11th May 2017
Mogadishu, Somalia
The 2016 Somali Parliamentary election marked a new milestone for Somali women. Although the conversation about ‘Elevating Women in Political Participation and Leadership roles’ has been going on for some time, this had never been embodied in the manner it is in the current Parliament. Many Somalis championed, participated in and spent a lot of […]
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7th February 2017
Mogadishu, Somalia
Where do you start with change when everything seems so difficult and entrenched? That was the question that first greeted me when I started my current role as a Social Development Adviser in Somalia. The data that exists on education, health and employment are not heartening and the country has political and security challenges that […]
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21st November 2016
Mogadishu, Somalia
Good governance, economic development and security forces that maintain order without repression are among the fundamental building blocks of a stable, peaceful democracy. But it’s the rule of law, and by extension, competent, capable and independent justice systems, that are the mortar holding it all together. The UK is driving a number of key justice […]
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15th September 2016
Mogadishu, Somalia
I recently joined the small team of British military advisors, currently deployed in Somalia to train, equip and advise the Somali National Army (SNA). It’s a fascinating job, with every day throwing up a completely new and unique set of challenges – no week is the same in this role. We do a wide range […]
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1st September 2016
Mogadishu, Somalia
Lots of people I meet are curious about life in the Embassy. It’s a bit of a mystery to those who haven’t experienced it. We are a couple of dozen people ‘packed’ into a rectangle the size of a football field where we work, eat, exercise and sleep. There isn’t a lot of room, and […]
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23rd August 2016
Mogadishu, Somalia
Over the next few months, I’ll be using this blog to share with you a little of my life and work here in Mogadishu. This week I’ve been struck by the variety of my work. It won’t be a surprise to hear that we’ve been working hard on security and governance issues. They are staples […]
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10th December 2014
Mogadishu, Somalia
Guest blog by Phil Evans, Head of DFID in Somalia. When I say I work in Somalia, I get a mixed reaction. Many people’s impressions of Somalia are shaped only by its representation in Hollywood films as a hideaway for pirates and extremists. While colleagues admit my work must be fascinating, friends and family often […]
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10th December 2014
Mogadishu, Somalia
Back in September 2013, the UK and the Federal Government of Somalia co-authored a Human Rights Day Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council. It seems appropriate, on Human Rights day, to look back on what has happened since then. The human rights situation in Somalia remains of grave concern. But we have seen substantial […]
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25th November 2014
Mogadishu, Somalia
Today we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and start 16 days of activism to end gender violence. Living and working in Somalia, I see firsthand how desperately important this issue is. Many women in Somalia lead hard lives. Girls and women suffer disproportionately from conflict and poverty. One in […]
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10th December 2013
Mogadishu, Somalia
Today marks International Human Rights Day. The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring attention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. This is something we continue to wholeheartedly endorse, and strive to achieve. Today is […]
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