Earlier this year Mohamed Ali was reminded once again of the dangers of living and working in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Islamist militants attacked the presidential compound on 22 February, when his father was praying inside its mosque. Mr Ali’s dad escaped injury, but nine others were killed. "It was a very emotional moment," says …
Mohamed Ali is a young Somali American with a mission to help youth in Somalia steer clear of extremist groups. Ali was born in Mogadishu, but when he was 10, as Somalia was grappling with a civil war, he and his family left for Canada. They finally settled in the US. Ali attended Ohio State …
Captain Phillips is a cinematic feat of suspense: masterfully directed, superbly acted and beautifully executed. It is a thrilling and compelling ride into a harrowing journey through the pirate infested waters of Somalia. It also happens to be a superficial exercise. The tragic story of Somali piracy is turned into a pantomime. The pirates of …
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2WVmPS2bCNo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are …
Editor's note: Mohamed Ali is the founder of the Iftiin Foundation, an organization that incubates social entrepreneurs and young leaders to encourage innovation in Somalia. He is also a New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute. The views expressed are his own. As new footage emerges of gunmen chatting on cell phones and praying during …