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Balqiis is a non-partisan think-and-do tank advancing peace, security, & human rights in the Horn of Africa. Insight. Action. Change.

16/09/2026

We are delighted to share that our Head of Research and Policy, Samira A. Gaid, will present a research paper at the 4th Annual Peace Conference of the Puntland Development Research Center-PDRC, taking place in Garowe from 21–23 September 2026.

This year’s conference theme, “Fragility, State-Building & Peacebuilding in Somalia,” will bring together researchers, experts and key stakeholders to examine Somalia’s state-building and peacebuilding challenges, with a focus on reimagining governance from below.

15/09/2026

On International Day of Democracy, Balqiis Insights reaffirms the importance of meaningful participation, human rights, accountability and inclusive institutions in building a peaceful and resilient Somalia. Democracy is not only about elections, but also about protecting civic space, enabling citizens to participate in public life, strengthening accountability and ensuring that people have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their communities and country.

14/09/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐐𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭?

These postcards unpack how responsibility can shift from the perpetrator to the community they belong to, how one death can fuel another grievance, and how repeated cycles of retaliation can erode citizenship, trust, and the rule of law. They also point to what is needed to break the cycle: individual accountability, credible justice, and institutions capable of protecting citizens regardless of clan.

12/09/2026

🚨 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐪𝐢𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐀𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐐𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐢𝐥

Shukri Mahad warns how unresolved killings can turn individual grievances into collective clan obligations, allowing identity to become a basis for retaliation. She considers what this means for justice, social trust and Somalia’s efforts to build a state where citizenship is stronger than clan protection.

Read the full commentary on our website. 👇
https://balqiis.org/when-identity-becomes-a-death-sentence-aano-qabiil/

11/09/2026

We are pleased to share that our Regional Security Analyst, Samira Gaid, will moderate a session at the Global Somali Entrepreneurship Forum (GSEF2026) in Nairobi.

The forum will bring together leaders, entrepreneurs and stakeholders from across the region on 24–25 October 2026 to discuss innovation, inclusive governance, regional integration and sustainable investment and their role in shaping the future of East Africa.

Register to attend: https://lnkd.in/dkZNePWS

10/09/2026

🚨 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐪𝐢𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦?

Abdikarin examines what it takes to achieve lasting success against terrorism, arguing that military force must be paired with efforts to counter extremist ideology and recruitment and prevent terrorist groups from rebuilding.

Read the full commentary on our website. 👇
https://balqiis.org/the-ideological-and-military-fight-which-one-determines-real-success-against-terrorism/

08/09/2026

How has the United Nations’ role in Somalia evolved?

In this explainer, Balqiis Insights traces the evolution of UN engagement in Somalia, from humanitarian relief and peacekeeping through UNOSOM I and UNOSOM II, to political dialogue, governance, and security support under UNPOS and UNSOM. This evolution continues with the transition from UNSOM to UNTMIS, whose mandate is set to conclude on 31 October 2026, while UNSOS has a mandate through 31 December 2026.

🎥 Watch the full explainer below.

07/09/2026

Our Regional Security Analyst, Samira Gaid, joined The Horn, a podcast series by the International Crisis Group, to discuss Somalia’s evolving security landscape, the possible end of UNSOS, and the growing shift toward bilateral security partnerships.

In our recent policy brief, No Time to Drift, Balqiis Insights argued that a negotiated transition compact was the most feasible path for managing Somalia’s security transition. That option may now be narrowing.

What comes next for Somalia as the country approaches another security transition deadline?

🎧 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: The Horn | Somalia’s End-of-year Cliffhanger
https://www.crisisgroup.org/pod/africa/somalia/somalias-end-year-cliffhanger

05/09/2026

Barakaca sidee ayuu u saameeyaa fursadaha shaqo ee dhallinyarada?

03/09/2026

Dhallinyaradu ma sahmiyaan suuqa shaqada ka hor inta aysan go’aansan xirfadda ay rabaan inay ku shaqeeyaan?

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