Asha Ahmed Abdalla
Encyclopedia
Asha Ahmed Abdalla is a Somali
political figure. She is member of the Transitional Federal Government
of Somalia
's legislative branch, and is a veteran politician representing the northern Sanaag
constituency.
region of Somalia. She spent her early childhood in Yemen
, and returned to Somalia in the late 1960s.
Abdalla later moved to the United States
to pursue higher studies, graduating from La Guardia College in New York
. She holds dual Somali and American citizenship.
. Because of her pivotal role in the talks, she was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Transitional National Government
(TNG).
Abdalla was subsequently appointed to various ministerial positions in the TNG. The latter include Minister for Demobilisation, Disarmament, Reintegration and Disabled Care, and Deputy Minister of Labor and Sports.
In 2004, Abdalla was also among the 275 Somalian delegates who convened to form the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) of Somalia.
That same year, she made a run for Somalia's presidency, making her the first woman in the country's history to do so. On account of low votes, Abdalla was eliminated in the first round of the elections, which were held during the peace talks.
As of 2011, she is a member of the Transitional Federal Parliament
(TFP).
In addition, Abdalla is the founder of the Community Sustaining Development Organization, an initiative committed to assisting in post-conflict rehabilitation efforts through humanitarian services and developmental activities.
In 2011, Abdalla was also among several female political activists selected to participate in the Nobel Peace Prize
multi-national panel Women’s Political Leadership: In peace and conflict.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
political figure. She is member of the Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
's legislative branch, and is a veteran politician representing the northern Sanaag
Sanaag
Sanaag is an administrative region in northern Somalia. Its capital city is Erigavo.Sanaag has a long coastline facing the Gulf of Aden to the north, and is bordered by the Somali regions of Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sool and Bari....
constituency.
Biography
Abdalla was born in 1958 in the town of Erigavo, situated in the northern SanaagSanaag
Sanaag is an administrative region in northern Somalia. Its capital city is Erigavo.Sanaag has a long coastline facing the Gulf of Aden to the north, and is bordered by the Somali regions of Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sool and Bari....
region of Somalia. She spent her early childhood in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, and returned to Somalia in the late 1960s.
Abdalla later moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to pursue higher studies, graduating from La Guardia College in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She holds dual Somali and American citizenship.
Political career
In 2000, Abdalla attended the peace conference on Somalia held in Arta, DjiboutiArta, Djibouti
Arta is a city located in southeastern Djibouti.-Overview:The town is connected by National Highway 4.In 2000, peace talks between various factions of the Somali Civil War were held in Arta, resulting in the establishment of the Transitional National Government of Somalia.-References:*...
. Because of her pivotal role in the talks, she was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Transitional National Government
Transitional National Government
The Transitional National Government of Somalia was established in April–May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Djibouti....
(TNG).
Abdalla was subsequently appointed to various ministerial positions in the TNG. The latter include Minister for Demobilisation, Disarmament, Reintegration and Disabled Care, and Deputy Minister of Labor and Sports.
In 2004, Abdalla was also among the 275 Somalian delegates who convened to form the Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
(TFG) of Somalia.
That same year, she made a run for Somalia's presidency, making her the first woman in the country's history to do so. On account of low votes, Abdalla was eliminated in the first round of the elections, which were held during the peace talks.
As of 2011, she is a member of the Transitional Federal Parliament
Transitional Federal Parliament
The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic is an interim Parliament of Somalia formed in neighboring Kenya in 2004.The Transitional Federal Parliament has 550 members representing Somalia's clans, Islamist opposition, representatives of citizens' groups and the Somali...
(TFP).
Activism
Abdalla has participated in numerous conferences on community development, peace building and humanitarianism. As the head of the Somali Women`s Parliamentarian Association, she travels globally to promote stability and civil society forums, particularly women's issues. Her campaign slogan is "Give Somalia a Mother’s Nurturing", and empowering women stands at number 10 in her 12-point agenda for the country.In addition, Abdalla is the founder of the Community Sustaining Development Organization, an initiative committed to assisting in post-conflict rehabilitation efforts through humanitarian services and developmental activities.
In 2011, Abdalla was also among several female political activists selected to participate in the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
multi-national panel Women’s Political Leadership: In peace and conflict.