Fawzia Yusuf Adam, Somalia’s pioneering female politician, has emerged as a major contender in the race for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position challenging former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid.

After breaking barriers as Somalia’s first female Foreign Minister, Adam threw her hat in the ring to contest for the position in a race pitting her against Raila.

Adam’s journey to this pivotal moment has been marked by a lifetime of service and a steadfast commitment to diplomacy and public service.

Her early career saw her traversing the global stage, representing Somalia in prestigious postings in Washington, Moscow, Berlin, and Paris, as well as a stint at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

“I worked in Moscow and Washington in different positions and the last position as a diplomat was becoming head of our embassy in Berlin, Germany.”

“But then, I resigned and became an officer at the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia’s capital city Addis Ababa.” said Adam in a past interview.

Fawzia initiatives to drive progress in Somalia

Driven by this sense of purpose, Adam bid farewell to her diplomatic career and turned her attention to the NGO she had founded in the early 1990s, SOMAID, which focused on education.

In the year 2000, Adam took a bold step and founded Hargeisa University, where she served as the institution’s first chancellor for five years.

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Also, recognizing the power of media in shaping narratives, Adam later became one of the CEOs of RAAD TV, a channel dedicated to presenting Somalia’s unique perspective to the world.

These initiatives marked a major milestone in her quest to drive progress and change in Somalia.

 Fawzia Yusuf’s political career

Adam’s active involvement in politics was sparked by the political and armed conflicts in her home region of Somaliland.

Witnessing the instability and challenges facing her community, she became aware of the pressing need for change.

In response, she took decisive action and formed a political party called NBD, which stood for the “Peace, Democracy and Prosperity Party.”

With a vision to transform Somaliland, Adam ran for the presidency in 2010.

However, her political aspirations were met with obstacles, as the party she had founded, the NBD, was ultimately delisted by the then-President of Somaliland, Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo.

Challenges faced by Fawzia

This setback did not deter Adam, instead, it fueled her determination to continue her fight for the betterment of her people.

”They closed down the TV channel, they nationalized the university, and rejected my political party. They were preventing me from becoming active and serving my country.”

“They were afraid a woman like me might win the election as I was becoming popular. I was a threat. That triggered me to become more active in politics.” said Fawzia.

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Her perseverance paid off when, in 2012, she was appointed as Somalia’s first female Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, making history as a trailblazer for women in Somali politics.

In 2022 she vied again for the Somali presidency but was unsuccessful, she currently leads the National Democratic Party (NDP) and serves as a federal MP.

Her presence as a formidable candidate in the AUC race showcases her leadership capabilities.

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