Gulaid Yusuf Idaan is a distinguished senior lecturer, researcher, policy analyst, and youth activist based in Somaliland, with extensive expertise in international law, diplomacy, governance, and the geopolitics of the Horn of Africa. He operates at the intersection of academia, policy, and state-building, with a focus on international recognition, sovereignty, regional security, and strategic diplomacy.
Gulaid holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Arts in International Law & Diplomacy, a Master of Arts in International Relations from HSE University Online, a Master of Science in Project Management & Planning, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), and a Bachelor of Science in Education, complemented by a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. His multidisciplinary academic foundation combines legal studies, governance, pedagogy, and strategic planning, enabling him to bridge scholarly research with practical policy implementation.
As a senior lecturer, Gulaid teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in International Relations, Public International Law, Global Governance, Conflict Resolution, and Foreign Policy Analysis at universities in Somaliland. He has supervised numerous dissertations and contributed to curriculum development to strengthen legal, diplomatic, and governance education.
Gulaid is a prolific researcher and writer whose work spans diplomacy, international law, state recognition, sovereignty, regional security, and Red Sea geopolitics. His publications include The Politics of Recognition Beyond International Law: Comparative Analysis of Somaliland and Kosovo in the International System (Horn of Africa Peace & Strategic Institute), Somaliland’s Quest for International Recognition: Legal and Political Perspectives (Modern Diplomacy), Red Sea Geopolitics and Strategic Maritime Policy in the Horn of Africa (HornDiplomat), Diplomatic Discourse Analysis: Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia at the United Nations (Addis Standard), State Sovereignty and Regional Security in the Horn of Africa: Challenges and Opportunities (AllAfrica.com), and Somaliland’s Role in Regional Stability and International Diplomacy (Saxafi Media).
Beyond academia, Gulaid is a dedicated youth activist committed to the mobilization and empowerment of young people across the Horn of Africa. He has served in leadership roles including Administration Officer, Human Rights Network Coordinator, Vice Chairman of the Somaliland National Youth Umbrella (SONYO), and Executive Director of the Somaliland Women Development Association (SOWDA), with a focus on youth and women’s development. He is actively involved in networks such as the Youth Action Network, Global Youth Coalition on HIV and AIDS, Arab Youth Alliance, World Youth Alliance, World Youth Council, United Youth Google Group, World Youth Employment Summit, and currently serves as Wake-Up Somalia Coordinator.
Gulaid also possesses extensive project management experience, overseeing initiatives from inception to completion to ensure timely and successful delivery. He has advised governmental and non-governmental organizations on governance, youth engagement, policy formulation, and strategic planning. His career reflects a unique integration of scholarship, practical diplomacy, youth leadership, and social development. Through research, teaching, publications, public speaking, and civic engagement, he advances informed dialogue, promotes regional cooperation, strengthens Somaliland’s voice in international forums, and empowers the next generation of leaders in the Horn of Africa.
