Jamal Abdi
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Articles by Jamal Abdi
How Can Dems Persuade Wary Voters They Will Really End the Iran War?
The war on Iran—and the economic toll that President Donald Trump’s decision has taken on all aspects of Americans’ lives—is now the top issue on the campaign trail heading into November. Should Democrats take majorities in the House and Senate, they will have an unmistakable mandate to end the war. Yet many voters I talk to remain skeptical that a Democratic Congress would actually have the will and capability to stand up to Trump and force an end to the war. This is despite Rep.
The myth of Somali “Arabisation”
An emerging online discourse has taken shape around Somali culture, Arab and Islamic influence, and the extent to which these forces are alleged to have contributed to the erosion of an ostensibly authentic Somali identity. In recent months, social media feeds have become increasingly saturated with videos by young Somalis, many of them living in the West, warning against what they describe as the “Arabisation” of Somali culture.
Recognition at what price? Somaliland’s soft power after Israel’s recognition
On 26 December 2025, Israel became the first United Nations member state to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, leading to widespread jubilation. Images of Somalilanders celebrating with the flags of Israel and Somaliland side by side were broadcasted by international media, bringing Somaliland to the attention of global audiences. For Somalilanders, Israel’s move towards recognition was long overdue, and the prevailing sentiment was that 34 years of political wilderness had come to an end.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland creates a diplomatic quandary
Viewpoint Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi with Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu. © Somaliland Presidency Published on August 11, 2026 at 07:00 am (GMT +1) On 26 December 2025, Israel became the first United Nations member state to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state. Images of Somalilanders celebrating with the flags of Israel and Somaliland side by side were broadcast by international media, bringing Somaliland to the attention of global audiences.
Opinion – Is Somaliland Defying the Odds, or Are the Odds Based on a Flawed Premise?
*Originally published in 2024 and preserved as part of our archive project.Get E-International Relations delivered to your inbox, free of charge. As you sign up, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our work. Since Somaliland unilaterally declared independence in May 1991, the unrecognized state has established a democratic track record which only a few countries in the developing world can match.
The Forever Spoiler: Netanyahu Has Been Blowing Up Diplomacy With Iran for Decades
The ceasefire announced Tuesday night by President Donald Trump and confirmed by Iranian officials is on life support. If Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gets his way, it may soon be dead. Over the first 36 hours of the supposed ceasefire, hundreds have been killed and thousands injured in Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
The Forever Spoiler: Netanyahu Has Been Blowing Up Diplomacy With Iran for Decades
The threat came after Pope Leo XIV delivered his State of the World speech, in which he urged world leaders to lay down their weapons and choose …
No, Iranian Americans Don’t Support This War
In 2002, Iraqi exiles led by Ahmad Chalabi helped sell George W. Bush’s catastrophic war on Iraq. Today, as Donald Trump follows in Bush’s footsteps in Iran, a similar question looms: where do Iranian Americans stand? In new polling conducted one month into the war on Iran by Zogby Analytics and commissioned by my organization, the National Iranian American Council, there is a clear answer: Iranian Americans overwhelmingly oppose this war.
No, Iranian Americans Don’t Support This War
In 2002, Iraqi exiles led by Ahmad Chalabi helped sell George W. Bush’s catastrophic war on Iraq. Today, as Donald Trump follows in Bush’s footsteps in Iran, a similar question looms: where do Iranian Americans stand? In new polling conducted one month into the war on Iran by Zogby Analytics and commissioned by my organization, the National Iranian American Council, there is a clear answer: Iranian Americans overwhelmingly oppose this war.
Inside the Iran War Industry
February 19, 2026 Inside the Iran War Industry Using an old playbook with powerful new tools, it may be closer than ever to turning a US–Iran war into reality.
South Africa criticize U.S. capture of Maduro at UN
South Africa criticized the United States during a UN Security Council meeting following a U.S. military operation that resulted in the “capture” of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and their transfer to the United States. South Africa described the operation as a violation of the UN Charter and the principle of state sovereignty.
UAE, Ethiopia call for Sudan ceasefire
Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their strategic partnership following high-level bilateral talks held in Addis Ababa, during a working visit by UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan. According to a statement issued by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions focused on strengthening long-standing ties between the two countries while reviewing key peace and security developments in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Sudanese army says it thwarted RSF Drone attack on Merowe dam
Sudan’s armed forces announced on Monday that they had intercepted multiple explosive drones targeting the Merowe Dam and nearby military installations in the country’s north. In a statement, the army’s 19th Infantry Division said its air defense systems successfully downed drones launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Trump’s minerals gamble in Africa
The U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump is moving on multiple tracks to accelerate access to critical minerals, which are central to the energy, technology, and defense industries, amid intense competition with China over global supply chains, particularly in Africa, which holds some of the world’s largest strategic reserves.
Recognition in the shadow of Gaza
In the late hours of the evening of 26 December, shortly after Israel’s announcement recognising Somaliland, images of jubilation rapidly flooded social media platforms. Footage from Burco and Hargeisa captured dense crowds occupying public streets, Somaliland flags raised high, while Israeli flags -- digitally imposed onto walls and public spaces -- served as potent symbols of an imagined political arrival.
SAF-RSF clashes intensifies across Kordofan and Darfur
Since the beginning of January 2026, Sudan has witnessed an intensified continuation of military operations between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accompanied by a clear shift in the center of military gravity toward the peripheral regions, particularly Kordofan and parts of Darfur. These battlefield developments have coincided with an official political discourse emphasizing military decisiveness while maintaining a narrow window for political pathways.
Somalia mobilizes allies after Israel’s Somaliland recognition
Somalia’s president has embarked on an intensive diplomatic tour following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a move that triggered widespread condemnation and prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud first traveled to Djibouti, where he met with President Ismail Omar Guelleh.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland: A turning point in the Horn of Africa Original
Upon gaining independence from British colonial rule on 26 June 1960, Somaliland received full recognition from 35 states, including all permanent members of the UN Security Council. On 1 July 1960, it merged with Italian Somalia. After a decade-long armed struggle, Somaliland withdrew from the union and unilaterally restored its sovereignty.
Opinion - Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland
Upon gaining independence from British colonial rule on 26 June 1960, Somaliland received full recognition from 35 states, including all permanent members of the UN Security Council. On 1 July 1960, it merged with Italian Somalia. After a decade-long armed struggle, Somaliland withdrew from the union and unilaterally restored its sovereignty.
Iranian Americans are demanding peace, not war Original
Iranian Americans are still reeling from Israel’s attack on Iran in June. For 12 days, we were frantically trying to reach our loved ones across Iran hoping that Israeli attacks would not kill our families as they fled cities, spurred on by cryptic social media threats from President Trump. Ultimately, more than a thousand Iranians were killed, most of them civilians, and it is likely that Israeli and American bombs will soon fall again if there is no diplomatic settlement.
How Biden Is to Blame for Israel and the U.S.’s 12-Day War Against Iran
Almost exactly 10 years ago, as the U.S. was the cusp of sealing a historic agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program, Barack Obama offered a warning to those who were working to tank the accord: “Let’s not mince words: The choice we face is ultimately between diplomacy and some form of war — maybe not tomorrow, maybe not three months from now, but soon.” Obama struck the deal in 2015, but less than three years later, during President Donald Trump’s first term, the U.S. unilaterally violated...
Opinion - Polarisation and Collective Action: The EU at a Crossroads
Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his administration’s handling of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, thus far, have affirmed rather than revealed the structural challenges facing the EU in positioning itself as a serious actor on the International political stage. In an increasingly multipolar world, characterized by realpolitik, efficient decision-making capability is more important than ever. Herein lies an implacable challenge for the EU.
Opinion – Polarisation and Collective Action: The EU at a Crossroads - Jamal Abdi
Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his administration’s handling of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, thus far, have affirmed rather than revealed the structural challenges facing the EU in positioning itself as a serious actor on the International political stage. In an increasingly multipolar world, characterized by realpolitik, efficient decision-making capability is more important than ever. Herein lies an implacable challenge for the EU.
Towards A Proper Understanding Of Somaliland’s Success
The complete piece is as follows: Towards a Proper Understanding of Somaliland’s Success On 17 December 2023, in a piece I published on E-International Relations, I argued that self-led peace and state-making in Somaliland, achieved through voluntary cooperation among communities that had fought on opposing sides of the Somali civil war, is irreconcilable with colonial interpretations and characterizations of Somali culture and society as pioneered by British anthropologist I.M. Lewis.
Towards a Proper Understanding of Somaliland’s Success
On 17 December 2023, in a piece I published on E-International Relations, I argued that self-led peace and state-making in Somaliland, achieved through voluntary cooperation among communities that had fought on opposing sides of the Somali civil war, is irreconcilable with colonial interpretations and characterizations of Somali culture and society as pioneered by British anthropologist I.M. Lewis.
Opinion - Is Somaliland Defying the Odds, or Are the Odds Based on a Flawed Premise?
Dec 17 2024 • 445 Since Somaliland unilaterally declared independence in May 1991, the unrecognized state has established a democratic track record which only a few countries in the developing world can match. On November 13, 2024, Somalilanders cast their votes at two thousand polling stations across the country.
Can Trump seal a deal with Iran?
Maybe Donald Trump really will be an anti-war president in his second term. Trump donor and adviser Elon Musk reportedly meeting Iranian officials with the aim of defusing tensions could be a sign that the once and future president may truly buck the neocons and interventionists who have dogged Republican and Democratic efforts to engage Iran and kept the U.S. bogged down in conflicts in the Middle East for a generation. However, the efforts to stop such diplomacy from happening will be fierce.
Americans must unite to reject 21st Century ‘alien land laws’
Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that drew from some of the worst impulses and harmful moments in American history, and was a direct echo of discriminatory “alien land laws” that targeted individuals based on their ancestral country. Under the law, foreign nationals who are domiciled in a “foreign country of concern” — including Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria — will be restricted from purchasing land in many parts of the state.
Debating Somaliland – Lack Of Recognition And Conflict | Saxafi Media
That the conflict in Las Anod is driven by external engagement and foreign aid remains an untenable contention, devoid of evidence. Read Jamal Abdi’s latest piece ‘Debating Somaliland – lack of Recognition and Conflict’ Continuing our discussion of Somaliland, Jamal Abdi argues that the country is an unrecognized state, operating in the shadows of international relations. The country has never been eligible for direct foreign aid.
Debating Somaliland – lack of recognition and conflict - ROAPE
Continuing our discussion of Somaliland, Jamal Abdi argues that the country is an unrecognized state, operating in the shadows of international relations. The country has never been eligible for direct foreign aid. Abdi argues that the recent conflict is caused, in part, by lack of economic development in eastern Somaliland. As a result, the so-called international community bears considerable responsibility for the conflict.
A successful energy transition needs circular strategies
A successful energy transition needs circular strategies - Friends of Europe
From countering disinformation to cognitive self-determination
From countering disinformation to cognitive self-determination - Friends of Europe
Brexit re-visited: How welcoming should the EU be?
Brexit re-visited: How welcoming should the EU be? - Friends of Europe
Hydrogen production? Yes, but what is in it for each of us?
Hydrogen production? Yes, but what is in it for each of us? - Friends of Europe
Somalia: Conflict in Somaliland - Beyond the Clannism Convention
Debating Ideas aims to reflect the values and editorial ethos of the African Arguments book series, publishing engaged, often radical, scholarship, original and activist writing from within the African continent and beyond. It offers debates and engagements, contexts and controversies, and reviews and responses flowing from the African Arguments books. Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
We Iranian Americans must meet this moment for Iranians demanding freedom
For we Iranian Americans the past few weeks have one hand really inspiring and hopeful - the women from across Iranian society refusing the mandatory hijab and turning that CHOICE into an act of liberation and revolution that strikes fear in the heart of an oppressive regime. On the other hand, its scary - these women are leading a movement to confront a system that was designed - above all else - for one thing and that's its own self preservation by all means necessary no matter how grotesque.
Why Biden should ignore the latest move to halt diplomacy with Iran – Responsible Statecraft
A new letter from Senate Republicans once again displays the bankruptcy of ‘maximum pressure.’ In the midst of the latest round of horrific violence between Israelis and Palestinians that has left scores dead and threatens to expand into a Gaza ground war and even a civil war within Israel, hawks here in the United States see an opportunity to kill any diplomatic breakthrough with Iran and throughout the Middle East. Sen.
Local businessmen mischief could jeopardise ongoing Somaliland, Somalia peace talks
Forces within Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s government have turned to unscrupulous businessmen to pile pressure on Somaliland in accepting reunification with Somalia. Some of the agencies said to be blackmailing President Muse Bihi Abdi include local agents of international airlines, whose licenses to operate in Somaliland were revoked for yielding to pressure from Mogadishu to suspend operation in Somaliland during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
Ph.d.-studerende: Hvis Biden skal vinde over Trump, kræver det to konkrete ting
Det er helt afgørende, at demokraterne lærer af de fejl, der kostede Hillary Clinton sejren. I 2016 tabte Clinton, fordi hun begik to afgørende fejl. Der er ikke oplæsning af denne artikel, så den oplæses derfor med maskinstemme. Kontakt os gerne på automatiskoplaesning@pol.dk, hvis du hører ord, hvis udtale kan forbedres. Du kan også hjælpe ved at udfylde spørgeskemaet herunder, hvor vi spørger, hvordan du har oplevet den automatiske oplæsning. Spørgeskema om automatisk oplæsning Debat 20. aug.
Ph.d.-studerende: Hvis Biden skal vinde over Trump, kræver det to konkrete ting
Det er helt afgørende, at demokraterne lærer af de fejl, der kostede Hillary Clinton sejren. I 2016 tabte Clinton, fordi hun begik to afgørende fejl. Der er ikke oplæsning af denne artikel, så den oplæses derfor med maskinstemme. Kontakt os gerne på automatiskoplaesning@pol.dk, hvis du hører ord, hvis udtale kan forbedres. Du kan også hjælpe ved at udfylde spørgeskemaet herunder, hvor vi spørger, hvordan du har oplevet den automatiske oplæsning. Spørgeskema om automatisk oplæsning Debat 20. aug.
It’s Official: NIAC Action Endorses Joe Biden for President
Our members have spoken: by a margin of 85%, NIAC Action members have voted to endorse Joe Biden for President! Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We have never endorsed in a presidential election before, instead focusing our efforts on Congressional races and Iranian-American candidates. But this year, the stakes are too high and the differences at the top of the ballot are too stark for the largest grassroots Iranian-American organization not to pick a side.
New IAEA resolution signals more uncertainty for the Iran nuclear accord's future - Responsible Statecraft
Photo credit: Gabriel Petrescu / Shutterstock.com The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors passed a resolution on June 20 calling on Iran to cooperate with an agency investigation into possible undeclared nuclear materials and activities.
Biden can reverse Trump's failures on Iran - Responsible Statecraft
Photo credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com In 2017, Donald Trump inherited a better position on Iran than any U.S. President over the last four decades, with Iran’s nuclear program restrained and an opportunity to build on a historic diplomatic accord. More than two years after Trump threw out the successful diplomatic playbook in favor of so-called “maximum pressure,” it is clear that a Biden administration would inherit a far worse scenario.
Biden Can Reverse Trump’s Failures on Iran
In 2017, Donald Trump inherited a better position on Iran than any U.S. President over the last four decades, with Iran’s nuclear program restrained and an opportunity to build on a historic diplomatic accord. More than two years after Trump threw out the successful diplomatic playbook in favor of so-called “maximum pressure,” it is clear that a Biden administration would inherit a far worse scenario.
Will Joe Biden Go Back to the Iran Deal?
Former Vice President Joe Biden’s foreign policy advisor said that a future Biden administration would return to the 2015 deal with Iran if the Iranian government did the same. Biden, the Democratic nominee for President, has increasingly signaled that he wants to renegotiate the international agreement with Iran. Anthony Blinken, one of Biden’s top advisors, acknowledged twice this week that the United States would have to rejoin the original deal before asking for a new one.
Could Trump and Iran Agree on a Nuclear Deal 2.0?
Jamal Abdi, The National Interest February 10, 2020 A revitalized JCPOA would be no magic wand but, if actually implemented, would begin to free Iranians from their twin pressures, dramatically improve life in Iran on many fronts, and begin to address the more fundamental issues at the core of many Iranians' day to day frustrations. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments
Could Trump and Iran Agree on a JCPOA 2.0?
As policymakers grapple with both the hangover of a near-war with Iran and the implications of recent anti-government demonstrations by Iranians, "standing with the Iranian people" is back in vogue in Washington. It is also front of mind for many Iranian Americans who are cautiously relieved that the imminent threat of war seems to be on pause but who are still anxious about the plight of our families inside Iran.
Could Trump and Iran Agree on a JCPOA 2.0?
As policymakers grapple with both the hangover of a near-war with Iran and the implications of recent anti-government demonstrations by Iranians, "standing with the Iranian people" is back in vogue in Washington. It is also front of mind for many Iranian Americans who are cautiously relieved that the imminent threat of war seems to be on pause but who are still anxious about the plight of our families inside Iran.
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