Somali Gender Equity Movement (SGEM) held its  Somalia Tweet Chat on a topic relating to the pervasive unemployment issue facing young women in Somalia entitled ‘Young Somali Women’s Access to Meaningful Employment: Barriers & Solutions’ which took place on September 30, 2023.

SGEM invited a diverse panel of practitioners, policy makers, and researchers working for the federal government, especially the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The panelists of the Somalia Tweet Chat included Fardosa A. Abdullahi, Director of Social Affairs BAXNAANO Project Manager at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Bahja Ali Mohamud, Head of Women Enterprises Development atSIMAD iLab, Dr. Uweis Abdullahi Ali, Senior Researcher for Economics and Social Policy at the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS), Fadumo Abdi Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Office of Prime Minister, Mohamed Yahye, Founder and CEO of Onkout a Fintech Start-up, Nasrin Mohamed Ibrahim, Deputy Chairperson of Somali Women Journalists, Dr. Sadiyo Siad, Chancellor of Hano Technical University and Hano Academy, Mohamed Adan Mohamed Dugoow, Director of Public Engagement at the Office of the President, and Suleiman Bashir, Communication Consultant for government nonprofits and international organizations.

The panelists analyzed the topic from practitioner, policy, and research viewpoints. Tweet Chat questions asked included the status of the young women’s access to labor market in Somalia, such as cultural and class barriers facing young women to get meaningful employment, the laws and policies for employment equity in the country. Other key discussion questions included whether there is gender sensitive recruitment and retention policies in Somalia, and any policies protecting women from misconduct in the hiring processes and harassment at workplace. In addition, the panelists examined some innovative initiatives and programs that can facilitate meaningful employment opportunities for young women in Somalia.

The panel concluded with recommendations addressing these barriers and challenges for young women’s substantiative access to employment. Panelists recognized that enhancing young women’s access to meaningful employment requires comprehensive strategies that tackles cultural and class-related barriers. A multi-faceted approach should encompass initiatives in education, Technical, Vocational, Educational and Technical (TVET) skills, entrepreneurial skills, and digital literacy training, equal access to employment, and advocacy for economic empowerment programs.

Somalia is currently engaged in an offensive war with al-Shabaab. Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (HSM) elected in 2022, vowed to defeat the al-Shabab terrorist group after his election. Under the Administration of president HSM, the Federal Government of Somalia’s (FGS) security sector and community members known as Ma’awisley who uprose and took arms against al-Shabaab are involved in the offensive in some of the Federal Member States (FMSs supported by drone strikes by the United States. A significant number of towns and villages some of which were strategic towns for al-Shabaab were liberated, and are still ongoing. Considering these gains, SGEM conducted a Somalia Tweet Chat forum on Security Development Nexus: Prospective for Stability, Peace & Sustainable Development on November 27, 2022.

SGEM invited diverse Panelists to assess the situation from different angles. Panelists included Faisal Roble, Principal City Planner and CEO for Justice and Equity Los Angeles city, Hodan Hassan, Executive Director of Kulan Consulting, Osman Moallim, Chairman of Somali Non-State Actors (SONSA), Ismail Osman, Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Security Agency (NISA), Subeida Mukhtar, Engagement Lead for Somali Dialogue Platform, and Ilham Gassar, Political and Reconciliation Specialist.

The panelists shared their views on what this liberation war means for Somalia and the Somali people, the role that the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATIMS) is playing in this new offensive, and whether they are fulfilling their mandate. They further discussed the role of the Federal Member States (FMSs) in the current offensive, and the type of support they need to stabilize communities. Panelists further analyzed who is responsible to make sure security is maintained in the newly liberated areas, and how can we make sure the government controls the areas going forward. The key elements needed to form functional local governments in the newly liberated areas were elaborated. They also highlighted the stabilization and development efforts that are needed in the liberated areas and the soon-to-be liberated areas, and ways both the Somali government, and development actors can connect with local communities to understand their current needs. Panelists also discussed some of the local historical grievances emerging between groups as they are liberated, and what can be done to support reconciliation and healing between the various communities. This Somalia Tweet Chat session concluded with some recommendations to the Somali government to make the current offensive to be successful, and key strategies and viable plans that the government should be considering.

This Somalia Tweet Chat was a timely Tweet Chat discussion for a time that a lot of controversies were surrounding the security sector. the state of accountability for Somalia’s security institutions was described, as well as the key impediments to Somalia’s National Security Architecture. It further highlighted the major security gaps in Somalia’s Transition Plan, and ways a broader Human Security agenda can be included in the Transitional plan.

How the protection of citizens, particularly women and children can be ensured during the current political crisis and transition, and some mechanisms to ensure that Security Institutions are held accountable in the tragic case of the missing intelligence officer, Ikraan Tahliil were laid out. Whether the Somali security institutions are ready to take over the security responsibilities once the African Union’s peacekeeping mission, AMISOM exits in 2023 were analyzed. This tweet chat session concluded with recommendations on how to strengthen the performance and accountability of the security sector.

#AmniSugan #Accountability #Justice #HumanSecurity 

This Tweet Chat addressed the overall challenges and opportunities for the upcoming indirect election in 2021-2022, the importance of having Somali women’s quota, and why women’s representation in the Somali parliament matters. It also analyzes whether this electoral process will lead to an increased or decreased representation for women considering the prospects of women. In addition, it addressed the key impediments and/or barriers for women to secure representation in the political arena at all levels.

The panelists and some of the participants recommend concrete strategies that would ensure women’s representation at all levels of government. For further information, please visit @sgem2016 with the hashtags: #WomenWin2021 #ElectWomen #StandWithSomaliWomen #ParadigmShift

This Tweet Chat explored the impact the current Provisional Constitution has had on Somalia’s political processes, and its positive or negative impacts on Somalia’s current political gridlocks, as well as how the absence of constitutional court in the country contributes to the reoccurring political disagreements among the leaders. It also stressed how the current form of government, where there’s a president and prime minister adds to the reoccurring political stalemates. It also emphasized that the contested articles in the Provisional Constitution to be addressed, and who should lead that process.
The full Tweet Char information can be found on @sgem2016 with the hashtags: #RuleOfLaw #ConstitutionalCourt #LeanOnConstitution #QaranWaaQaynuun

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