Following Somalia’s economic recovery from the civil conflicts of the 1990s and 2000s, the khat trade has become a prominent source of tax revenue, particularly in Galkayo, an important regional hub for commerce between southern/central Somalia and the Port…
RVI publishes books, research reports, research papers, briefings and meeting reports in a range of formats. Publications cover policy, research, arts, culture and local knowledge in the countries of eastern and central Africa. Research publications—books, reports and papers—are peer-reviewed. Some RVI publications are also available in French and/or Arabic.
The RVI is a signatory of the Budapest Open Access Initiative (2001); all publications are free for download in PDF format under Creative Commons licences. The views expressed in books and reports published by the RVI are those of the authors, not the Institute.
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- By Ahmed M. Musa
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This blog is the first in a series published by the Rift Valley Institute to help understand the causes of the drought-related crisis in the Somali regions of the Horn of Africa. It is a product of the UK government’s…
The global Somali diaspora numbers two million people that live outside the Somali regions of the Horn of Africa. The strong links that diaspora populations maintain with the Somali regions—engaging multifariously in the spheres of development, politics, and economy—exert a…
With an estimated two million people of Somali descent living outside Somalia—the ‘Somali diaspora’—an understanding of migration and transnational practices is crucial for grasping Somali society. Mobility and mobile livelihoods have been important aspects of Somali life for centuries….
This briefing considers the changing political situation in Sudan with a particular focus on the future of the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA) and the evolving political and security dynamics in Darfur. It is the second of a series of…
بدأت أهمية دول الخليج، ولا سيما السعودية، والإمارات، وقطر، في شؤون دول القرن الأفريقي تتزايد منذ عام 2015 تقريبًأ. كما عززت تركيا من وجودها في المنطقة منذ أن اتخذت خيارًا سياسيًا قبل ما يقرب من عقدين بـ”الانفتاح على…
Warbixintan waxa ay taxliilineysaa qaabka ragga da’da yar ee ku nool Hargeysa—caasimadda jamhuuriyadda madax-bannaanida ku dhawaaqday ee Soomaaliland—ay u isticmaalaan madallada baraha bulshada iyo kuwa dijitaalka ah si ay uga helaan fursado shaqo iyo kuwo dhaqaale, iyo sidoo…
Online and social media connectivity has increased rapidly across cities in the Horn of Africa, particularly amongst younger generations. Taking the post-conflict city of Hargeisa—capital of the de facto independent Republic of Somaliland—as its starting point, this report focuses…
This briefing paper–part of a larger report–was commissioned by Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) with the aim of conducting a comprehensive literature review on land conflict in Somalia. The report was motivated by two factors: first is the desire to…
The 25 October coup in Sudan saw the military component of the transitional government assert itself over its civilian counterpart. In the weeks since, attention has mostly focused on events in Khartoum, but the coup, which was actively or…
Recent Publications
Minor Demarcations, Micro-Dams—Major Drama? Ethno-territorial expansionism and precarious peace in the Oromia–Somali borderlands of eastern Ethiopia
May 20, 2025
The report highlights the overlapping claims to and distributive struggles over territory and resources in the Oromia-Somali borderlands which animated inter-regional competition between the Oromia Regional State (ORS) and Somali Regional State (SRS), resulted in the brief 2023 uptick in
When Women Sing: How Murle women use arts and cultural mediums to communicate
May 16, 2025
This research explores how Murle women in the Greater Pibor area of central eastern South Sudan use not just songs but dance, hairstyles, body marks and beads to express themselves. Its objective is to draw attention to the ways Murle
Effectiveness of Women in Politics and Improving Gender Equality in South Sudan
May 2, 2025
This report argues that, in order to improve women’s participation in politics and promote gender-responsive policies in the country, there is a need to enlarge government capacity for women’s leadership by introducing equal gender quotas for decision-making positions. Summary Women’s