Every morning, as the sun rises over Mogadishu’s coastline, the Hamar Weyne Fish Market comes alive. The voices of fishermen, customers, and traders fill...
“Culture has not protected my womanhood.”
Carrying placards with powerful slogans, dozens of women and girls gathered in Mogadishu to protest, arguing that the public harassment of a young woman in the Hodan district was not an isolated case but reflected broader challenges faced daily. “We are here to be the voice of every girl who has been silenced,” said Gacalo Mahmoud Yusuf, one of the demonstrators demanding that women be granted the same freedom, dignity, and security as men.
“What happened will not disappoint me, and I promise you that I will participate in the 2030 World Cup,” he said. He also urged Somali youth not to lose faith in their country or their passport.
Women in Galdogob who contested in the May 25, 2023 local council elections faced significant challenges despite the introduction of the one-person, one-vote system. While the system created new opportunities for direct participation, many women struggled with limited understanding of the electoral process and strong competition from male candidates. As a result, only five out of 27 seats were secured by women. Nevertheless, this marks gradual progress and reflects growing support for women’s political participation in Puntland, offering hope for a more inclusive future.
Four years since its founding on 11 April 2022, Bilan Media has grown from a bold initiative into a powerful platform where Somali women are no longer just subjects of stories — they are the storytellers.
Produced with support from UNDP Somalia and the European Union, the platform has trained young female journalists, published over 400 impactful stories, and reached millions of audiences across Somalia and beyond — all while championing women’s leadership, resilience, and visibility in a male-dominated field.
