore, the incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mahamoud campaign dealt in blow by the move of Sharif. Sharif has now more options than any other candidate. 

If he passes the first test, then the best option for him is to drop the presidency and seek for premiership. But if he fails to pass the test then the person he who throws his weight will win the election most probably. At  last, sharif Sakin arguably- the man of the show in Somali politics this years. Calculative, clever, and master of the politics of survival.