ISOS organized Cilmiwadaag Platform on“Africa’s First Democrats Somalia’s Aden A. Osman and Abdirazak H. Hussen”, a new book authored and presented by Prof Abdi Ismail Samatar on 5 January 2017, and attended by dozens of scholars and public figures.
Samatar explored, in his presentation, how the Somali leaders laid the foundation of democracy in Somalia after the independence. He mentioned that “This book breaks the stereotype of failed Somali politicians and brutal African tyranny in postcolonial era”.
At the conclusion, prof Samatar emphasised that “The devotion of Aden Abdulle and Abdirazak Hagi Hussen to high political principles and values are available to inspire and stimulate a new generation”
The participants raised interesting comments and questions.
Samatar is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Society at the University of Minnesota; A research fellow at the University of Pretoria; An elected member of the African Academy of Sciences; a former president of the African Studies Association; and a trustee of Mogadishu University. He is the author of 4 books, and more than 70 articles and essays on African development and politics.
The event organized by the Institute for Somali Studies (ISOS), a research center within Mogadishu University, aims at knowledge generation through research and analysis on Somalia, Horn of Africa, and the Somali communities in abroad. It focuses on issues which are critical to the recovery and rebuilding of Somalia, a country emerging from a devastating civil war.
