HORMUUD MAGAZINE SOMALIA JANUARY 2018 - MARCH 2018 by onesmus okwogo

CONNECTING TO THE WORLD BETTER JANUARY-MARCH 2018

CELEBRATINGSOMALIA SOMALIA CELEBRATING

A NEW APPROACH

CONTACTS HORMUUD TELECOM PHYSICAL ADRESS Wadajir District Mogadishu, Somalia Phone: +2521-811200/+2521-657950 Email: hir@hormuud.com Or Hormuud Telecom International Relations Office Kimathi Street, Pioneer House Phone: 0715 495 073 Email: hir@hormuud.com PRODUCED BY This magazine has been produced by: Hormuud Telecom International Relations Office Managing Editor: Abdala Mohamud

018 so far looks like a year of great things for Hormuud Telecom and Somalia. The business community in the country is up-beat about the future of commerce in the country with sectors such the hospitality industry, real estate and construction, and telecommunications being singled out as the sectors to watch out for. Hormuud Telecom, a corner-stone in the telecommunications industry is strategically placed to hold the candle for the other telecom companies in country. This issue of the magazine prioritises three different but related areas that we believe to be of concern to most citizens of Somalia at home and abroad. The issue focuses on how to get the most out of the services and products offered by Hormuud Telecom, the current affairs news that matter to the people and finally to the issue looks at culture and heritage, through book festivals at home, cultural events at home, historical sites and places to visit in the country and lastly, Somali heritage week as celebrated abroad. Inside, we have articles that offer easy do it yourself tricks on how to maximise your data potential, how to get the best out of your phone (whatever the brand), and how to make the most out of Hormuud Telecom services among others. We have also reviewed some of the products and services that the company launched in 2017, like the e-Commerce portal; read the article to get a glimpse of how the products were received by the public and how they are doing in the market seven or ten months later. The editorial direction in this issue has taken a more general content approach compared to the previous issues that were heavy on company material. In this issue, we have decided to offer information about the company, information on current affairs that are of interest to the public and might offer value to them beyond the company. The reason for this slight change in approach is that we would like this magazine to not be a bulletin board for Hormuud Telecom but to be a must have for any upward mobile young person and the informed and stay-on-top-of-things middle aged and old people. For this reason, we have included; articles on real estate, articles on culture, a roundup of news and other general topics that we believe are of interest to the public. This way, the magazine is not just the place where you readers can get information about Hormuud Telecom, but, it becomes the place they come to for reliable analysis and reportage of Somali current affairs. However, this is not all; do not close the pages of the magazine without reading our arts and culture pages for a look at some of the books that you do not want to miss out on in 2018. Leading that pack is Fire and Fury by Michael Wolf which looks at the White House and how the Trump administration has fared so far in its mandate to the world and to America from the point of view of a disgruntled former Trump administration insider. The book is riveting, just as the rest of the magazine. K

Editor: Peter Oduor Email: hir@hormuud.com

Peter Oduor JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

40 WONDERS OF SOMALIA 30 Somalia on the net Top 10 online convergence points in Somalia

8 Hormuud telecom in the news A round up of how the company was covered by local and international media

34 The best among equals International calls are a big deal to most people; find out where the best rates are

CONTENTS

7 CEOs Word Let us grow together

10 Hormuud Setback Attack on Hormuud network installation 12 E-commerce portal a big hit The company launched its first ever, and the country’s first ever fully operational online shopping platform. 14 Responding to disaster How Somali companies stepped up after the Mogadishu attack 16 How to improve your business with mobile technology. Learn simple mobile phone hacks that can change the face of your business 18 Innovative ways to use your mobile phone How to get the best out of your mobile phone 20 Mogadishu’s changing skyline is a sign of better things to come Growth in the real estate sector has sparked national interest, read why… 24 Speaking home and acting home A look at the dynamics of language and culture in Somalia and among diaspora Somalis

36 Lady on a mission CEO of SOSTEC Inc wants to offer the best information technology services in Mogadishu 40 The preferred telecom service provider A Kenyan who works in Somalia tells how he communicates and why he chose the service provider 44 The wonders of Somalia Where to visit and what to see when in Somalia 48 Will Mogadishu be your next weekend away? As peace returns to Somalia, tourists are beginning to trickle in 52 Maximizing your data potential There are tricks to getting the most out of your data bundle 54 Freedom Airlines Experience an affordable and enjoyable flight. 58 Books to watch out for Feed your brain on the most exciting books by Somali authors

28 Somali heritage week Nairobi Somalis living in Kenya come together every year to enjoy a week of reconnection to their food, songs, culture, and the company of their people JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

LET US GROW TOGETHER Our commitment to you is common knowledge

As 2018 begins, I would like to welcome you once again, to the New Year, and let you know that the company is prepared and ready to move forward with you and meet your telecommunication needs. May I say, even though this is common knowledge, the company is committed to ensuring that you get the cheapest, most reliable and dependable services. Baring one instance in 2017, the company has not suffered any network disturbances that affected out national services. Unfortunately, on more than one occasion, we have suffered a loss or two of isolated technical installations due to military action that we are working to prevent in the future. I would like to make it clear that we intend to prevent such isolated incidents in the future.

017 was a positive year for Hormuud Telecom. We are working towards ensuring 2018 becomes even more successful than 2017. In 2017, the company services and products enjoyed a favourable standing with the public, including new entrants into the market that were introduced by the company towards the end of the year. This year, we intend to clearly and strongly rise above our competitors. This has been done before; we just want to cement our position in the market.

Rising value

The value of the company shares rose as its market share and consumer confidence grew by leaps and bounds. In the end, confirming once again that it is the telecommunication firm in Somalia to beat. Hormuud Telecomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standing even among tourists and foreigners who pick it as a first choice when it comes to local and international communication cannot be disputed. Hormuud Telecom Company prides itself in offering superior network services to our local and regional competitors. We also offer far much better mobile telephone service accessories in the country. EVC Plus continues to be one of our defining success stories and last year, it was joined by the e-Commerce platform, which we hope will drive online shopping in the country.

Winning praise globally

As you might have read or watched on TV, Hormuud Telecom last year received admiration and praise from all over the world for our efforts in assisting the people who were affected by the tragedy that occurred in Mogadishu. As a company, I would like to say that we are not just here for the purpose of doing business, but rather, that we are here as part and parcel of the Somali community in the country and in every part of the world where our people may be. We are in this with you, and will, when called upon by unforeseen circumstance, come forward and offer assistance of any nature to our people in need. This is part of what makes us who we are as a company. This is the reason why the company has spent millions of dollars on cancer treatment machines, millions on humanitarian assistance and millions on emergency rescue services. We are part of this community and we are proud that you continuously choose us as your partner and as your client. We are grateful and vow to keep serving you to our very best. K Regards, Hormuud Telecom CEO Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf.

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CONNECT NEWS

HORMUUD TELECOM IN THE NEWS

A round up of how the company was covered by local and international media Complied by Kadar Ahmed RADIO SHEBELLE

HORMUD TELECOM’S RESPONSE TO BOMBING VICTIMS DRAWS PRAISE October 21, 2017 As a truck bomb just struck a crowded junction in the Somali capital on Saturday 14, killing hundreds people and injuring many others, emergency response scrambled what they could to save lives. It wasn’t easy, but it was the actions of one Somali company that took matters into its own hands to assist with rescue and recovery efforts that had Somalis and the world at large praising it. Having become one of the first responders, Hormuud Telecom, Somalia’s largest telecommunications company, dived right into the chaos, with fuel tanks exploding, power lines falling and furious flames consuming everything in their path with two fire fighting vehicles, water tankers and dozens of its employees. The effort of Hormuud’s team allowed rescue workers and ambulances to access the scene of the blast and save lives, earning it praise from Somalis at home and abroad.

Kenya Defence Force soldier on tour in Somalia JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

Somali youth help out in the rescue efforts after the 2017

KDF SETS FIRE ON HORMUUD TELECOM HQ IN BALAD HAWO CITY ,September 19, 2017 Kenyan military forces are claimed to have set fire on Hormuud telecom company headquarters in Khadija Haji village in Somalia’s Gedo region. It was not immediately clear reasons the behind the tragic incident that led to the burning of the telecom offices in the border area between Somalia and Kenya. However, Kenyan authorities did not officially comment on the incident. Somali militants had previously attacked offices owned by Kenyan telecom service provider, Safaricom, in the border towns, as part of their raids, and in a statement carried out by militant media outlets, the attack was said to be a revenge for the assaults on Safaricom communication masts in North Eastern Kenya.

CONNECT NEWS

AL JAZEERA SOMALIA INTERNET RETURNS AFTER THREEWEEK BLACKOUT 18 Jul 2017 Internet returned to Somalia after an outage of more than three weeks that cost the Horn of Africa nation the equivalent of $10m a day. The country has restored its internet connection after repairing a severed undersea cable that was accidentally hit by a ship, a telecoms official said on Monday. “The internet is now back, and clients are using it,” said Adnan Ali, the media director for Hormuud Telecom, the country’s top operator. University studies were disrupted, and businesses had to close or improvise to remain open during the shutdown. The lack of internet service also stranded patients who were seeking medical attention abroad as they couldn’t not access online paperwork. Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman apologised to citizens for the outage, which hit all landline and mobile users apart from those with access to private satellite connections, and called for them to have backup plans. “We urge internet companies to have a backup so that people do not suffer another outage in the future,” he told Reuters.

HIRAAN ONLINE HORMUUD FOUNDATION DONATES AID TO THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM March 15, 2017 Hormuud Telecom Foundation donated food aid to hundreds of families displaced from their homes by drought in the country. Hormuud Foundation Chairman Abdullahi Osman Nour led in the transportation of truckloads of essential food items to the National Emergency Rescue Committee and the Somali Ministry of Interior. Abdullahi Osman Nor said the donation of the company to IDPs in the Banadir region consisted of 6 containers, which comprised of 90,000 Kg (Ninety thousand kilograms) of rice, and 2,700 litres of oil. There were also tanks of water and cartons of medicine. Chairman of the National Drought Committee Barrah Gurxan, Chairman of the Somali Islamic Council Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad and the Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Yahya Ali Hareeri, thanked Hormuud firm for the drought relief items and pledged that the donation they would deliver it to people.

RADIO SHEBELLE HORMUD TELECOM’S RESPONSE TO BOMB VICTIMS DRAWS PRAISE

When a bomb went off in Mogadishu on Saturday 14th in October last year, Hormuud Telecom dived right into the chaos. With the furious flames consuming everything in their path and people hurt or trapped, the company arrived with two fire fighting vehicles, water tankers and dozens of its employees volunteering to help. The effort of Hormuud’s team allowed rescue workers and ambulances to access the scene of the blast and save lives, earning it praise from Somalis at home and abroad. After the rescue mission, the company’s managers dedicated their time in providing psychosocial support and financial support to the affected people. They visited hospitals across the city to give a word of encouragement to the injured and condole with families that lost their loved ones, donating over $100,000 that covered the medical expenses of hundreds in the hospitals and fees for their attendants. In addition, Hormuud Foundation, a non-profit organization funded by the company teamed up with international aid agencies including UN agencies and foreign embassies and stepped up search and rescue efforts, including providing urgent life-saving assistance, according to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Coordination (OCHA). What people said on Social Media “Great job Hormuud! You’re a good example of Somalia’s resilience.” tweeted Mohamed Nur, a Somali aid worker, based in Nairobi. “I salute you Hormuud – Thank you for saving our people’s lives.” she tweeted from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. K

A young boy sits on a sack of grains at a relief distribution JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

CONNECT NEWS

UNKNOWN ATTACKERS DESTROY TELECOMMUNICATIONS MAST IN MANDERA

Destroyed Hormuud Telecommunications mast.

enyan authorities have claimed that AlShabaab militants destroyed a Hormuud Telecom communication mast located in Elwak, Mandera County, on Saturday at 2am, disrupting communication in the area. The town is on the Kenya-Somalia border.According to sources in the area, the militants destroyed the mast following earlier reports that locals have been reporting Al-Shabaab activity in the area to Kenyan and Somali security forces through the network. Residents, however, disagreed, saying that Amisom forces in the region were communicating with residents in preparation for a medical camp scheduled for next week. “The troops have been gathering useful information such as the number of children, expectant mothers and elderly people in the area to facilitate the medical camp,” said an elder from the area. “Al-Shabaab accused us of sharing information on their whereabouts with the troops, which is untrue.” The disruption of communication, residents lament, would hamper the medical camp.

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Al-Shabaab activities have persisted in the town in the last few months, according to residents. In December 2017, the militants destroyed a crucial well in Lafey Town, inconveniencing hundreds of residents who depended on the well for water. Many districts in Somalia are currently facing drought. The well had been sunk by officers of the Kenya Defence Forces. While Amisom troops have largely overpowered the militia and paralysed their activity in Somalia and Kenya, the militants have resorted to attacking civilians and even executing others. The militants also cut off women and children’s access to humanitarian aid such as food and healthcare services. Earlier this month, suspected Shabaab fighters destroyed a Safaricom communication mast in Wajir County using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), paralysing mobile communication in the area. K ‘This story was first published in the Daily Nation January 18th 2018.

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NEW SERVICES

E-COMMERCE PORTAL A BIG HIT The company launched its first ever, and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ever fully operational online shopping platform. It has turned out to be a huge hit with the customers, here is why By Yusuf Haji

A technical team member explains how the e-Commerce portal works during the launch in 2017

n July 2017, Hormuud Telecom launched its first ever online shopping platform. The e-Commerce portal, presented as part of Hormuud Telecomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, was launched amid growing need by most shoppers to do some of their purchases online instead of physically

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from the shops as is traditionally done. The online cart allows the public and loyal Hormuud Telecom customers to buy company products online. All that the customers have to do is to place their order online and once the product availability has been confirmed, the product

NEW SERVICES will be delivered to whichever destination they want the item delivered to.

Services on offer through the platform

However, this is not the only service that the customers and buyers can enjoy from the e-Commerce portal: They can pay their bills, top up their lines, top up for their family and friends, purchase internet modems and VIP SIM cards online. For Somalia, this remains a first in the country and the manner in which the clients have embraced online shopping has been nothing short of amazing. The comfort of making purchases without the cumbersome aspect of travel or of ferrying the items has attracted many Somalis to the site. Yet, this is just one of the perks that come with online shopping. For many, the fact that they can make purchases not just for themselves but also on behalf of others is a huge positive. This way, they can, for example, top up the phones of their loved ones and friends. The fact that there are choices as to what activities and as to what products and services one has access to is a very appealing part of online shopping.

For Somalia, this remains a first in the country and the manner in which the clients have embraced online shopping has been nothing short of amazing

Points in favour of online shopping

Other points working in favour of online shopping and why you too should join to enjoy the benefits include the fact that it is easier to send gifts to people, it limits your expenditure- compared to an individual who goes into an actual shop, the virtual shopper always spends less-it offers one a chance to make purchases at the best deals in town. The fact of the matter is that online purchases tend to be cheaper than physical shop visits. Hormuud Telecom e-Commerce portal is reliable. The site is always on and has never experienced any system breakdown. It is fast and very secure; once the customer has set up their account, they can purchase a SIM card, or get an internet modem for one of their friends without the integrity of the account ever being compromised. Of course, the product will reach the intended customer within the day and in the form that it was requested in. It may have a been an idea that was on a trial run, a first one in a volatile and often quick changing market, with no way to know if it would catch on with the customers, but the e-Commerce portal has proven that Hormuud Telecom customers are as experimental and as trustworthy as their service provider. The best part of the e-Commerce portal is that it has the potential to expand, just as the network coverage and Hormuud Telecom market share of the industry company expands. K

A guest speaks during the launch of the e-Commerce portal

Members of Hormuud Telecom and guests at the launch follow the proceedings

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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

RESPONDING TO DISASTER It is in times of loss that the true nature of a people is revealed. For Mogadishu, this happened on the 14th of October 2017, when the city faced an unimaginable force of terror By Abdifitah Ousman

Hormuud management team visit and console the sick

t is the single most deadly attack that has ever hit Somalia, killing about 500 people and wounding an unknown number. In what has been termed as the most vicious attack ever, the attack targeted a busy section of the city, the effect of the truck bomb and the unfortunate happenstance of a fuel tank that was nearby led to extreme loss of life in a matter of minutes. The shops and offices in the area that was hit were levelled, along with vehicles that had been parked out there being set on fire. In a few hours, the death toll was in hundreds, the number of those injured was even higher and the city, in shock at the brutality of it, was responding as best as it could. While leaders from all over the world condemned the attack, the Turkish Red Crescent, UNDP, Dahabshiil, Somali police force, a few hospitals and the public moved in to offer help to the injured.

Local authority response was insufficient

Since the emergency response by local authorities was not sufficient to handle the catastrophe that followed, it fell upon a few companies, selfless men and women to help those who had been affected by this terrible situation. Among these selfless entities was Hormuud Telecom. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

A member of Hormuud Telecom team hands a donation to a patient

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Hormuud management team hands money to a mother and her sick child

Marshalling a section of its staff, the leading telecommunication service provider in the nation arrived at the blast site with provisions, first aid materials and an abundance of can-do attitude. They offered first aid to individuals with fractured arms or burnt faces and cuts. After which they dispatched them to Medina, Keysaney, Daru Alshifa specialist, Kalkaal hospitals and other hospitals in the city.

Extra effort

At the same time the company offered fire fighting services to put out the raging fires. And as the people continued to be pulled off the rubble, more and more responders and well-wishers came in including Turkey, Kenya, Qatar, UAE, UNICEF, Somali diaspora and business community, Save the Children staff, China and the Somali parliament among others. As this went on, Hormuud released $100,000 to be given to 500 affected persons, way more than the $20,000 offered by the Chinese government as their cash assistance. The top managers of Hormuud Telecom shelved their work for the day and joined in the rescue efforts, visiting those who were affected in different city hospitals to show their support. The $100,000 was given by the company to cover for the medical fee of some the affected people. To add on to this, Hormuud Telecom Foundation teamed up with some of the other responders like UN agencies and Hormuud management team visit and console the sick a few other embassies to co-ordinate a larger rescue plan. K JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

RIDING ON TECHNOLOGY

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS WITH MOBILE TECHNOLOGY The mobile phone has opened up business for most entrepreneurs. For traders in markets like Somalia, the mobile phone is a core part of making payments alongside other notable applications By Abdifitah Ousman

A young entrepreneur on his phone JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

RIDING ON TECHNOLOGY Create a mobile responsive website

One of the ways people will interact with your company online is through the company website. Whereas most websites are okay and easy to navigate and use on a laptop or PC, the same cannot be said of websites accessed through the smaller screen of the phone or even through the operating systems that run the phone. If you would like to make the most out of the website and make it as versatile and friendly as possible, create a mobile friendly website, a responsive design. This is a website that is not designed for a specific format, it adapts and resizes itself based upon the screen of the device upon which it is being viewed. Also, the website should, in fact, must always be easy for mobile users to view, access and navigate. That means using a simple design that is easier to view on a smaller screen such as the screen of phone.

Engage in mobile banking

Blue collar worker at his work engaged on the phone

The level at which tech has reached today; you can make use of tablets that take credit card payments at points of sale. This is good for service industry businessmen. Make direct mobile money payments

This is a feature that only makes sense in a few African countries. Direct payments through mobile phones is a feature that businesses can enjoy without a hassle. Hormuud Telecomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EVE Plus, is one of the most recognized services of the company. The service allows customers to pay for goods and services using their phones. It has been the preferred mode of payment in most shops in Mogadishu for years and has shown resilience and growth in a way that no businessman should ignore. This mode of money transfer can also be used by suppliers, retailers and every other person in the chain of your trade.

Online banking has changed the face of the banking industry. Combine that with mobile money transfer that is very common in Somalia and you have a mix that is helpful to any businessman. Mobile phone applications that are used for banking exist in hundreds. This is the one small business task you can complete using mobile apps. Your businesses can use mobile apps to do their banking. You will save time and save on transaction fees.

Mobile management

What if your phone could do your scheduling as a company, handle customer communications, handle your time management, do your GPS mapping, do your accounting and your invoicing? There are mobile phone apps that can do this. The level at which tech has reached today; you can make use of tablets that take credit card payments at points of sale. This is good for service industry businessmen.

Get the sales team mobile too

Whether it is keeping in touch with old clients or cold calling new ones or writing time sensitive client emails, the world of mobile gadgets is the best place to be. There are mobile business applications that sales representatives can use to organize and make presentations, do social media marketing, even prepare invoices. If your sales team is a mobile one too, there can be no better way to keep in touch with them. Having your sales team plugged in and well-connected improves their efficiency and productivity in general. K JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

RIDING ON TECHNOLOGY

INNOVATIVE WAYS TO USE YOUR MOBILE PHONE Getting the best out of your smartphone is just an App away or just a simple hack away. Get in on the action and monitor your heart rate with your phone or turn it into a TV remote By Abdifitah Ousman

The youth are interested in getting the best out of their phones

ne of the most convenient and powerful innovations in the 21st Century is the smartphone. The smartphone is much more than just a tool for texting, making and receiving phone calls, taking photos and browsing; at least those are the most common mobile phone functions. They are popular because of the role that they play in our lives but, those are not the only services that you can get from your Smart phone. As the mobile phones got better in technology, as they became slimmer in size and smaller and lighter and much more sleeker, engineers wired them with better technology, making them powerful and capable of handling more than just calls and texts or photos. Today, the smartphone can be your office, your bank, your doctor and a whole list of other things. Here are some the 4 things you can do with your Smart phone to maximise your Smart phone experience;

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The smartphone is much more than just a tool for texting, making and receiving phone calls, taking photos and browsing.

RIDING ON TECHNOLOGY TV Control

There are smartphones with an infrared port. Using this, you can replace your standard TV remote with your programed smartphone to switch from one channel to the other as you flip through your available channels. The set up for this kind of app requires that you input the manufacturer’s code for your TV, once this is done, the phone can effectively conduct all the functions of a regular TV remote.

Authenticate deals by scanning bar codes

This app is readily and freely available in Samsung Apps. Once you download it into your phone, you will be able to search for the correct product online using the Barcode Scanner, you will be able to get the right pricing and most importantly, you will be able to know the fakes from the original products. This way, you do not purchase counterfeits and also you don’t have to go through the cumbersome and hassle laden affair of getting these kind of information through online searches.

Monitor your heart rate

The phone camera is not only to be used as a camera, although this is its principal duty, the camera on your smartphone can be used as a heart rate monitor. It is simple and can be helpful in dire medical situations. When you place your finger on the camera lens and flash, an app can read your pulse and give you a beats-per-minute value. The app pictured here is free from Samsung Apps and is called Heart Rate Plus.

Fix with pocket tripod

We live in a world where taking photos has become second nature to us all. Whether it is an official function or a wedding or a beach party, photos have become one of the defining features of the lives of young people today. Smart phones are at the top of the list when it comes to phones with strong camera qualities. The focus, the image quality, the shutter speed, all of it makes no sense if the camera can’t be still. One of the most difficult things to do when you’re taking photos that require an absolutely still hand is to actually hold the camera long enough for one to get the best shot. The market responded by creating small tripods built specifically for smartphones of all sizes. When one owns these smaller tripods they can take long-exposure or group photos that include themselves. Some of these tripods are pocket sized devices. There you go. Have I mentioned flash light functions? Or mirror functions? What of miniature fans attached to the phone? No… Those can happen, alongside banking and getting a doctor’s advice. Be in the know; get the best out of your smartphone. K

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MOGADISHU RISING

MOGADISHUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHANGING SKYLINE IS A SIGN OF BETTER THINGS TO COME The problem of proper housing and proper commercial spaces is one that most cities constantly grapple with. Somalia is handling the matter with careful consideration, and haste By Hormuud Telecom Writer

Part of Mogadishu city.

ogadishu skyline is fast changing, thanks to a vibrant and bullish real estate and construction sector. On every street, there are five story commercial buildings coming up. The sight of young men from Turkey or Saudi Arabia or Kenya up on the unfinished seventh floor of a 10 story building shopping complex is not uncommon in the city.

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High demand fuels growth

The demand for business space, demand for residential housing, demand for hotels and restaurant spaces and the services that come with them such as conferences and exhibition spaces is at an all-time high. The city is responding by opening up and creating more space, better housing and better infrastructure. Practitioners and stakeholders in the sector agree on one thing; the country

MOGADISHU RISING

Living room of one of the houses.

is in dire need of housing facilities, and they are responding the best way they know how; real estate development. Villas, modern apartments, entire high end modern villages, and commercial properties are on the rise.

High end clients

And it is not just commercial structures that are coming up in Somalia. There is a niche market of luxury housing that has got the tongues of the rich and affluent wagging. Most of these are villas, resort like villages and high end apartments. These properties are aimed at those who prefer fine living. Property development companies have taken advantage of the demand. Take SALAAM Properties that was established in 2014. The Company was formed to develop well designed, competitively priced real estate in Mogadishu. SALAAM Properties has proven that it is not a small time player. Handling a large, well balanced portfolio comprised of residential, commercial and mixed-use properties. It is renowned for its impressive development of residential properties and its landmark development of a mega project called DAARUSALAAM CITY. The company is currently focused on portfolio of property investments in Somalia and will pursue property investments across borders in the near future. Among its featured properties are luxury four bedroom villas, apartment blocks and of course the six thousand unit

Daarusalaam City. But Somalia is no stranger to luxury housing. Before the war, and indeed years before independence, the Italians had dotted the sandy beaches of Mogadishu with their exotic architecture.

Something for everyone

The rise of the real estate sector in Somalia has given a boost to other supporting sectors. Take the aluminium and glass business for example. Yasin Hassan is the CEO of Al Musbax and he believes that the overall growth in the industry is good for everyone involved. He explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In 2016 and 2017, a lot of companies came up. This is good, even if it has crowded the market, since it shows that we are heading upwards. In aluminium and glass wholesale, the companies are not that too many, so I am not worried about competition. In fact, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even advertise.â&#x20AC;? Alongside him, there are metal fabricators, suppliers and importers and retailers of construction materials, engineers, architects, manual labourers, project managers, and a whole new line of work for hundreds of people in the property management business. At the moment, as the sector giddies up, property prices are still a bit high, an issue attributed to the high cost of construction materials. Stakeholders expect that Kwith time the prices will go down to a more accessible level. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

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LANGUAGE & CULTURE

SPEAKING HOME AND ACTING HOME Language and culture are two aspects of Somali life that has faced the greatest upheaval. Migration, assimilation into other cultures abroad and the strife at home have all led to a strain in Somali culture By Yusuf Haji

A Somali elder JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

LANGUAGE & CULTURE

omali culture and language, like most languages and cultures in the world are under threat from globalization. The authenticity of cultures and languages across Africa is a discussion that scholars and the public have had for years. African countries and their languages and cultures are today under threat because of various global and local occurrences. For Somalia, the biggest threat to culture and language has been in effect since 1991. Forced migration due to the conflict in the country has led to loss of identity among Somali youth, cultural assimilation of Somali refugees in various parts of the world where they have sought refuge, disruption and loss of social networks at home, destruction of cultural and heritage sites, the inability to record or preserve Somali oral traditions in a post- conflict environment and more worrying, language issues.

Camel owner at the market

A language scattered all over the world

Currently spoken in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and among Somali people in the US, Germany, Italy, Canada or any other diaspora, the Somali language is spoken in most corners of the world. The population of Somalis living in the diaspora is significant. Some of these people have lived abroad most of if not their entire lives. As peace returns and the country becomes more stable, these young men and women are coming back to settle home. The cultural effects of their stay abroad is obvious; their use of the Somali language is limited and difficult, preferring English, Italian, French or Arabic or Kiswahili, their knowledge of the traditions, cultural cues and Somali way of life is limited, their understanding of the history and heritage of Somali people, is limited. Efforts to have the people of Somalia, especially the younger ones get in touch with their cultural way of life and for them to re-engage with the language are in top gear. Book fairs, book forums, community forums and Somali cultural week in various capital cities across the world are happening to see this through. A few months ago, when the Somalia International Book Fair was held in Mogadishu, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said in a tweet; “A society that reads is a society that’s ready for progress.” His sentiments echo the feeling of most Somali’s who feel that it is time they got on with their lives. Among the Somalis who remained at home and have been in the country since the 90s, the conflict presented a unique challenge when it came to passing down traditional and cultural information from the older generation to the younger generation; the disruption and upheaval in people’s lives meant that the traditional education system which forms the backbone of transmission of cultural elements and

Livestock owner

Happy young man JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

LANGUAGE & CULTURE

Learning Institutions

A Somali elder

traditional values was interfered with. The result is such that even among the young people who have been in the country for the duration of the conflict to this day, the Somali culture and language has lost some of its authenticity.

Post-conflict Somalia has endeavoured to rebuild its learning institutions and has put notable emphasis on language, culture and preservation or culture and heritage programs. In the past few years, Somalia has had discussions on how to restore historical relics and heritage sites in the country, how to document and preserve the language and oral traditions of the people, and how to create awareness on the significance of preserving and documenting the culture and heritage of Somalia amidst an onslaught of easy travel, conflict, modernity and globalization. The idea of a globally defined monochromatic society in Somalia, especially where the history, culture and heritage of Somalis is eroded as a result of lack of cultural preservation will lead to a rather inauthentic and less cultural way of life in the country in the coming years. At the moment, Somali universities and tertiary colleges have set up communication, history, anthropology, literature and language departments and are offering courses on the study of the Somali language, the study and appreciation of Somali literature and the study of the history of the country and the people among other humanities and social sciences related matters. All these learning institutions are keen on language preservation and the documentation and preservation of Somali culture as well as helping the youth in the country re-acquaint themselves with the history and heritage of their country. K

History

A quick look at Somali language reveals a history of interactions with other world languages and government interventions. For example, in late 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and early 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, based on the Latin/Somali alphabet, the official Somali language script was introduced. This development led to a wide and increased use of the language in texts and formed the foundation for the creation of the Somali language dictionary. Using these texts and other materials, learning institutions in the country enhanced their approach to language and culture studies. It should be mentioned that government interventions such as the use of poets, writers and playwrights to pass on nationalistic information, insistence on the language being used by media entities as the medium of communication and funding the establishment of learning institutions (which would later be used to study the language) among other measures existed in the past and although are not pronounced today, are still in use.

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A livestock owner in the field

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

HERITAGE

SOMALI HERITAGE WEEK NAIROBI

Somalis living in Kenya come together every year to enjoy a week of reconnection to what makes them who they are; the language, the culture, the people, the foods, the music, the dances and all By Yusuf Haji

Hormuud International Relations Officer, Abdala Mohamud speaks during the Somali Heritage Week in Nairobi

he Somali population in Kenya is a minority, despite the fact that they have lived in the country for over two decades now, with most of them bearing Kenyan citizenship. And as with any society that has a minority living amongst them, the Kenyan government has been, in the past, quick to judge and profile and punish Somali nationals as threats to the nation and as persons of interest. This, and the fact that the terror attacks that have taken place in Kenya have mostly been the actions of Somali born extremist groups, the relationship between the people of Kenya and the Somali population living among them has been a bit frosty. The Somali Heritage Week, sponsored by Heinrich Boll Steiftung East & Horn of Africa, Oxfam, Hormuud Telecom JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

and a few other corporate bodies is a 4 day event that takes place every year in Nairobi with the aim of offering an alternative narrative to the stories that are published in the media or aired by media houses about Somalia at home and abroad. The event, which has grown in attendance and in the scope of activities, is organized by Awjama Omar Cultural, Reading & Research Center.

Bringing together Somali people

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our target is the Somali community in Kenya first, Kenyans, writers, children and the Somali community at home. Every year we focus on positive coverage of Somalia out here, we pass the right information-the correct, legitimate information about the Somali community,â&#x20AC;? says Awjama

HERITAGE

A discussion panel on stage during the Somali Heritage Week in Nairobi

Fardowsa, the Executive Director of Awjama Omar Center. She thinks that the Heritage week is making progress in these fronts. That the international media, local media, scholars and opinion shapers are changing their perception of Somalia, scholars are expressing interest in the country and that unlike in the past, the international media have started asking the right questions and are open to new narratives about the country.

Exciting sessions

Performance by young men and women during the Somali Heritage Week proceedings

An elderly woman rests outside the venue of the Somali Heritage Week

During the Heritage Week, there were different exciting sessions including; a Somali women and culture session where younger ladies learnt from the older women, there were discussion forums, there were training sessions for different artistic skills like embroidery, henna design, and basket weaving among other instructive sessions. The skills sessions were sponsored by Hormuud Telecom. For the Somali community in Nairobi,The Somali Cultural Week is a good opportunity for them to come together and feel the comradeship of home even though they are abroad. The event has grown to be one of the most anticipated events among the Somali community in Kenya with most of them looking forward to the festivities, the celebrations and to the reconnection with home and the people from home, in an environment where everything about home is loveable. During the Heritage Week, everything is on display and no discussion, within the theme of the event, is beyond having. The performances are wonderful and riveting, the people are delightful and fun and there is no shortage of activities to enjoy: From the Somali rhythms, to the Somali food, to the Somali poetry and recitals, to the dances, the fashion and the lukewarm politics. K JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT 29

SOMALIA ON THE NET Top 10 Online Convergence Points in Somalia By Abass Mohammed

n the age we live in, there are two realities that all societies have to deal with; the actual life and all that come with it, and the virtual life and all that come with it. These two worlds, one real while the other is pseudo-real, are intertwined but are also very far

apart. Below, is the list of what matter and the social influencers in the virtual life of Somalia;

Most followed Twitter accounts in Somalia Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;naan Warsame (@KNAAN)

Musician, famous for the (South Africa) World Cup hit Waving Flag Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;naan has over 200,000 followers on Twitter. The young artist is based in the United States but identifies more as Somali than an American, and through his twitter account, he has kept in touch with issues at home.

Canadian based Somali rapper, singer and poet JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

INFLUENCERS

Mohamed Farmaajo (@M_Farmaajo)

Politician, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia The president’s account is ranked as one of the fastest growing twitter accounts in the country. His influence, after ascending to the presidency in February last year is partly responsible for his surging online influence. The president tweets frequently and on every issues that affects the country, not just political issues only. In fact, during the 2017 Mogadishu International Book Fair, he tweeted; Mohamed Farmaajo President It’s the first day of the #Mogbookfair. Proud of #Mogadishu and #Somalia. A society that reads is a society that’s ready for progress. #guul

Ugaaso Abukar Instagram account (ugaasadda)

She does 15 second video commentaries on the daily frivolities of Somali life. She is witty, relatable and has superb delivery. Her mockeries/ commentaries touch on culture, attitudes and the social fabric of Somali life . In the process, she has gathered a devoted following that run into tens of thousands of fans.

Hamza Mohamed Instagram Account (hamza_africa)

UNSOM (@UN Somalia)

This is the UN office in Somalia’s official handle.From here the humanitarian organization releases information on their activities in the country, the situations that require attention and occasionally, they drop a word or two on cultural issues going on in the country.

Humans of Somalia Instagram account (humansofsomalia)

Modelled after Humans of New York, this Instagram account encourages Somalis to share stories about their experiences and their lives in an intimate and honest way. The account has stories from home, Diaspora, Somali’s on the move and everything in between.

This Al Jazeera English journalist has set himself apart by his posting his travels, photos of children, beaches, the city, ruins and everything else that he runs into while on the job. His posts have been described as offering fresh look into Somalia. And like a seasoned journalist, he doesn’t insert himself in his posts, a rare thing in the age of self-promotion.K JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

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CALL RATES

THE BEST AMONG EQUALS Hormuud Telecom international call offers come with comprehensively attractive offers and are adored by Hormuud customers the world over By Yusuf Haji

A man receives a phone call in the field

hen it comes to making or receiving international calls, there is a lot that matter, other than just the just cost of making the call per minute, although this tends to be one of the most significant deciding factors. International calls are, for most callers, not every day calls. They are calls made when there is important information regarding business or an important family matter. For this matter, international calls tend to be handled like ceremonies. In such a situation getting the highest voice call quality at JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

the lowest international calling rate becomes something that both the caller and receiver are both interested in. At Hormuud Telecom, the interest is in both. Hormuud Telecom offers its customers amazing international call offers. These are call rates that the customers can get 15 minutes for international call only for every 1 dollar recharge for any time peak and offer peak time. The calls cater for both mobile to mobile calls, and for landline calls. Going for $ 0.07 for 15 minutes on line to mobile, is an offer that covers 20 countries including Norway, Pakistan and South Africa among others. There is a line to line offer

CALL RATES

A man uses his phone

those making line to all and it covers 14 countries including Austria, Kenya and Switzerland among others. Hormuud International Post-paid/Prepaid Roaming Service is also on offer. This service allows customers to make and receive calls as well as send and receive text messages while visiting a foreign country. For those people who are frequent flier businessmen or just love travelling, Hormuud Roaming is the best way while travelling to stay connected with your loved ones and keep tabs on your business interest. Hormuud Telecom has an extensive International Roaming network covers over 300 operators all over the world. The roaming charges offered by Hormuud are some of the most relaxed roaming calls in the East African region, beating the charges of some of the established service providers from Rwanda, Ethiopia and Kenya. Hormuud Telecom charges include; Incoming call charges for $0.35/Min, outgoing call charges at $3/MIN and outgoing SMS going for $0.25/ SMS. Any number that makes the call will be charged the local call rates while any incoming SMS is free. The hustle of getting to enjoy these services is a simple as three steps. The customer needs to fill in Dalmar International

Hormuud Roaming is the best way while travelling to stay connected with your loved ones and keep tabs on your business interest. Request Form, this form will form part of what is needed for your line to be activated for the roaming service. Once that is done, the client is expected to pay a SIM Card placement fee and a deposit of $500 which is refundable fee for post-paid clients only. With that out of the way, the customer has access to Hormuud Telecomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EVC Plus services, they can withdraw from their bank account, they can transfer money to family members or business associates and they can top up their phones or the lines of friends and family. Compared to the roaming charges offered by the leading East African telecommunications providers, Hormuud Telecom is way better and much more accessible. K JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

PERSONALITY TO WATCH

LADY ON A MISSION

Zahara Ibrahim, CEO SOSTEC INC; my aim was to solve the ICT problems in the market By Hormuud Telecom Writer

Zahara Ibrahim , CEO SOSTEC INC

Who are you?

I am Zahara Ibrahim, born in 1983 and studied in Somalia before going to the University of Science and Technology in Sanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a Yemen where I studied Computer Science. I am a mother of four beautiful children and the CEO of SOSTEC Inc.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the origin story of SOSTEC Inc?

Most Mogadishu based companies were outsourcing basic IT services or going out of the country for the webhosting, email marketing, webdesign, domain registration, software development solutions, web-development and other forms of web-solutions. If found this to be really a big hustle and decided to do something about it. If businessmen had the services that JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

they needed here in the country, they would not go looking elsewhere. So when I came back to the country after finishing my degree in 2005, I set about doing my market research and in 2006, I founded the company with the sole aim of providing a complete IT services package for Somali businesses.

To a lay man, what does your company do?

We offer web solutions. This includes; website design and its attendant matters (website responsiveness, load speed, SEO optimization, and language support). We offer domain names and all that come with it like domain registration, domain transfers, domain parking and domain renewals. Finally, we offer software solutions (that can be used in any field like education, hospitality, health etc.) and live streaming services.

PERSONALITY TO WATCH

SOSTEC INC employees at a past function

IT is a man’s world, how was your welcome?

People wondered how and why a woman, a young girl, could get into the ICT world. When people asked who SOSTEC Inc founder was, and they were told that it is a lady, they would go like; ‘Oh, it’s a woman!’ Followed by some kind of disbelief...

More than ten years in, how is this perception now?

Of course it has. My idea was to give the Somali SOSTEC INC branding in a past function community the best ICT services. Services that are as good as they could find from any world class ICT firm. We have offered each and every client quality services.

Does that mean that getting business is easier now…?

I believe that the clients have come to view us as necessary. They know what we offer, they understand the importance of our services and they are willing to spend on these products.

Where do you see your company in the next few years?

When Somalia rises, our company rises too. When there is peace, SOSTEC Inc will do more because it has the capacity to handle more. So that when the real estate and construction sector grows, we grow with it. When the hospitality industry grows, we grow with it. When the education sector grows, our services will be right there to take it to greater heights. K WEbdesign idea by SOSTEC INC.

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PICTORIAL

Hormuud Telecom headquaters building

One of the interior offices

An open plan office near completion JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

Panel discussion during the heritage week

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

PERSON OF INTREST

THE PREFERRED TELECOM SERVICE PROVIDER

29 year old Abdirizack Abdirahman Bare is Kenyan but spends most of his time working in Somalia. He loves the country, and the people Interview by Yusuf Haji

Abdirizak Barre in a past interview JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

PERSON OF INTREST What does your work entail?

I have been working in Somalia with international development organizations. I particularly work in research as monitoring and evaluations specialist. I also sometimes double up as a communications specialist.

Somalis are the friendliest people i know

What has your experience been like, working are the friendliest people, especially to foreigners. There’s also with Somalis in different parts of the country, peace within tribes and communities. Tribal in-fighting is especially in Mogadishu and Hargesia? now majorly history. People and the country are now heading

Socially Somalia is a very friendly place to live and work in the right direction now. in. Insecurity threatens this though, in some cities more than others. Mogadishu and Hargeisa cannot be compared in What telephone service provider do you use terms of security. Hargeisa is a safe heaven, Mogadishu is when you are in Somalia? Why do you prefer this a totally different story, while life is generally cheaper and service provide this service provider over the more interesting in Mogadishu security is major concern. others? This affects the economic activities of the city and investment While in Southern Somalia, I prefer Hormuud as that is threatened. is the dominant provider, in Puntland I use Golis and in Somaliland I use Telesom. Although money transfers and What are three of your best memories of Somalia? tariffs are pretty similar, it is easier to transact using an area And why? local line. I have a lot of amazing memories of Somalia. a) I have been to Kismayu, Mogadishu, Berbera and What are your thoughts on the telecommunicaBosaso beaches and I have to admit, Somalia has untapped tions sector in Somalia? potential to flourish in tourism with those beautiful sandy Telecommunications is the most advanced sector in beaches. I have had some of my best times on those beaches. Somalia, I can confidently say that. Despite the lack of b) The election of the current president; I was in strong governance and regulations, telecom sector in Somalia Bosaso and the celebration and jubilation from the city when flourished even at the worst of times. the winner was announced on that day in February 2017 was amazing. The whole town erupted in celebrations that ran Most young men have personal businesses as a almost the whole day and night. It was fantastic. second source of income, what’s yours? c) The peaceful transfer of power that followed the win I import and sell turf or artificial grass in Kenya; this is of H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo as the president. H.E mainly used in sports grounds (golf, soccer, tennis etc) as well Hassan Sh. Mohamud (Incumbent then) and H.E. Sheikh as for landscaping in hotels, restaurant, hospitals, offices and Shariff Sh. Ahmed (former president, who was also running homes. I also import and deal in other artificial products such as president but lost) both held hands as they welcomed the as green walls, hedge grow, and interior décor products. win of Farmaajo. The goodwill for unity and urge to move forward gave me so much hope. What challenges are you facing running this

business and how are you working overcome Most people, especially those who have never them? been to Somalia, believe that the people of Thank God, I am not facing serious challenges; however, Somalia are a violent and restless group of import tax is pretty expensive. people. What can you tell those kinds of people? One thing people fail to understand is that this country How do you see your business doing in the next suffered more than 25 years of civil unrest with no sense of 2 or 3 years? governance. It is different how a 25 year old who lives in a I would like to expand my business in the Eastern Africa, Western country thinks and how a 25 year in Mogadishu and Horn of Africa (especially Somalia). I won’t say 2-3, thinks. The one who has lived in Somalia, who all his/ probably in the course of the next 5 years. K her life has only known the use of brutal tribal force to achieve anything, who has not seen a sense of governance or leadership, thinks in a certain way. Despite this, Somalis JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

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TOURS AND TRAVEL

THE WONDERS OF SOMALIA

When you find yourself in Somalia, here is where to visit, what see and the fun places By Kadar Ahmed Whether you have 6 months or a six week short leave, travelling is a good way to unwind after several months at work. And not just that, you get to see lots of new places, meet new people and have a fantastic time while you are at it. Visiting Somalia has never been this urgent; it is a lovely place, despite what you might have heard or read or watched on CNN. While you are Somalia, there are a few places and sites that you have to include in your itinerary. These spots are guaranteed to leave an impression even in the most seasoned traveller;

Boys playing football

SHANGAANI (OLD CITY )

This is where the rich Italian set up their base way before the war. Right by the Indian Ocean at the coastline along Mogadishu, on the fine white sands, amidst rubble and ruins and bobbing boats stands glorious structures that were battered by the war but defiantly refused to lose their charm. High buildings, narrow passageways, beautifully carved doors, intricate corners and the smell of the beach, this section of Mogadishu was a preserve of Italian men and women during the colonial era, men who loved leisure and fine things in life and their lively rich spirit still remains. Check it out.

The ruins of the Old City

LIIDO BEACH

Sand, lots of sand. And the sun and a whole wide world of an ocean. Liido beach is perhaps the most popular beach in Mogadishu. The place, is often packed but still spacious and inviting enough to accommodate one more. The beach is good for relaxation during the week and also on weekends and its least sandy features; the restaurants and seafood and drinks are generously served, delicious and to die for. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

Beach football at Liido beach

TOURS AND TRAVEL GEZIRA BEACH Located South of Mogadishu, this is billed as the cleanest, safest and most fun beach. It has no shark sightings or any reports of any sharks, the sandy strip is wonderfully clean- as in no plastic, no rubbish and other beach hindrances and is known to be a favourite of most tourists. This beach is also known for hosting evening bonfires and evening beach parties. You never know, you might be in luck.

A little girl plays in the water at Gezira beach

MOGADISHU CATHEDRAL The Italians left the largest Catholic Cathedral in the country in Mogadishu. The Cathedral was brought down by bombs in 1991 thereabout at the onset of the war. What remains is perhaps less than 10% of the original structure and has been used at various times to keep refugees and the homeless safe. This was once an imposing structure and its greatness still A woman walks past the ruined remains of Mogadishu Cathedral remains.

HARGESIA LIVESTOCK MARKET Doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sound interesting until you are standing in the thick of it. A sea of cattle, goats, camels and sheep all beating braying, mowing and easing off that livestock smell to high heavens. The noise, the commotion, the livestock owners and their haggling antics is a spectacle to watch. This market is one of kind in terms of volume of livestock that pass through it as they head off overseas for export. The amount of money that changes hands in the market is monstrous. Located on the South East section of the city, this hubbub of beautiful chaos is only 2 kilometres from the city.

Livestock buyers and sellers at Hargesia market

DALJIRKA DAHSOON

Daljirka Dahsoon monument

Located in downtown Mogadishu, this monument has for the past 60 or so years been visited by countless tourists and locals alike. Erected in honour of men and women who lost their lives during the struggle for independence and in defence of the Somalia republic is also popularly known as the Tomb of an Unknown Soldier. This is one to definitely check out.

UNION MOSQUE

Unlike the other monuments and unique sites in this list, Union Mosque is not an old or ancient structure, in fact, it is fairly recent. And, from its name, one can infer that it is a symbol of unity and /or solidarity. The Mosque is a popular prayer center form travellers, tourists and locals. On an ordinary Friday, it is one of the most packed mosques in the city.

Union Mosque is one of the busiest mosques in the city JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

TOURS AND TRAVEL BAKARA MARKET Somalis are known for their love of commerce. Bakara Market encapsulates the Somali spirit of commerce in its entire entirety. Thousands of shops, thousands of roadside kiosk stands, hawkers and a host of products that can make a fairy tale market blush. This market has everything, from jewellery to cars, to spices and curtains; if you need it, Bakara Market got it. And the traders are as lively and bustling as any traders in any magical market. Located in Mogadishu, Brisk business at Bakara market pass by Bakara for something exotically Somali.

BLACK HAWK DOWN CRASH MUSEUM

Part of the salvaged items from the Black Hawk Down crisis

Beach football among young men is a favourite pass-time JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

This is the site of the most popular battle that has fought in Mogadishu in modern times. A team of American soldiers flew into Mogadishu to apprehend a warlord. As with such operations, this one didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go as planned and the soldiers had to fight for their lives, facing off with hundreds of insurgent fighters. In the end, a chopper down-Black Hawk- and several American soldiers and even more insurgents dead, the ordeal has come to be the most recognised battle in Modern Somalia. At the site where the chopper went down, a museum has been put up and is quite popular with visitors. Located in Bakaaraha- Mogadishu. K

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TOURS AND TRAVEL

WILL MOGADISHU BE YOUR NEXT WEEKEND AWAY? With its capital city still bearing the scars of urban warfare, Somalia doesn’t make many bucket lists. Nevertheless, the government is banking on a certain kind of adventurer and a unique Somali pull to put the shattered country on the tourist map. By Amanda Sperber

Gazing beyond the boats

ndrew Drury only intended to come to Somalia once. A self-described “adventure tourist,” who has been to more than 100 countries, a trip was a tick off a mental list of conflict-ridden destinations he intended to visit. “There was a bit of male bravado,” he admitted, adding that, though he’d already travelled to Iraq and Afghanistan, he appreciated the “shock value” of telling people he’d been to the country about which a non-fiction book is titled The World’s Most Dangerous Place. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

In 2012, the Somali federal government had just been re-established, and didn’t venture far from its besieged compound. Clans wars still waged over fiefdom blocks. Al Shabaab, the Islamist militant group, was an open, defiant presence. There wasn’t a tourist stamp for Drury’s passport. Drury didn’t think much of the place. By 2015, African Union troops fighting with Somali militias stabilised Mogadishu, the capital, enough so that the government was more comfortably seated. Al Shabaab remained, but was more of an an underground

TOURS AND TRAVEL

A young man hauls his catch of fish for the day

force. Bombings and shootings were as regular as a few times a week, but the violence was hit-and-run attacks, not drawn-out urban warfare Feeling he hadn’t got a sense of the country in 2012, Drury returned to Mogadishu. “I decided to go back to Somalia because I didn’t think I’d seen it. Something drew me back,” he said. Drury isn’t the first foreigner to refer to the country’s mystical pull on the soul. On his second visit, he was hooked, “I had an emotional feeling I had never had before,” he said. “I had this real love for the country and the people.” He returned in 2015, and is planning another trip this year. People like Bashir Yusuf Osman, the owner of the Peace Hotels, are betting on this unique Somali tug to turn war-ravaged Somalia into a tourist destination. Well, that, and the white sand beaches that form a shore with the turquoise-purple Indian Ocean along Africa’s longest coastline with the buzzing open-air markets, Gothic Ottoman architecture including the Guardafui lighthouse (a 19-metre-tall, abandoned tower built by the Italians during the early 1920s) and lively cafe culture. About eight years ago, Osman bought 28 hectares of ocean-front property in Mogadishu with plans of building a resort. It was extremely dangerous for him to even go and look at the land when he bought it, but in July he travelled to Nairobi to meet with the architect and discuss the Lamu-style bungalows that will dot the beach. Construction is underway and he aims to open in July 2018. Osman’s moves reflect an oft-noted keenly Somali ability to keep calm and carry on in a way that puts the

British to shame (though may also border on insanity). Mogadishu residents joke that after al Shabaab attacks a restaurant, it’ll re-open for business and customers will be calmly drinking tea amidst the rubble a few hours later. “Everyone said it was too early,” Osman said, recalling the purchase. “But for me, I was thinking it’s the right time to start, because it’s going to get expensive.” Over the last five years, Mogadishu has become a veritable boom town as the government expands its reach and the diaspora (more than two-million strong) return to visit, or stay. “Mogadishu is like Manhattan,” a BritishSomali property developer said in an interview to the Guardian back in 2013. The business rush is beginning to extend to legitimate tourist considerations even as the majority of buildings are pock-marked with bullet holes and the average city block remains at least fifty percent rubble. The national, nomadic tendency to keep moving ahead is now made policy by Abdirahman Omar Osman, Somalia’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism who, in June, travelled to Madrid to unveil a master plan to revive Somalia’s tourism industry, and to advocate for Somalia’s inclusion in the UN World Tourism Organisation, membership of which it finally attained last month. Like most Somali politicians, Osman is the first to acknowledge that security is still the country’s first concern. More than 100 violent incidents were attributed to al Shabaab between November 2016 and May 2017. In June, al Shabaab rammed an explosive-laden car into the only hotel with a disco, and then stormed a popular new restaurant, holding 20 hostage and killing dozens. JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

TOURS AND TRAVEL In October, terrorists carried out one of the deadliest attacks ever on Somali soil, when two trucks exploded at a busy intersection near the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu. The blasts killed at least 300 people, with the death toll expected to rise. Speaking before that attack, Osman said, “If you’re talking about tourism and thinking [only] about security, you’ll never take steps.” For now, according to Osman, Somalia’s main visitors are “indirect” tourists: people coming for work or diaspora Somalis returning to see family. His hope is that spots like the cathedral and the beach, and others like the fish market, will get more institutionalised, and bets that these will be the early adopters when spots like Osman’s beach resort open. Jenny Ziemba, a British Army officer formerly based in Somalia who is also a scuba diving instructor, would be a return visitor. “Somalia is an ideal location for waterbased activities,” she said. “The warm Indian Ocean waters host an array of tropical fish and aquatic life [that make for] a snorkelling paradise, including many puffer fish, blue spotted rays, Moray eels and turtles.” She added: “The long shallow coastline makes it a perfect spot to snorkel as you don’t have to go far to see a large mix of life but for those that wish to venture out further, the shallow water makes it safe to do so.” Somaliland, the self-declared nation to the northwest in Somalia, is a significantly more stabilised area, and has

The old city by the beach JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

a trickle of tourists coming to see the ancient yet still pristine Laas Geel cave paintings, take in the sights, sounds and smells of Hargeisa, the capital, and Berbera, the port city. Lonely Planet mentions some of the sites in their Africa guidebook, but notes that the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not advise travel to Somalia, proper. Just to Somaliland. “As Lonely Planet has a policy of not sending writers to areas on the FCO ‘avoid all travel’ list, it is unlikely that we will be increasing our coverage of the south and central part of Somalia in the near future,” said a representative from the company by email. In the meantime, Yasir Baffo of the Somali Tourism Agency is working on getting Somalis eager youth trained and ready to receive guests. In 2014, he built a hospitality training centre with courses in customer care, frontoffice and waitering for about 150 students. The centre, part of the Dayah hotel in Mogadishu, was bombed this past January. Twenty-eight people were killed and the plates, cups and all the practice equipment destroyed. A new centre, the Somali Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, is set to open in the autumn. Baffo smiles and says “As long as we are alive, we can rebuild. K This article was f irst published in the October issue of NOMAD Magazine

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DATA

MAXIMIZING YOUR DATA POTENTIAL Running out of data in this age where life is half lived online and business is half-conducted online is a dangerous thing. Not knowing how to make the most out of the data subscription that one has is second. By Hormuud Telecom Writer

A group of young men on their phones

he cost of data, especially to the heavy users of the internet is almost as heavy as the cost of phone calls to frequent callers. The idea of having heavy usage of data bundles and not getting the best out of the deal is absurd.

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So how do you maximise the experience you have with your data bundlesâ&#x20AC;Ś? Even if you are not an IT specialist or a geek as they say, there are a few simple hacks that you can pull of just so you will be able to get the best out of your data. These tips will help prolong your data usage.

Track your Data Consumption

Data bundles like everything else can be depleted pretty quickly if the user does not pay attention to how much they use per hour or per day. Think of it like money in the bank, you have to track your expenditure, the frequency of your withdrawals and the balance once you are done, otherwise, your card might be declined at the supermarket counter. For data bundles, tracking your usage of bundles, especially for android, to see the amount of data that one has spent, simply navigate your phone using the following steps; Navigate to the Android settings menu. The first section should be Network settings or Wireless and Networks. Under ‘Network Settings’ select the icons titled ‘Mobile data’ or ‘Data usage’. Choose the specific dates you want to review using “Data usage cycle”. Adjust the bars to determine mobile data consumption for specific number of days. Scroll down to monitor each of your installed App’s data consumption

STEP 1

Disable the running apps in the background

There is always some app or apps that are constantly running in the background in your phone. Most of these applications eat into your data bundles. They refresh, they update, they upload and download, and they eat up data. Don’t worry, managing them is easy. Just follow these easy steps; Go to Settings> Data usage> Select app> Select Restrict background data check box

No auto, just download what you

Your social media accounts like Whatsapp or Facebook or Instagram and the many other that you are on have an auto download feature. If yours is enabled, it means that any video or audio that you receive is automatically downloaded. All those funny videos and stupid but hilarious memes eat up your data even when they do not offer you much value. To remedy this, you disable the auto download on your social media accounts and download only what you want to see. It’s easy just follow these steps Whatsapp. Whatsapp setting>Data usage>Media autodownload>When using mobile data>Disable all file types>Press Ok Instagram. Go to Instagram Options> Settings> Select Cellular Data Use> Select Use Less Data. Facebook. Go to Facebook profile tab> Help and settings> App settings> Auto-play> Select Never AutoplayVideos K

STEP 2

STEP 3

ADVERTORIAL

FREEDOM AIRLINE IS KEEN ON SAFETY AND COMFORT, ITS CLIENTS CONCUR

Freedom Airline has ten years in the skies, an impressive list of clients including heads of states and Prime Ministers. The company is just getting warmed up; safety, precision time management and client comfort are the words it lives by By Hormuud Telecom Writer

Freedom airline plane

reedom Airline Express is an Air Charter company based at Wilson Airport- Nairobi. The company operates in Africa and the Middle East, ferrying passengers, cargo and offers relief services. Freedom Airline is known for its strict and unbending belief in safety and comfort of its clients above all else. The company has been operating in Africa and the Middle East from 2008 when it was registered. Headed by

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Abdulkadir Ali as the Managing Director and Mahad Abshir as its CEO, the company prides itself on safety and security of its clients and their cargo, precision time management and an obsession with the comfort of its clients.

Exponential growth

Knowing that financial concern is a major issue in business, Freedom Airline strives to offer a range of quotations that have the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operational costs in mind, and provides the

Freedom airline team of engineers

Magdaline and Mercy Freedom airline planning and reliability engineers

highest quality aviation services. For a company that begun its operations ten years ago, with one 19 seat airplane, the company has experienced exponential growth under the leadership of Mahad and Abdulkadir to the point where it currently owns six Embraer 120 ER (30 seat) planes, an Executive CRJ 120 jet (50 seats), two CRJ 120 Bombardier planes, one Eurocopter EC 120 and a Fokker 50 MKO502. In the last ten years, making three flights every week locally (within Kenya) to Mandera, Elwak, Kisumu, Ukunda , Mombasa and Eldoret among other destinations, and four international flights to Mogadishu and Entebe-Uganda and three flights per week to other destinations like Baidoa, Kismayu and Garowe within Somalia. “There are three things that make our airline services stand out: We offer our clients the most reliable services in terms of prompt and well managed travel or transport services, we are very much concerned about the safety and security of our clients and lastly, we know that costs is a matter of concern in business, therefore our clients have a range of well thought out range of quotations to pick from,” says Ibrahim Kuno, the Director of Flight Operations.

Presidential services

The Interior of one of the Freedom Airline plane.

As a matter of fact, Freedom Airline’s services have been so good that they are the official airline that handles the travel arrangements of the President of Somalia. The current president of Somalia, Mohamed Farmajo is the fourth Somali President to fly Freedom Airline. The company has also flown the Prime Ministers of Somalia. On such presidential and other VIP assignments, the trips are to the Middle East or to any other African nation. Within Somali, the company also flies the presidents of Puntland and Jubaland. This is not the only impressive client that the company deal s with. It works with the United Nations, the government JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

ADVERTORIAL

Freedom airline HR and Safety director Anthony Mureithi

of Kenya, Medicines’ Sans Frontiers, IGAD, the embassy of UAE and Save the Children among other international bodies. For all these clients, Freedom Airline offers VIP charter like in the cases of the PM and president, Medical evacuation charter like for the government of Somalia or UAE, cargo charter for UN foodstuffs and medicine for Medicines’ Sans Frontiers and other special charters that are arranged depending on the needs of the clients.

Dedicated team

With a dedicated team of over 70 people(Managers, flight crew including pilots and flight engineers, line maintenance engineers, flight operations staff and ground support) working from the company’s headquarters in Nairobi, the company has maintained a satisfied and impressed client and customer list. As pilots return from their lights of the day, the Chief Pilot, Amin Yunis with 12 years of experience under JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

his name tells of how Freedom Airline pilots are adequately motivated, well trained, brilliant and hardworking. He says, “I handle both management duties and actual flying. This somewhat reduces my actual flight hours per month to about 40 hours. But, our team and the team spirit that all of us have embraced is extraordinary and it is the factor that makes us so efficient and reliable. We bank on one another to do their part and they always deliver.” So what does the future hold for Freedom Airline? “In the next five to ten years, we are looking at diversification of flights to include more international routes and we would also like to expand the existing fleet so that our fleet will be able to handle new long range flights,” says Antony Muriithi, the Flight Safety Director who also doubles up as the HR manager. The routes that are targeted include Ethiopia, Tanzania and Djibouti among others. K

BOOKS TO WATCH OUT FOR

READING LIST

There are a host of great and fantastic novels and non-fiction books that are guaranteed to keep you up and enrich your life. Here are a few… By Abass Mohammed Cataclysm: Secrets of the Horn of Africa by Zeynab Ali

It is rare to find an 18 year old who instead of being plugged onto her headphones listening to music or on Instagram posting food pictures is reading and has actually published a book. She lives in the US, where she is a high school student and during her spare time, she wonders with her pen, about home and the tragic events that forced her parents from Somalia. The book is a collection of personal perspectives and historical insights delivered as best as an 18 year old can. Her work adds to a body of work by Somali refugees that attempt to understand the situation that people like Zeynab and millions of other displaced Somalis have found themselves in. This book is best for those searching for new ways to look at the effect of the conflict in the country and its origins.

Desert Flower by Waris Dirie, Cathleen Miller

Memoirs have become a genre that cannot be dismissed in the past few years. Nonfiction stories of real life people who have overcome adversities in life to achieve great things are powerful motivators. And in a time where inspiration is often in short supply, there can be no better place to get inspiration than in the courage and grit and perseverance of a fellow man or woman. Waris Dirie was from a nomadic family in Somalia, she was put through circumcision as was the case with every other girl around her, and went through that nomadic life in all its fullness. Later, she became a Somali model, went to London, became a Human Rights Ambassador to the United Nations where she was a fierce critic of FGM. Her story is that of courage and going forth even when the circumstances and odds are stacked up against you.

The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed

There is no list of books from Somalia or books of interest to Somali people that lacks a title by the renowned author Nadifa Mohamed, and this list won’t be the first to commit such an atrocity. In this piece of work, Nadifa Mohamed tells the story of three women, their experiences, their desires, their opinions and how they handle themselves as the country falls alongside the fall of Said Barre’s regime. Told in his signature compact and lucid narration, the novel tells of life in Somalia before the chaos-1987, life during the chaos and life as the pieces settle on the ground, having fallen apart due to the civil. The main characters, the three women are perfect vessels to carry the story yet somehow, they fail to illicit any feelings of remorse at their state or the state of the country.

Fire and Fury- Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff

No need for elaborate introductions on this. This is the most talked about book in 2018 so far. An insider steps out and writes an explosive book about the White House, the power plays, the games, the witch-hunts, the intrigues and above all, an expose into the most powerful man on earth at the moment. When the book was released, within the first week, the whole world was questioning the sanity of Donald Trump and whether the man is fit to hold office. Grab this, no questions asked. The book scrutinises the president’s inner circle, the decisions he has made in office so far, his extra-marital affairs and how he spends time watching TV and eating cheese burgers. K JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 KONNECT

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