Today, we concluded a three-day conference on the Horn Inter-Elite Dialogue (Jigjiga Forum), held at the amazing new Shabeeley Resort. The conference brought together delegates from Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia, including state officials, academicians, and members of civil society, to discuss the future of the Horn of Africa and the importance of regional cooperation and dialogue. On the final day, we visited several development projects in Jigjiga, where we received detailed briefings on the progress made across different sectors in the Somali Regional State.
The leadership team led by President Mustafa truly stands as a strong example of the critical role leadership plays in nation-building, development, stability, and transforming society. What we have seen and heard in the Somali Region was beyond our expectation and imagination. I personally experienced a realization of the narrative in my book, Somalia: A State in Search of Exceptional Leadership. As such, I presented a copy of the book to this leadership team. I can proudly say that the initial step of such leadership is here in Jigjiga, transforming Somali society.