Event Co-sponsor
Contact
John Glenn School of Public Affairs
614-688-3206
glenn-events@osu.edu
African Solutions for African Problems
The ambassador will give a presentation that focuses on peace and security for Somalia, the role of the African union in Somalia and for the greater Africa.
About the Ambassador:
Ahmed Abdisalam Adan is currently the Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia, and the Permanent Representative of the AU (African Union), IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Draught) and the ECA (Economic Commission for Africa). Ambassador Ahmed is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ambassador Ahmed served as the former Minister of National Security in 2010, and as a Deputy-Primer Minister and Minister of Information, Youth & Sports for the Transitional Government of Somalia in 2008-9. In this capcity, Mr. Adan was instrumental to the Djibouti Peace Process that facilitated reconciliation between the transitional g
overnment (TFG) and the rival armed insurgency (ARS), as the leader of the government negotiating team. The Djibouti Agreement laid the foundation for the current Federal Government of Somalia.
In 1999, Mr. Adan co-founded the first independent broadcast media 'HornAfrik Media Inc." in Mogadishu, Somalia. HornAfrik's growing public support attracted global recognition including 2002 CJFE Press Freedom Award for its work in the face of adversity. After decade long operation, HornAfrik became victim to the incessant violence, lawlessness and extremism in Somalia and was shut down by Al-Shabaab insurgents in 2010, following targeted assassinations of a number of its journalists and management, including one of the co-founders.
In 2001, Mr. Adan co-founded the Centre for Research & Dialogue (CRD), an independent national research centre based in Mogadishu, Somalia and served as its first Director from 2001 to 2002.
In 1990, Mr. Adan settled in Canada and started working for the city of Ottawa assuming various responsibilities as a social worker, counselor, and Manager of Employment Center for the next 10 years. In the 1980s, Mr. Adan worked for the Somali Government in various capacities including the Director of the Higher Education Department from 1987-1989.
Mr. Adan earn an M.A. degree (Social Research) from the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK in 1987 and MSW (Social Policy) from McMaster University, Canada in 1986. In 1981, Mr. Adan completed his B.A. from the Somali National University, Somalia.