Hormuud Salaam Foundation Engages in African Displacement Forum in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya — Amidst a bustling city known for its vibrant culture and bustling streets, Nairobi recently played host to a significant gathering. Leaders from across Africa, including government officials, international organizations, and industry front-runners, congregated with a singular vision: to ameliorate conditions for the continent’s displaced and refugee communities.

The African Displacement and Refugee Forum, which unfolded from April 28–30, was orchestrated by the Amahoro Coalition, with the esteemed backing of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). It served as a melting pot of ideas, drawing delegates from all corners of the continent to forge sustainable solutions for those affected by internal displacement and refugee crises.

In the spotlight was Somalia’s Hormuud Salaam Foundation (HSF), lauded for its unwavering dedication to alleviating the plight of Somalia’s displaced. The narrative of homes shattered and lives derailed resonated deeply, prompting a collective insight into severe needs — most notably, the urgent requirement for permanent housing.

Reflecting on a pivotal moment from November 2024, the narrative took attendees back to a forum in Geneva. Here, Abdullahi Osman, CEO of the Hormuud Salaam Foundation, unveiled a landmark initiative. With a bold step forward, HSF committed to a land donation valued at a staggering $7 million, aimed at resettling 10,000 families uprooted by conflict, environmental degradation, and unforgiving climate change.

Esteemed as a model of private sector engagement, this generous contribution was showcased in Nairobi. Imagine the scene: a video presentation capturing the audience’s attention, drawing applause from a diverse assembly of donors, aid workers, and private sector stalwarts.

“Hormuud Salaam Foundation, as the largest humanitarian foundation in Somalia, plays a vital role in responding to displacement,” stated the Foundation Chairman, Abdullahi Nur Osman. He elaborated, “Our parent company, Hormuud Telecom, facilitates the distribution of financial aid through mobile money [EVCPlus], ensuring displaced families receive timely support. This has profoundly bolstered their livelihoods and positively influenced Somalia’s economy.”

Such initiatives do not exist in isolation. Participants of the forum took to the field, visiting Kenya’s Kakuma camp, an experience designed to bring the harsh realities faced by displaced populations to life — something no document or statistic can fully convey.

Zahro Abdi, Director General of Somalia’s Center for Rural Development and Durable Solutions, illustrated the forum’s broader discussions. “Nearly 4 million people in Somalia live as internally displaced persons,” Abdi explained. “We explored how private enterprises can indeed be architects of solutions — extending beyond mere livelihood support to actual land contributions for resettlement.”

The dialogue didn’t stop there. Attendees eagerly dissected practical strategies, aiming to help displaced families transition from dependency to self-sufficiency on lands donated by HSF. Isn’t it remarkable when the conversation transcends beyond mere theoretical frameworks to tangible, actionable insights?

Throughout the forum, one theme emerged: partnerships hold the key to confronting the escalating displacement crisis in Africa. Hormuud Salaam Foundation stands as a testament to this, reaffirming its commitment, under the heightened responsibility lens of Hormuud Telecom and Salaam Somali Bank, to assist Somalia’s most vulnerable communities.

This narrative doesn’t merely recount events; it poses a challenge to us all: How do we, as a global community, contribute to shaping a world where displacement is met with empathy and action, not apathy?

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring