Nov 15(Jowhar)-Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya Mudane Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud ayaa kulan is-xogwaraysi iyo wadatashi ah la yeeshay Qaariga Soomaaliyeed Sheekh Cabdirishiid Sheekh Cali Suufi oo booqasho sharafeed ku yimi Madaxtooyadda Qaranka.
Madaxweyne Firdhiye oo Magacaabay 15 Wasiir Ku xigeen
Nov 14(Jowhar)-Madaxweynaha Maamulka Waqooyi Bari Cabdiqaadir Axmed Aw Cali (Firdhiye) ayaa magacaabay 15 wasiir ku-xigeen oo ka mid noqonaya Golaha Wasiirada xukuumaddiisa.
BBC issues apology to Trump over ‘error of judgement’
A Fractured Tape: Inside the BBC’s Struggle Over an Edited Trump Speech
On an overcast morning in London, commuters on the Jubilee Line scrolled past headlines about resignations and retractions while the city went about its usual rhythms—fish-and-chip vans steaming on pavements, red buses wheeling past Westminster, and inside offices the newsrooms that stitch together global stories felt a sudden, awkward quiet.
The BBC, Britain’s national broadcaster and a global touchstone for public-service journalism, has issued an apology to former US President Donald Trump after a Panorama documentary edited extracts from his January 6, 2021, speech in a way that, the corporation now admits, created the false impression he had called for violence.
That admission—short, precise and reluctant—was accompanied by the removal of the episode from the BBC’s platforms and the publication of a formal retraction. But apologies and takedowns do not always put a story to bed. This episode has widened into a thicket of legal threats, reputational damage and questions about how journalism constructs meaning from soundbites.
What happened, in plain terms
The Panorama programme, Trump: A Second Chance?, included a montage of Mr. Trump’s remarks from January 6 that intercut phrases from different parts of the address. The BBC now says that editing gave viewers the impression they were hearing a continuous exhortation to violent action—an impression the broadcaster accepts was incorrect.
“We accept that our edit unintentionally created the impression that we were showing a single continuous section of the speech,” the public notice reads, “and that this gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.”
The corporation apologised to Mr. Trump for that editorial lapse, but it has stopped short of offering the compensation the former president demanded. Lawyers for the BBC have replied to legal correspondence from the White House, and BBC chair Samir Shah personally wrote to the former president to express regret for the error.
Resignations, recriminations and the legal shadow
The fallout has been swift and sharp. BBC Director-General Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness resigned amid the scandal, a sign of how seriously the broadcaster’s leadership took the mistake—or how exposed they felt to it. In Washington, Mr. Trump condemned the edit as a “defrauding of the public” and promised legal action, reiterating in a Fox News interview that he was considering a billion-dollar lawsuit.
For the BBC, which says it strongly disagrees there is a basis for a defamation claim, the episode has become more than a single misjudged edit; it is a moment that touches on editorial safeguards, the limits of montage, and the political stakes of perceived bias.
The wider probe—and the dangers of montage
Now, the BBC says it is investigating a possible second instance in which excerpts from a January 6 speech were woven together to misleading effect—this one aired on Newsnight in June 2022, according to press reports. “This matter has been brought to our attention and we are now looking into it,” a BBC spokesperson said.
Montage has always been a powerful tool for storytellers—film editors know how sound and image can reshape meaning—but it is also a blunt instrument when used in the wrong hands. “When you splice rhetoric, you’re not just cutting tape—you’re curating intent,” said a senior broadcast editor who asked not to be named. “That’s a responsibility we owe to audiences.”
Voices on the street
At a café near BBC Broadcasting House, a retired teacher named Margaret sipped her tea with a frown. “I rely on the BBC because I trust their standards,” she said. “Mistakes happen, but the trust takes longer to rebuild.”
Across town, a young media student on a routing assignment reflected differently. “I think it’s a reminder of how slippery digital media can be,” he told me. “One cut and a narrative changes. We need to teach more ethics and more technical literacy.”
And in a pub in Westminster, a bartender shrugged. “People have their axes to grind—left, right, whatever. But when mistakes like this happen, they become fuel for anyone who wants to say ‘media can’t be trusted.’ That’s dangerous.”
Experts weigh in
Media law and academic voices have also been loud. A media law specialist said: “Defamation claims against broadcasters are notoriously difficult. The BBC’s prompt apology may have been aimed at de-escalation, but legal liability depends on whether the corporation acted with malice or reckless disregard—elements that are tricky to prove in editorial contexts.”
Another scholar of journalism ethics noted, “This is a teachable moment about transparency. If you’re using excerpts, label them, show timestamps, or let the whole speech speak. Audiences are sophisticated; they can handle complexity if you show it to them honestly.”
Why it matters beyond a single clip
At first glance, this could be read as a parochial quarrel between a broadcaster and an ex-president. But the implications ripple out into larger debates about trust in institutions, the speed of online outrage, and how democracies police the boundary between criticism and smearing.
Consider January 6 itself: the Capitol riot remains one of the most vivid instances of political violence in recent US history. More than a thousand people were prosecuted in connection with the events—a reminder that how leaders frame a moment matters. Editorial choices that alter perceived intent can inflame tensions, complicate legal processes, and damage the public square.
And the timing is awkward
The controversy arrives as the BBC prepares for constitutional scrutiny: its royal charter, the document that governs the corporation, is up for renegotiation in 2027. That process will probe governance, funding and editorial independence. For Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his ministers, the challenge is delicate—defend the BBC’s independence without appearing to endorse every misstep, while also resisting pressure to bend to partisan narratives.
Questions for readers—and editors
What should public broadcasters do when they err? How transparent must they be before the public trusts their explanation? And in an age when clipped videos can travel faster than corrections, who bears responsibility for context—the platform that publishes, the consumer who shares, or both?
These are not rhetorical quibbles. They are practical questions about the health of information ecosystems. If a single edit can alter historical interpretation, it also alters the civic conversation.
Practical lessons—and a small hope
- Label edits clearly. If you’re showing excerpts, be explicit about where they come from.
- Keep archives accessible. Let audiences check the original source quickly.
- Invest in newsroom training: legal literacy, technical precision, and ethical judgment are all crucial.
In the end, public trust is created not by perfection but by accountability. The BBC’s apology is a start. The resignations and the inquiry are steps in a reckoning that could lead to stronger standards—or deeper polarization.
As you read this from wherever you are—New York, Nairobi, Delhi, or Sydney—think about the last time an edited clip shaped your view of a public figure. How sure were you that the footage was complete? In an era of shortened attention spans and accelerated outrage, that moment of skepticism may be the most valuable muscle we have.
And for the BBC, for Mr. Trump, and for anyone who consumes the news, the real work now begins: rebuilding confidence through clarity, not spin; through explanation, not silence; and through the humility to say, sometimes, we were wrong.
New study finds global fossil fuel emissions set to hit record high
Belém, the Amazon, and a Planet on Fast-Forward
The conference center in Belém sits like an island of air-conditioned calm amid the Amazon’s humid, breathing green. Outside, riverboats chug past stalls stacked with a riot of fruit; the smell of grilled fish mingles with diesel. Inside, world leaders and scientists shuffle through corridors plastered with glossy banners promising action—while a new report lands like a cold splash of reality.
Researchers say global fossil-fuel CO2 emissions are set to reach a new high in 2025. By their estimate, the world will emit roughly 38.1 billion tonnes of CO2 from oil, gas and coal this year—about 1.1% more than last year. Include emissions from cement and land-use changes like deforestation, and the total balloons to roughly 42.2 billion tonnes. Numbers like these are abstractions until you feel their implications: the report calculates there are about 170 billion tonnes of CO2 left if we want even a slim chance of staying under 1.5°C of warming. At today’s rate, that allowance lasts about four years.
What the Numbers Really Mean
When scientists talk about a “carbon budget,” they’re not being melodramatic; they’re doing arithmetic. This is a ledger of what the atmosphere can tolerate before the most dangerous forms of climate disruption become locked in. The new Global Carbon Budget, compiled by an international team of experts and released as delegates gather for COP30 in the Brazilian Amazon, reads like a warning: the world is burning through that allowance at a pace few expected, and renewables, while growing fast, aren’t yet moving fast enough to offset booming energy demand.
“We’re past the point where 1.5 degrees is a plausible target for policymakers who wait,” said one member of the report team. “This doesn’t mean adaptation is futile or decarbonization irrelevant, but it does mean timeframes have collapsed.”
Numbers that Bite
Consider these figures: 38.1 billion tonnes of fossil CO2 in 2025; 42.2 billion tonnes including land; a remaining 170 billion-tonne budget to 1.5°C—four years at current emissions. Each statistic is a signpost. Each is also a choice.
Politics by the River: COP30 and the Missing Voices
Belém’s COP30 has the feel of a reunion where one of the biggest families didn’t show up. The United States, the world’s second-largest historical emitter, is notably absent. That vacancy has sharpened tensions and given the summit hallways a theatre-of-unease quality.
“We can’t negotiate our way out of physics,” said an environmental minister from a small island nation at a side event, voice heavy with the lived experience of rising seas. “When countries that still emit at high levels skip the conversation, it’s not just rude—it’s dangerous.”
On the ground in Belém, the Amazon’s proximity lends the talks a potent symbolism. Local fishers, community leaders and Indigenous delegates remind visiting politicians that the rainforest is not merely a backdrop for negotiations but a living system under stress, its health intimately tied to global emissions.
“We watch the rains change,” said Rosa, a community organizer who grew up on the banks of the Guamá River. “We have memories of seasons. These changes are not numbers to us—our crops, our children, our stories change.”
Where Emissions Are Rising—and Why
Global trends are uneven. The report notes that fossil emissions are rising across oil, gas and coal. In the United States, coal emissions bumped up by about 7.5% this year as higher gas prices pushed power generation back toward coal. Warmer-than-average weather for some months, and cooler winters in others, nudged up demand for heating and electricity in the U.S. and parts of Europe, briefly reversing recent declines.
China’s emissions appear largely flat this year, particularly coal emissions, which offers a sliver of hope that renewables could start to capture more of the country’s growing energy demand. But experts caution that policy uncertainty and the scale of China’s industrial system mean it’s too soon to declare a peak.
India’s story is slightly different: an early monsoon and a rapid expansion of solar and wind capacity helped keep its CO2 rise more modest than in previous years. And across the globe, 35 countries have now managed a feat once thought rare: reducing CO2 while growing their economies—double the number from a decade ago.
Land Use: Slight Relief, But Fragile
The study also found that emissions from land use—the combination of deforestation, fires, and reforestation—were lower than in the recent past, partly because South America experienced fewer catastrophic fires following the end of a dry El Niño phase in 2023–24. That’s welcome news, but fragile: political decisions, agricultural pressures, and climate variability can reverse those gains quickly.
“When governments enforce protections or when farmers gain incentives to keep trees standing, we see immediate benefits,” said an Amazon conservation scientist at a COP30 panel. “But those gains are reversible if policy or economics change.”
Beyond the Figures: What This Tells Us About the World We’re Building
So what do we do with a report that feels like both a diagnosis and a dare? First, recognize that this is not merely a technical conversation. It is ethical, economic and geopolitical. The uneven rise in emissions underscores deep inequalities: those least responsible for the crisis—small island states, Indigenous communities, low-income regions—stand among those most at risk.
Second, the fact that dozens of countries are already cutting emissions while growing GDP provides a practical counter-narrative to the story that decarbonization equals decline. It shows that policy, investment and social choices can separate economic health from carbon intensity.
Third, energy transitions demand not only technology but politics: stable policy frameworks, clear incentives, and international cooperation. When gas prices spike and coal looks cheaper, our systems can backslide. That is not a failure of physics; it is a failure of policy design.
Questions for the Reader—and a Call to Stay Awake
Ask yourself: what does four years of carbon budget left mean for how you live, vote, invest? If staying below 1.5°C is now effectively out of reach without dramatic, immediate action, what does that do to ideas of fairness, responsibility and solidarity?
Here in Belém, the rainforest’s humidity presses against the conference windows and the people gathered there talk less about blame and more about what must be done next. More renewables, yes. Faster energy efficiency, absolutely. But also financial flows to protect landscapes, support for communities on the frontline, and political courage to choose long-term stability over short-term comfort.
We are not out of options. We are out of excuses. The ledger is public. The question is whether humanity will finally align its politics with the arithmetic.
Trump approves legislation to halt historic US government shutdown
The Day the Government Came Back: A Washington Pause, a Nation’s Breath
Late one brisk afternoon in the Oval Office, a pen scratched its final stroke on a page that had kept millions of Americans suspended between paychecks and uncertainty. The longest federal shutdown in living memory—an episode of empty agency lobbies, grounded contractors and sleepless civil servants—ended not with a fanfare but a single, decisive signature. In the hushed, camera-lit room, politicians and aides exchanged a kind of exhausted relief that felt equal parts victory, surrender and the relief you feel after a long storm begins to pass.
For the public, the immediate images were simple and human: a school cafeteria worker who would again receive a paycheck, a small regional airport that could begin restoring its radar schedules, and millions of families who had been waiting for food assistance to resume. But beneath those scenes lies a tangle of politics, economics and personal stories that don’t vanish with one bill.
What the Vote Changed — And What It Didn’t
The House passed the funding package by a narrow margin, and within hours the president gave his approval. Federal agencies will receive funding through 30 January, a temporary truce that keeps the lights on but does not solve the arguments that led to this crisis. The package rescues stalled food assistance programs, restores pay to hundreds of thousands of federal workers and begins the slow work of restarting air-traffic and safety systems hampered during the shutdown.
Still, the legislation leaves several big questions unanswered. It pushes many of the nation’s urgent debates into the new year — including a looming fight over health-insurance subsidies — and keeps the country on a trajectory that will continue adding to a swelling national debt that, according to the numbers attached to the bill, grows by roughly $1.8 trillion per year against a background figure that has shocked many Americans.
Immediate Relief, Lingering Damage
In practical terms, the relief will be visible and immediate in some places. Air travel, disrupted and understaffed in many facilities, has a window to recover before the Thanksgiving travel rush. Economists estimate the shutdown shaved a bit more than a tenth of a percentage point from GDP in each of the roughly six weeks it lasted — a small but measurable drag that analysts generally expect to recoup in subsequent months.
And yet some scars may be permanent. Several federal data releases — including critical employment and inflation reports for October — may never see the light of day, officials warned. The absence of those reports created an information blackout that left investors, policy-makers and ordinary families guessing about the economy’s true temperature.
On the Ground: Voices and Vignettes
Walk into the break room of a federal building and the mood is different from the headlines. “It felt like a slow leak,” said Maria Alvarez, who helped prepare meals at a school contract kitchen in suburban Virginia. “Every morning you wondered if today would be the day the rent came due and the checks hadn’t cleared. Now? We can breathe and plan. But it took too long.”
At a small regional airport in Ohio, an air-traffic technician named Jamal Davis described weeks of overtime and missed sleep. “We patched systems, we worked around gaps,” he said. “To see the paperwork cleared is huge, but the backlogs don’t disappear instantly. Pilots, travelers — they’ll notice improvements, but it will take time.”
In Washington, Representative Mikie Sherrill rose on the House floor in a tone that echoed across social feeds: a plea not only to colleagues but to the public’s sense of decency. She warned against turning governance into a bargaining chip that deprives kids and families of basic needs. Her parting words to the chamber — a call to hold the line on protecting vulnerable people — became a refrain outside the Capitol.
What Officials Said (and Didn’t Promise)
On the political front, the deal’s passage in the Senate and its signature in the Oval Office did not erase the House’s divisions. While the White House and many Republicans framed the vote as a stand against coercion, Democrats countered that the concession came at the cost of wins they had sought — especially around healthcare advocacy and longer-term protections for families.
House leadership made clear there would be further votes in the Senate in December on certain measures, but no guaranteed floor vote in the House was promised for essential healthcare subsidies due to expire at year’s end. That political ambiguity means the momentary calm could give way to renewed storms after the holiday season.
Numbers That Matter
- Length of shutdown: the country experienced the longest federal shutdown in recent history, a standoff that lasted weeks and strained services across multiple agencies.
- Economic drag: economists estimated the shutdown shaved more than 0.1 percentage point from GDP for each of the roughly six weeks.
- Public opinion: a recent poll suggested the country was nearly evenly split on who bore primary blame — roughly half blamed Republicans and nearly the same portion blamed Democrats, illustrating the political fog that settled over public perceptions.
- Budget path: the stopgap funding keeps the government operational until 30 January but continues a spending path that analysts say will add significantly to the nation’s long-term fiscal obligations.
Why This Moment Matters Beyond Washington
There are two big lessons tucked inside this return to work. First, the modern state is fragile in very ordinary ways: data collection hinges on paychecks; airport safety depends on steady staffing; food banks and SNAP programs are lifelines for families who cannot pivot overnight. When funding stops, the consequences are not abstract — they show up in line-item delays, frozen benefits and missed paychecks.
Second, political brinkmanship has social costs that outlast headlines. The shutdown may slow consumer spending during a crucial shopping season, complicate manufacturers’ supply chains, and leave small businesses who rely on government contracts or customers in government jobs vulnerable.
So what should we ask ourselves as readers and citizens? Do we accept that basic services can be held hostage for leverage? If government can shutter and restart on political whims, how do we maintain trust in the systems that underpin daily life?
Looking Ahead: A Temporary Fix, Not a Cure
As federal workers begin to receive back pay and airports restore operations, many Americans will return to routines that were interrupted—and to the emotional residue the episode left behind. Calls for more resilient systems, clearer funding rules and a less volatile habit of resolving disputes at the expense of ordinary people are growing louder.
In the end, the bill signed that afternoon was both a relief and a reminder: democracy requires a day-by-day commitment, not only from elected leaders but from citizens who demand a system that protects the basics. For now, the daily rhythms have resumed. But the conversation about how to prevent the next stoppage has only just begun.
Will we learn from this pause, or will we file it away as another political squall? The answer will shape whether the next interruption is an anomaly or a pattern.
UN: Sudan’s escalating violence is a stain on the international conscience
El-Fasher: A City Marked on the Map — and on the Conscience of the World
There are images that lodge in the mind not because they are beautiful, but because they refuse to be ignored. Satellite photos of El-Fasher — the dusty, ochre city at the heart of North Darfur — show smudges on the earth that are unmistakably human: dark, irregular stains in places where people once walked, bought bread, prayed and worked.
“Bloodstains on the ground in El-Fasher have been photographed from space,” the UN human rights chief Volker Türk said recently, in an address that sounded less like diplomacy and more like an accusation. “The stain on the record of the international community is less visible, but no less damaging.” His words were raw, and they landed in Geneva at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council convened to respond to the horrors unfolding there.
To walk through a city after such violence is to encounter a thousand small ruptures: a child’s sandal abandoned in a market, a mosque door blocked with rubble, a clinic where staff count syringes the way other people count change. In El-Fasher, many who survived speak in the quiet, compressed tones of those who have seen too much.
What the UN session is asking for
Diplomats in Geneva are considering a draft resolution that would send a UN fact-finding mission to al-Fasher to investigate alleged violations, identify perpetrators, and collect evidence that could be used in legal proceedings. The International Criminal Court, the UN has said, is “following the situation closely.” It is an attempt to turn outrage into action, and action into accountability.
“There has been too much pretence and performance, and too little action,” Türk told delegates. “It must stand up against these atrocities — a display of naked cruelty used to subjugate and control an entire population.” Those are heavy charges. They also carry the promise that the world will be watching.
Voices from the ground
“We fled at night with nothing but the clothes on our backs,” said Fatima, a teacher who left her home in the Sabra neighborhood. Her voice, steady but thin, caught on the memory of the first gunshots. “We could hear the soldiers shouting. I still have the ash of our house on my hands.”
A young nurse at the temporary clinic near the market — who asked not to be named for safety reasons — described a steady stream of wounded arriving with wounds the staff had never seen before. “Not just bullets. Burns. Stabbings. People showing up with their hands bound. We stopped counting at a hundred. We don’t have the medicines, the lights, sometimes not even the bandages.”
From the international aid community, a regional coordinator for a major NGO put the situation into a blunt frame: “What we are seeing in Darfur now is a consolidation of control by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after they took al-Fasher on 26 October. That takeover has accelerated abuses and pushed communities into the road and into exile.” The coordinator asked not to be named because operational security is a constant concern.
Context that matters
Darfur is not a stranger to violence. Decades of marginalization, ecological pressures and a long history of conflict have made the region fragile in ways that are both structural and immediate. The RSF — an armed group that evolved from the infamous Janjaweed militias — has been locked in a bitter, more-than-two-and-a-half-year struggle with the Sudanese army. When al-Fasher fell, many analysts said it effectively cemented RSF control over much of Darfur.
Precise casualty figures remain contested and hard to verify. UN agencies, human rights groups and journalists offer varying tallies. What is not in doubt is scale: widespread killings, mass displacements, and the systematic destruction of neighborhoods and livelihoods that has left tens of thousands — possibly more — unable to return.
What the draft fact-finding mission could do
If approved, a UN fact-finding team would collect testimony, document patterns of abuse, and endeavor to identify chains of command. It could lay the groundwork for prosecutions, sanctions or other measures. “My staff are gathering evidence of violations that could be used in legal proceedings,” Türk said, an explicit signal that the work on the ground may move from the moral realm into the legal.
For survivors, the mention of justice is both balm and echo. “We want to see the faces that did this,” said an elder who returned to El-Fasher for the first time after months in a displacement camp. “We want them to know we are not a number.”
Local color and human detail
El-Fasher used to be known for markets alive with the smell of roasted peanuts and the calls of traders selling orange cloths and bright spices. Now, even when people tentatively trickle back, the rhythm is off. Shops open later; men gather in small knots in the shade rather than at full tables. Women whisper about routes that are safe and those that are not. Children, who used to play football in the wide central squares, now do so with an intensity that looks like defiance.
“We speak about the future like it is a distant country,” said a young man who rebuilds torn roofs for pay. “We talk about planting, about weddings, but first we talk about the bodies. First the bodies.”
Why this matters beyond Sudan
El-Fasher is not isolated. What happens in Darfur reverberates across the Sahel and into global debates about the international community’s capacity to stop atrocity crimes. The scenario raises urgent questions: When should the world intervene? What forms of response are both feasible and legitimate? Can investigative work pave the way to real accountability when political will is fragmented?
Those are not theoretical questions. They shape funding, humanitarian corridors, refugee policies and the lives of millions who watch the world decide whether to act.
At the crossroads of law, politics and memory
Justice in cases like this is slow and contested. The International Criminal Court has the reach to open probes, but it operates in a world of politics and constraints. Sanctions can punish leaders; humanitarian aid can save lives. Fact-finding missions can document atrocities. None of these measures is a panacea. Still, documentation matters. Naming matters. For survivors, to be recorded is to be acknowledged.
“We are watching you, and justice will prevail,” Türk said — a line meant as a warning, meant as comfort, meant as an insistence that the faces in the satellite photographs are not anonymous.
A final note to readers
What do you do when a city appears on a satellite photo as a patch of blood? Do you scroll past, half-believing images on your screen, or do you pause and ask who is left behind? We live in a global era in which distance has been partially eroded by images and data — and yet the distance between sight and action feels wider than ever.
This is a story about a city and a continent. It is also about the choices the international community makes when confronted with evidence of mass suffering. It is about whether institutions like the UN and ICC can translate words into meaningful protection. And it is about people — mothers, nurses, shopkeepers — trying to rebuild lives amid the din of geopolitics.
If you take one thing away, let it be this: stained earth is not just a satellite image. It is a map of loss and of a stubborn, human insistence that lives matter. What will we do with that knowledge?
Mareykanka oo sheegay in Nidaamkii E-Visa ee Soomaaliya la jabsaday
Nov 14(Jowhar)- Safaarada Mareykanka ee magaalada Muqdisho ayaa sheegtay in la jabsaday nidaamkii elektarooniga ahaa ee fiisaha dal-ku-galka Soomaaliya (E-Visa), iyadoo la xaday xogta ku dhowaad 35 kun oo qof oo ay ku jiraan muwaadiniin Mareykan ah.
Hormuud University, Somalia: Fifteen Years of Excellence
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY
The eruption of civil war in 1988 and the subsequent collapse of the central government in 1991 severely disrupted all public social services in Somalia. The country’s education system was almost entirely destroyed. Prolonged periods of instability and intermittent conflict significantly constrained the ability of local communities and the international community to rehabilitate educational facilities and resources.
The destruction of the education sector extended far beyond the deterioration of physical infrastructure. It is estimated that more than 80% of the educated elite left the country since the conflict began.” to “It is estimated that more than 80% of the educated elite have left the country since the conflict began. This prolonged period of insecurity and instability deprived a generation of Somali youth of the opportunity to access formal education. Consequently, Somalia now faces one of the lowest literacy rates in the world.
ESTABLISHMENT
Hormuud University is a private, non-profit institution, established in 2010 by distinguished members of HormuudTelecommunication Company (Hormuud Telecom). The university was founded with a mission to advance higher education in engineering, technology, and other academic fields, Addressing Somalia’s urgent need for skilled professionals in engineering, technology, and related fields. Hormuud University is an active member of several local, regional, and international associations, fostering collaboration and academic excellence.
LEADERSHIP
The leadership of Hormuud University has been instrumental in shaping its growth, academic standards, and reputation, making it one of the leading institutions of higher education in Somalia. The first Vice–Chancellor, Prof. Jeilani Abdullahi Osman, served from February 2010 until October 5, 2015. During his tenure, Prof. Jeilani focused on establishing the university’s foundational structures, including developing academic programs, recruiting qualified faculty, creating efficient administrative systems, and formulating policies to guide the university’s operations.
He was succeeded by Dr. Adam Shidane Guled, who assumed office on October 6, 2015, and served until September 2025. Dr. Adam’s decade-long leadership focused on consolidating the university’s achievements and expanding its impact.
The current Vice–Chancellor of Hormuud University isProfessor Dr. Abdi Omar Shuriye, supported by a new team of Deputy Vice Chancellors. Under his leadership, the University continues to pursue a clear vision focused on academic excellence, research, innovation, and international partnership
FIFTEEN YEARS OF EXCELLENCE: THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HORMUUD UNIVERSITY GRADUATES TO SOMALIA’S GROWTH AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
Over the past 15 years, Hormuud University has played a pivotal role in shaping the intellectual and professional landscape of Somalia and beyond. Established to provide high-quality, relevant, and transformative education, the university has successfully produced thousands of graduates who have taken up leadership, technical, entrepreneurial, and humanitarian roles across multiple sectors.
This report presents a comprehensive overview of the contributions of Hormuud University alumni, highlighting their involvement in five key sectors:
1. Public Sector (Federal & Regional Governments)
2. Private Sector
3. International Organizations (INGOs & LNGOs)
4. Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development
5. Global Diaspora Employment
I. Overview of Alumni Achievements
Since its inception, Hormuud University has graduated professionals across various faculties, including Business Administration, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Engineering, Education and Economics and MGT science.These alumni have played vital roles in Somalia’s reconstruction and socio-economic development.
1️. Public Sector: Serving Somalia’s Governments
Hormuud University graduates have significantly contributed to strengthening governance, public service delivery, and institutional development across Somalia.
a. Federal Government of Somalia
b. Federal Member States
• Alumni serve in administrative, judicial, and legislative branches in states such as:
• Puntland
• Jubbaland
• South West State
• Galmudug
• Hirshabelle
• Some alumni have risen to the ranks of regional ministers, mayors, and public agency heads.
2️. Private Sector: Driving Economic Growth
Hormuud University alumni are central to Somalia’s growing private sector, particularly in:
a. Telecommunications
• Many graduates are employed at leading firms such as:
• Hormuud Telecom
• Somtel
• Golis Telecom
• Roles include network engineers, IT administrators, project managers, and customer service heads.
b. Construction & Infrastructure
• Working in:
o Engineering design
o Project supervision
o Urban planning
• Contributing to post-conflict reconstruction and modernization of Somali cities.
c. ICT & Software Companies
• Alumni have become software developers, cybersecurity analysts, and system architects.
• Some have launched tech startups offering innovative services.
d. Business & Finance
• Serving in banks, trading companies, and logistics firms.
• Alumni are active as accountants, marketing executives, managers, and business analysts.
3. International and Local NGOs: Advocates for Development and Relief
Alumni play essential roles in development, peacebuilding, humanitarian aid, and community engagement through:
a. International NGOs (INGOs)
• Organizations employing alumni include:
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)
• Save the Children
• CARE International
b. Local NGOs (LNGOs)
• Alumni are founders and active in sectors like education, health, women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, and youth development.
4️. Entrepreneurship: Fostering Innovation and Job Creation
A growing number of Hormuud University graduates have become self-employed innovators, start-up founders, and local investors, contributing to Somalia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Examples of Alumni-Led Ventures:
• Retail and e-commerce businesses
• Educational and training centers
• ICT service firms
• Transportation and logistics
These entrepreneurs are not only creating jobs but also serving as role models for young aspiring business owners.
5️. Global Employment: Somali Talent Abroad
In recent years, many alumni have migrated for further education and employment opportunities. These individuals are making valuable contributions internationally, including:
a. Europe and North America
• Working in:
• Education
• Tech and engineering sectors
• International diplomacy and advocacy
b. Middle East and Asia
• Employed as:
• IT professionals
• Business consultants
• Many serve as cultural ambassadors and links between Somalia and host countries.
Hormuud University’s alumni have become vital contributors to the national development of Somalia and the global Somali diaspora. Their involvement across sectors reflects the university’s commitment to academic excellence and societal transformation.
As the university celebrates 15 years of impactful service, it looks ahead to deepening alumni engagement, expanding its academic reach, and continuing its mission to prepare future leaders and professionals for Somalia and the world.
15-YEARS LEGACY OF INTERNATIONAL POSTGRADUATE ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT
Over the past 15 years, Hormuud University has proudly witnessed a significant milestone in the academic and professional growth of its graduate students. A considerable number of its alumni have successfully ventured beyond national borders to pursue advanced postgraduate studies in various prestigious international institutions. This trend underscores the university’s commitment to academic excellence and global engagement.
Hormuud University’s graduates have been accepted into a diverse array of developed and developing countries, each offering unique opportunities for academic enrichment, research innovation, and cultural exchange. These countries include:
• United Kingdom (UK
• China
• South Korea
• India
• Turkey
• Malaysia
• Russia
• Algeria
• Sudan
• Kenya
This extensive geographical spread reflects the university’s broad academic reach and the adaptability of its graduates in a global context. The continuous flow of graduates to these nations highlights Hormuud University’s role in fostering internationally competent professionals equipped with the skills, knowledge, and cultural awareness to contribute meaningfully to their home country and the wider world.
The university’s proactive partnerships, alumni networks, and support systems have played an essential role in facilitating these opportunities, ensuring students are well-prepared to meet the academic and cultural challenges of studying abroad.
UNIVERSITY PARTNERS
We recognize that collaborative partnerships provide unique opportunities for students to benefit from higher education, and learn the knowledge and skills required to equip them for the workplace.
Hormuud University is a member of the following international associations
• Association Of African Universities (AAU) Ghana
• Association of Arab Universities (AARU) Jordan
• International Union of universities (IUU) Turkey
• International Association of Universities (IAU) France
• Global University Network for Innovations (GUNi) Spain
• Hormuud University has signed MoU’s with a number of international institutions to collaborate on research and academic exchange. These include the following:
• University of Malaya, Malaysia
• Lincoln University College, Malaysia
• IUBAT, Bangladesh
• Khartoum University, Sudan
• Kto Karatay University, Turkey
• Konya Food and Agriculture University, Turkey
• Ankara University, Turkey
• Uludag University, Turkey
• Sharda University, India
• Lovely Professional University (LPU) India.
• Shenyang Aerospace University, China
• Dhurakij Pundit University, Thailand.
• Professional Evaluation Certification Board (PECB)
Hormuud University has ‘has collaborated with a number of local association institutions to collaborate on research and academic exchange. These include the following:
a. Somali Research & Education Network – SomaliREN
b. Association of Somali Universities – ASU
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Over the past 15 years, Hormuud University has established itself as one of Somalia’s leading institutions of higher learning, recognized for its commitment to academic excellence,innovation, and quality education. Since its establishment, the university has continually strived to provide an environment that fosters intellectual growth, research, and practical learning experiences that prepare students to become competent professionals and leaders in their respective fields.
A Legacy of Quality Education
Hormuud University has consistently demonstrated excellence in academic delivery, producing thousands of qualified and skilled graduates across a wide range of disciplines. The university’s rigorous academic programs, competent faculty, and well-structured curricula have ensured that graduates meet both national and international standards of higher education. Over the last 15 years, Hormuud University has become synonymous with academic integrity, quality instruction, and professional success.
Achievements in Core Disciplines
1. Faculty of Engineering
• Hormuud University stands out as one of the best universities in Somalia for engineering education.
• The Faculty of Engineering has produced a large number of graduates who are now working in key sectors of national development, including construction, energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications.
• The university’s strong emphasis on practical training, laboratory work, and industry collaboration has contributed to the development of highly competent engineers capable of solving real-world challenges.
2. Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology
• The Faculty of Computer science and IT has played a central role in advancing digital skills and technological literacy in Somalia.
• Through innovative programs in computer science, information systems, and software engineering, HormuudUniversity has become a hub for ICT education and innovation.
• Many graduates from the ICT department have gone on to become leading professionals, entrepreneurs, and developers in Somalia’s growing tech and telecommunications industries.
3. Faculty of Economics and Management science
o The Faculty of Economics and Management has contributed to building a generation of professionals equipped with analytical, managerial, and policy-making skills essential for economic growth and good governance.
o Graduates from this faculty are now working in financial institutions, government ministries, NGOs, and private enterprises, applying the knowledge gained at the university to drive sustainable development.
4. Faculty of Agriculture
o Recognizing the vital role of agriculture in Somalia’s economy, Hormuud University has made significant investments in agricultural education and research.
o The Faculty of Agriculture has produced graduates with expertise in modern farming techniques, agribusiness, and environmental management—key areas for ensuring food security and rural development.
5. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at HormuudUniversity plays a vital role in fostering critical thinking, effective communication, and social responsibility.
Through programs in International Relations, Mass Communication, and Public Relations, the faculty equips students with strong analytical and interpersonal skills essential for leadership and civic engagement.
Graduates from this faculty contribute significantly to Somalia’s social transformation, governance, education, and public service sectors.
6. Faculty of Geoscience and Environment
The Faculty of Geoscience and Environment is dedicated to advancing knowledge of the Earth’s natural systems and addressing critical environmental challenges facing Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. Students acquire expertise in geology, climate studies, water resource management, and environmental sustainability.
Graduates are actively contributing to environmental protection, natural resource management, and sustainable development initiatives that support national resilience and ecological balance.
7. Faculty of Sharia and Leadership
The Faculty of Sharia and Leadership integrate Islamic principles with modern governance and management practices. It prepares students to become ethical leaders, judges, administrators, and scholars who uphold justice, integrity, and social responsibility.
Through research and community engagement, the faculty strengthens the understanding of Sharia law in relation to national development and contemporary social issues.
Commitment to Academic Innovation
Over the years, Hormuud University has maintained its reputation by continuously improving its academic programs to align with emerging global trends and market needs. The introduction of new specializations, updated curricula, and advanced teaching methodologies reflects the university’s ongoing dedication to academic innovation.
Furthermore, the university has placed strong emphasis on research and community engagement, encouraging both students and faculty to conduct studies that address national challenges and contribute to knowledge creation.
IMPACT AND RECOGNITION
Hormuud University’s academic excellence has had a profound impact on Somalia’s educational landscape. Its graduates are highly regarded for their competence, professionalism, and ethical standards. The university’s reputation as the best institution for engineering and ICT education is a testament to its vision, leadership, and the collective effort of its academic community.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL IMPACT
Over the past 15 years, Hormuud University has made an extraordinary contribution to community development and social progress in Somalia through a wide range of scholarship programs, youth empowerment initiatives, and educational outreach efforts.
The university’s commitment to social responsibility has positioned it not only as a center of academic excellence but also as a leading institution dedicated to promoting equal access to higher education and nurturing the next generation of Somali leaders.
Empowering Somali Youth through Education
Hormuud University recognizes education as the cornerstone of national development and social transformation. To ensure that capable and ambitious Somali youth regardless of their financial background—have access to quality higher education, the university has implemented several fully funded scholarship programs.
These scholarships have enabled hundreds of students to pursue university degrees and contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation at large.
1. Entrance Examination Scholarship Program
Since its establishment, Hormuud University has offered the Entrance Exam Scholarship a flagship program designed to support high-achieving students who have recently graduated from Somali secondary schools.
• Each year, the university conducts an entrance examination to identify the most talented and deserving high school graduates.
• Students who attain top scores are awarded full scholarships, covering tuition and academic expenses until the completion of their undergraduate studies.
• This initiative has opened doors for hundreds of young people who might otherwise be unable to afford higher education, empowering them to transform their futures through learning. Through this program, HormuudUniversity continues to demonstrate its commitment to merit-based access and inclusive education, ensuring that talent and hard work are the primary criteria for university admission.
2. Faculty Performance Scholarship Program
In addition to the entrance scholarships, Hormuud University offers a Faculty Performance Scholarship that rewards academic excellence and encourages continuous student achievement.
• This scholarship is awarded annually to the top-performing student in each faculty based on their cumulative academic performance.
• The recipient enjoys a full one-year scholarship, covering tuition for the following academic year.
• If the student maintains their top position, they continue to receive the scholarship; however, if another student achieves higher performance, the award is passed to the new top performer.
•
This initiative promotes healthy academic competition and motivates students to maintain outstanding academic standards. It also reinforces the university’s culture of excellence and meritocracy across all faculties including Engineering, ICT, Economics, Geoscience and environment, arts and social science and Agriculture.
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Over the past 15 years, Hormuud University has achieved remarkable progress in institutional growth, campus expansion, and infrastructure development. From humble beginnings, the university has evolved into a modern, well-equipped institution of higher learning that provides an excellent academic environment for students, faculty, and researchers.
The university’s continuous investment in physical infrastructure, technology, and learning facilities reflects its long-term vision to provide quality education, conducive learning spaces, and state-of-the-art research resources that meetinternational standards.
Hormuud University currently operates three campuses, strategically located to serve its growing student population and to strengthen its academic presence in different regions. Each campus plays a distinct role in advancing the university’s mission and vision.
STUDENT AFFAIRS AND ALUMNI SUCCESS
Over the past 15 years, Hormuud University has prioritized the holistic development of its students—academically, socially, and professionally—while building a strong network of alumni who continue to make significant contributions to the university and the nation.
Employability and Career Opportunities for Graduates
One of the university’s most notable achievements over the past 15 years has been its commitment to graduate employability and career advancement. Hormuud University provides direct employment opportunities to its own graduates, reflecting confidence in the quality of its academic programs and the competence of its alumni.
• Many of the university’s current administrators, faculty members, lecturers, and office staff are proud graduates of Hormuud University.
• This internal recruitment policy not only strengthens institutional loyalty but also ensures continuity of academic excellence and knowledge transfer within the university community.
• By employing its own graduates, the university also provides valuable career paths for young professionals and reinforces the idea that education can lead directly to meaningful employment and leadership roles.
ALUMNI SUCCESS AND INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Hormuud University’s alumni network has grown steadily over the years, and its graduates are now serving in key positions within government, the private sector, and academia—both locally and internationally. The university’s continuous engagement with its alumni has built a community of professionals who embody the institution’s values of excellence, service, and integrity.
A major component of the university’s alumni success strategy involves supporting postgraduate education abroad:
• Hormuud University identifies and sponsors top-performing graduates to pursue Master’s and PhD programs at renowned international universities.
• These opportunities allow alumni to enhance their academic qualifications, gain global exposure, and bring back advanced knowledge and skills that contribute to national development.
• Upon completion of their postgraduate studies, many of these graduates rejoin Hormuud University as lecturers, researchers, or administrative leaders—playing a crucial role in the university’s academic and institutional advancement.
Israel Identifies Remains Returned by Hamas as Israeli Hostage
A Small Name Returned: Meny Godard and the Heavy Business of Remains
The coffin arrived like a punctuation mark — quiet, solemn, unavoidable. It was handed over in Gaza to the Israeli army and the Shin Bet, then taken north to Tel Aviv, where forensic experts began the work of turning bone and cloth back into a person with a life and a family. Israel has now confirmed that one of the last four hostages whose remains were returned is 73‑year‑old Meny Godard.
“We were told his identification has been completed,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said, and that is the merciless, bureaucratic language that sometimes must stand in for a family’s grief. In Tel Aviv, relatives braced themselves, not for the shock of a living body, but for the slow, private business of mourning someone whose fate had been decided far beyond their control.
“It’s impossible to describe this feeling,” said a neighbor who grew up with Godard in a small town outside the city. “You wait for a miracle and get a box. It doesn’t make sense. But at least now we know where he is. At least we can say goodbye properly.”
The corpse had been located in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, Hamas said at the time of handover, and the transfer was part of the US-brokered ceasefire terms signed almost as much to stop the killing as to secure the return of the living and the dead. At the beginning of that truce, the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad reportedly held 20 living hostages and 28 bodies. Since then, all living captives have been released and, until this most recent transfer, 24 sets of remains were returned.
Numbers become a strange sort of empathy when stacked like this: 20 living, 28 dead; 24 returned, one more today. Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange and returned the remains of hundreds of Palestinians killed during the conflict. These are not abstract figures. Each digit is a kitchen, a workplace, a synagogue or mosque, a photograph on a mantle.
Where bodies become bargaining chips
“This war has turned the most basic human rituals into currency,” said Dr. Leila Mansour, a scholar of conflict and memory. “The politics of bodies — who is allowed a proper burial, who is recognized as dead — this is a core part of the trauma that comes out of this war.” Her voice wavered between academic distance and a raw, human frustration. “When authorities negotiate over remains, the families end up caught between statecraft and mourning.”
For families, identification is a process of science and sorrow. For states and armed groups, the handover is one stage in a broader, often brutal calculus. Israel accuses Hamas of delay and obfuscation; Hamas answers that many bodies have been buried beneath two years of rubble and shifting lines of battle. The truth is both: war buries people twice, under debris and under layers of policy.
A brother of one captive, who asked not to be named, spoke of the moment the Red Cross handed over a single coffin. “I put my hand on the lid,” he said. “I thought of my mother—would she know how to accept this? We all want certainty. Even this limited closure is a small mercy.”
The Ceasefire, a Board of Peace, and Diplomatic Tightropes
Beyond the immediate grief, the handover of remains is tied to an ambitious diplomatic project that will now take center stage at the United Nations Security Council. The United States has pushed a draft resolution that goes far beyond the mechanics of returning bodies: it seeks to plant a new institutional apparatus over Gaza, endorsing what proponents call a transitional “Board of Peace” and authorizing an international stabilization force to help secure borders and decommission weapons.
The text — a third draft seen by diplomats — imagines a Board of Peace that would oversee Gaza until the end of 2027. It even tentatively gestures toward a future Palestinian state, on the condition that the Palestinian Authority enact reforms and reconstruction of Gaza proceeds. The U.S. framed the proposal as “a historic moment” to pave the way for peace; officials warned that hesitation could have “grave” consequences for civilians in Gaza.
“There’s a hunger for security and governance after years of war,” said a Western diplomat involved in the talks. “But people underestimate how hard it is to translate a resolution on paper into trust on the ground.”
The draft also proposes a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) that would operate with Israel, Egypt, and newly trained Palestinian police. Its mandate would include protecting civilians, securing humanitarian corridors, and the “permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups.” At the same time, diplomats are pushing back, asking who will oversee the overseers. The draft lacks a clear Security Council oversight mechanism; it leaves the future role of the Palestinian Authority murky and fails to fully map out the ISF’s chain of command and rules of engagement.
“We’re trying to build a peace architecture on still-shifting sand,” commented Rasha Qasim, a Gaza reconstruction specialist. “If people on the ground — the families, the local councils, even the fighters—see this as an external imposition, it won’t last. You need local legitimacy as well as international muscle.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Canada, expressed optimism that the resolution would be adopted. Yet optimism in diplomacy sometimes masks the deeper mistrust that lingers between actors whose interests diverge. Many Palestinians see the Trump-era proposal — and any body of oversight associated with it — as another chapter in external decisions made about their land and lives, not with them.
Numbers, rituals, and the human cost
- Hostages at start of truce: 20 living, 28 dead
- Remains returned so far (before this latest transfer): 24
- Prisoners released by Israel: nearly 2,000
When the diplomatic negotiations spill into the territory of the dead, the conversation becomes cruelly practical: which bodies are handed over first, who determines identity, how long does DNA testing take, who pays for repatriation? Each procedural decision contains an ethical weight.
And yet, in the communities touched by loss, rituals stubbornly persist. In Tel Aviv and in the villages outside Gaza, candles are lit; in Gaza, people still visit graves, leave stones and photographs. These small acts resist the violence that tried to strip away names.
What do we ask of diplomacy in moments like this? Is it enough to secure the return of a body, or must diplomacy do more — create conditions so such returns become unnecessary? Is peace the absence of blood, or the presence of institutions that respect the dead and protect the living?
Those questions will be argued not only in New York and Washington but in kitchen tables, in funeral homes, and in the narrow alleys of Gaza where people have kept living despite everything. For now, a 73‑year‑old man has been named; his family can begin the long, private work of remembrance. The larger, public work of turning fragile ceasefire into lasting safety remains, painfully, unfinished.
EU approves start of UK talks over agricultural and food trade
The Latest Reset: How Brussels and London Are Trying to Calm the Irish Sea
There are moments in diplomacy that hum quietly into being before they smash through the headlines — like the decision this week by European Union governments to let Brussels open formal talks with London on a shared sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area. It’s technical, it’s bureaucratic, and for communities from Cornwall to County Down, it could rewrite the everyday rhythm of markets, lorries and kitchens.
Think of the Irish Sea as a narrow, churning border where food, faith in rules and national pride collide. Since Britain left the EU, a major point of contention has been how food and plant products from Great Britain — which no longer automatically follow EU food safety, animal health and plant protection rules — can enter Northern Ireland without eroding the EU single market. The new mandate for the European Commission to negotiate an SPS agreement is an attempt to make that seam less frayed.
What’s on the Table — and Why It Matters
At its simplest, an SPS agreement would align Great Britain’s rules on animal and plant health with the EU’s. That alignment would mean fewer certificates, fewer delays and fewer physical checks on goods crossing between Great Britain and the EU — and, crucially, fewer headaches for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
“It’s about restoring trust in the process of moving food and plants so businesses aren’t stuck at ports for days,” says Dr. Aisling Murphy, a trade policy analyst who has worked with small exporters in Ireland and Scotland. “For a farmer selling chilled meat or a nursery exporting saplings, time and trust are everything.”
Reduced paperwork is more than convenience. For perishable goods — think seafood, dairy, fresh fruit — every hour in transit is shelf-life lost and income evaporated. For small businesses that live on tight margins, unpredictable border friction can be fatal. And for consumers in Belfast or Barcelona, it can mean higher prices and fewer choices.
Beyond Food: Emissions Trading and the SAFE Programme
Negotiations authorised by EU governments also include a willingness to explore linking emissions trading systems — a nod to climate policy and market integration — and further talks over UK participation in the SAFE programme, a €150 billion EU initiative designed to strengthen defence and industrial cooperation.
Access to SAFE has become a symbol of the wider reset: it isn’t only trade that’s at stake but security partnerships, research exchanges and cultural mobility. For both sides, the question is how to square sovereignty with the pragmatic benefits of cooperation.
Voices from the Ports and Markets
Walk the docks in Portsmouth or wander the early morning stalls in Belfast and you’ll hear the human side of these talks. “The vans used to be in and out in hours,” says Tom Doyle, a fishmonger in Newlyn, Cornwall. “Now you factor in paperwork and sometimes the catch is sold as something else entirely — it’s demoralising.”
On the other side of the sea, Mary O’Neill, who runs a greengrocer in Lisburn, says fewer checks would mean fresher goods and happier customers. “People don’t get excited about treaties — they care about their dinner,” she laughs. “If the cauliflower or the apples arrive on time, we’re all just glad.”
Truckers who ferry goods across the Irish Sea speak of increased waiting and complexity since the post-Brexit arrangements took effect. “We’re not fans of paperwork,” says Pavel, a Polish driver based in Holyhead. “But it’s the uncertainty that’s worst — sometimes you don’t know until you arrive what you’ll be asked for.”
Politics, Money and the Grand Bargain
Behind these practical complaints lie harder political questions. Some EU capitals — Paris has been most vocal — insist that if Britain wants the benefits of easier access, it should pay into common programmes like other non-EU members do. Norway and Switzerland, for instance, contribute financially in exchange for market access; the debate is whether London should follow a similar model.
For the UK government, the calculus is different. National sovereignty, political expectations from domestic constituencies and a desire to avoid long-term financial commitments complicate any bargain. The negotiations are therefore not simply about sanitary rules; they’re about money, influence and trust.
“Everything becomes a test case,” says Professor Martin Klein, an expert in international regulatory cooperation. “If a willing partner accepts close alignment without financial contribution, other members will ask why the rules are asymmetric. The EU wants a stable outcome that is seen as fair.”
What Could Change — and What Might Stay the Same
If talks succeed, businesses in both jurisdictions would likely benefit from reduced checks. The EU says that would remove the need for most certificates and controls on animals, plants and related products. For Northern Ireland, the Windsor Framework promises dual access to both the EU single market and the UK internal market — a unique arrangement that continues to require careful calibration.
- Potential gains: Lower costs for exporters, fewer delays at ports, smoother supply chains for perishable goods.
- Lingering issues: Political resistance over payment and governance, sector-specific sanitary concerns (e.g., livestock disease surveillance), and the technicalities of mutual recognition.
And even with an agreement, some checks — for biosecurity and consumer protection — are likely to remain. Harmonisation is rarely absolute; it’s a continuum of trust, inspections and data-sharing that must be maintained.
Wider Ripples: Sovereignty, Supply Chains and a Global Moment
Look beyond the Irish Sea and you see bigger currents. Across the globe, countries are wrestling with how to balance regulatory autonomy with the benefits of integration. From vaccine approvals to tech standards, the same questions surface: when do shared rules pay off, and when do they compromise national priorities?
There is also a climate angle. Linking emissions trading systems can help create larger, more liquid carbon markets, making decarbonisation cheaper and more efficient. In an era of cascading supply-chain shocks, the ability to coordinate standards — whether for health, food safety or emissions — becomes a form of resilience.
So What Should We Watch For?
Over the coming weeks and months, watch three things closely:
- How quickly negotiators translate the mandate into detailed text and timelines.
- Which sectors — dairy, meat, plant products — see specific carve-outs or swift progress.
- Whether a financial agreement or governance mechanism is proposed to address concerns from member states about fairness.
And ask yourself: do we want borders that are neat lines on a map, or systems that reflect the messy, interdependent reality of food, people and economies? The answer will determine whether this exercise in diplomacy is merely paper or the beginning of something more durable.
A Human Ending
At a market stall at dawn, a vendor folds a paper bag around an apple and hands it over with a smile. For them, for exporters and for consumers, the outcome of these talks is not an abstract win or loss — it’s the taste on a plate, the price on a shelf, the certainty that a business can plan for next season.
“We don’t care about the headline,” Mary says. “We care about the food.”
In the end, that simple truth — food connects us all — is what makes these negotiations more than mere technicalities. They are about how societies choose to keep their doors open to one another while protecting what matters most.
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