Empower

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), backed by the United Nations, has launched a nationwide labor rights education campaign to turn Somalia’s first comprehensive Labour Code reform in 52 years into real protections in workplaces across the country. The newly adopted Labour Code was crafted through sustained tripartite dialogue among the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA), the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and FESTU, with technical and financial…

From Flight to Fight: Ramla Ali’s return to Kenya turns advocacy into action A champion steps back into a familiar story On a bright morning in Nairobi’s Dandora neighborhood, Ramla Ali pulled on gloves—this time not for sparring, but to sort plastic and cardboard alongside dozens of women in a community recycling yard. The Somali-born boxer, model, and UNICEF ambassador moved quickly along the line, measuring, weighing, and bagging materials that would help turn a day’s work into a day’s pay for refugee mothers. Kids…

Morocco's Bold Investment in Health and Education: A Hopeful Path for Reform In a significant stride towards modernization, Morocco has unveiled plans to invest 140 billion dirhams—approximately $14 billion—into its education and health sectors in the coming year. Announced at a ministerial meeting chaired by King Mohammed VI in Rabat, this initiative aims to address long-standing issues in these critical areas, marking a substantial commitment to improving the nation's infrastructure and workforce. A Boost to Health…

Mariam Mohamed is the brilliant mind behind Hoyo, one of the lucky dozen startups chosen for 2024 microgrants awarded by the benevolent Market Entry Fund. You might have bumped into her on October 1, 2024, bustling around Hoyo's hustle-and-bustle Bloomington spot. Cheers to Dymanh Chhoun and Sahan Journal for shining a spotlight on this! In Somali language, "Hoyo" translates to the word “mother.” Back in 2015, the Mohamed sisters, including Mariam, Halima, and Asha, thought of a grand plan. They decided to put Somali…

A hundred munitions, allegedly including American-made 2,000-pound bombs, were unleashed by the Israeli air force in a colossal air assault on Friday night. The target? Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, holed up in an underground bunker in Dahieh, a suburb in southern Beirut.Nasrallah, notorious for his near-paranoid security measures, seldom ventured into public view. He barely gave a nod to his impending journey for this fateful meeting, but Israeli intelligence was so deep-rooted within Hezbollah that they knew exactly…