“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.
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.
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Ankara has lodged a formal criminal complaint against Turkish social media user Umut Çağrı Sarı, citing a pattern of fabricated claims about Somali diplomats and institutions. The complaint, filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on March 17, 2026, invokes articles of the Turkish Penal Code related to defamation, incitement to hatred, and public dissemination of misleading information.
The foundation donated $10,000 to Maamo Ugaaso Foundation, a center dedicated to caring for orphaned girls and street children. The contribution aims to strengthen the center’s essential services and ensure that children under its care receive the support, compassion, and stability they need during the holy month of Ramadan.
A roadside bomb planted by al-Shabaab hit a civilian vehicle near Ceeldheer in central Somalia, killing and injuring passengers as the Somali National Army evacuated the wounded to Mogadishu.
