The Istanbul Axis Continues: This week Turkey held an international conference on Somalia (“Istanbul II”) with the theme: “Preparing Somalia’s Future: Goals for 2015”. The conference provided the international community with a unique opportunity to adopt common positions on the future of Somalia. It aimed to chart immediate concrete actions in the political, security and economic spheres that will enable a smooth end of transition and the establishment of an inclusive and broad-based political dispensation in Somalia after August 2012. The conference also sought to build consensus on a long-term approach to state-building and economic development, including the evolution of an enabling environment for private investment in the post-transition period. Visit the Conference website here and hear Al Jazeera’s reporting here. 

A mother returns to Somalia after 17 years in Norway. This is what longing for home looks like. (via Radio Mogadishu)

We were saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Abdishakur Ali Jowhar this week. His death not only shocked Somali people around the world but struck a deep cord with the mental health community in Owen Sound, Canada where he was loved and admired by many of his colleagues and patients. Dr. Jowhar, Chief of Psychiatry at Grey Bruce Health Services, was killed Sunday in a car crash in his native Somaliland. He was a tireless advocate for mental health, particularly given the estimates by the World Health Organization that 1 in 3 Somalis suffers some form of mental illness. Read the Somaliland Sun’s coverage of Dr. Jowhar’s unfortunate tragedy here and take solace in the poetic words of tribute by Idanka here. 

Meet Ilwad Ellman, one of the speakers at TEDXMogadishu today.  Ilwad runs the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in Mogadishu with her mom, Fartun whom we’ve featured before. Her father was an ardent peace activist in the 1990s, spreading the mantra “Put down the gun, pick up the pen” around Somalia, but was assassinated in 1996.  lwad  returned to Mogadishu three years ago while the conflict still raged on in the city. She works closely with victims of rape and sexual assault, as well as rehabilitating child soldiers by teaching them vocational skills. Visit TEDxMogadishu here to see a list of other speakers.

Are you a fan of TEDx Conferences? Watched the countless inspiring, emotional, enduring and educational videos? You’ll be glad to know that TEDx has extended itself to Somalia with TEDxMogadishu whose theme is Rebirth! The Conference is based on the notion that sustained peace is on the horizon with the Somali diaspora returning home and starting businesses and international investors exploring vast opportunities. TEDxMogadishu celebrates the power of ideas to positively change the world by bringing together like-minded people who believe in this mission. If you’re not in Mogadishu today, then visit the TEDxMogadishu website here where you’ll see live Somali speakers sparking deep discussion and connection. This is yet another sign that there is rebirth in Somalia!

This Friday 18 May, celebrations will be conducted in various cities around the world to mark the 21^st Independence Day celebration of Somaliland. The day is an annual celebration held on May 18 to mark the polity’s declaration of independence from the rest of Somalia. While we may argue about the merits and politics of independence, the day is mainly a jubilation of Somali people to celebrate how they’ve come and how far they have to go in terms of rebuilding their country. The celebration will kick off at the National Palace in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, with shops closing down for the day. Visit the following Facebook page to keep track of celebration around the world and watch last year’s celebration in pictures from the BBC.