Ministry of Defence Library (Warsame Hassan) – Somalia

Project Goal: $15,000

Current Progress: $1,000 (7.00%)

The Somalia Ministry of Defence (MoD) is mandated to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, protect its citizens, and contribute to lasting peace and stability. As part of Somalia’s broader state-building and reform agenda, the MoD is undertaking comprehensive institutional development efforts to strengthen its leadership, operational capacity, and ability to coordinate with national and international partners. Establishing the MoD Library is a key step in this process, providing a centralized resource hub for military leadership, civilian staff, and trainees to access knowledge in defence strategy, public administration, governance, peacebuilding, and other critical subject areas.

The generous donation of books from Books For Africa will serve as the foundation of this new library, filling an urgent gap in access to high-quality reference materials and educational resources. These books will directly support ongoing reform programs, leadership training, and policy development within the ministry. The library will help build a culture of continuous learning that strengthens MoD’s ability to carry out its mandate effectively by offering up-to-date resources in critical areas such as conflict resolution, organizational management, and human security.

Minister of Defence Ahmed Maallin Fiqi emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating: “Knowledge is as vital to our national defence as weapons and training. A library dedicated to learning and research will empower our officers and civilian staff to think critically, plan strategically, and serve Somalia with excellence.”

Beyond its immediate institutional benefits, the MoD Library will contribute to Somalia’s long-term peacebuilding goals by fostering professional development, promoting research, and enhancing collaboration between the defense sector and other national institutions. Access to reliable knowledge will empower leaders and staff to approach security challenges with innovative, informed, and inclusive solutions, thereby reinforcing the foundations of stability and good governance.

Highlighting the broader vision, Minister Fiqi added: “This library is not just for the Ministry, it is for Somalia’s future. By investing in education and knowledge-sharing, we are strengthening the foundations of peace, reform, and prosperity for generations to come.”

In this way, the BFA donation will not only support the growth of the ministry but also play a tangible role in advancing Somalia’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous future.

We warmly invite individual donors to join us in making this vision a reality. Your contribution, no matter the size, will directly help ship and deliver these invaluable books to Somalia, ensuring the MoD Library becomes a lasting resource for learning, reform, and peacebuilding. Every dollar brings us closer to equipping Somali leaders and institutions with the knowledge they need to secure a better, safer, and more hopeful future for all.

Container Captain: Warsame Hassan (warsame.m.hassan@gmail.com)