Climate-Resilient Sorghum Varieties for Somali Dryland Agriculture
SNU’s Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences has developed three sorghum varieties — SNU-SR01, SNU-SR02, and SNU-SR03 — adapted to Somalia’s dryland farming conditions through a four-year plant breeding programme. n Findings n Field trials across 12 sites in Hiiraan, Bay, and Bakool showed the new varieties produce 40% more grain per hectare under water-stress […]
Mapping Somalia’s Coastal Biodiversity: A Marine Study
SNU’s Marine Biology Unit has launched a two-year survey of Somalia’s coastal biodiversity, funded by a USD 1.2 million grant from the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association. Research teams will visit 24 coastal sites from Berbera to Kismayo. n Scope n The study will catalogue fish species, coral reef health, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, […]
AI-Powered Flood Prediction System for the Jubba Valley
SNU’s Department of Computer Science has developed an AI system predicting catastrophic flooding in the Jubba Valley with 87% accuracy up to 72 hours ahead, in partnership with the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre. n Technical approach n The model uses an LSTM neural network trained on 30 years of hydrological and meteorological data. […]
Amina Hassan: From SNU Law Graduate to Somalia’s Youngest Female Judge
When Amina Hassan enrolled at SNU’s Faculty of Law in 2015, she had one ambition: to contribute to rebuilding Somalia’s justice system. At 29, she was sworn in as a judge of the Benadir Regional Court — one of the youngest female judges in Somali history. n “SNU gave me not just legal knowledge, but […]
Traditional Somali Medicine Plants: Pharmacological Properties Study
SNU pharmacy and biochemistry researchers are systematically screening 40 plant species used in traditional Somali healing. Early results from 12 species identify promising antimicrobial compounds in Commiphora myrrha (malmal), Acacia senegal (gum arabic), and Aloe succotrina (qarshe). n The study is led by Dr. Xaliima Cusmaan Dirie and conducted in collaboration with KEMRI (Kenya) and […]
Dr. Bile Muse: SNU Medical Graduate Leading Rural Healthcare in Galmudug
Most of Dr. Bile Muse’s classmates pursued careers in Mogadishu or abroad. He chose differently. Within six months of graduating from SNU’s Faculty of Medicine in 2021, he had moved to Dhuusamarreeb in Galmudug and begun transforming regional healthcare. n Starting with a single room and donated equipment, he expanded the district health centre into […]
Sahra Abdi: Tech Entrepreneur Building Somalia’s Digital Economy
Sahra Abdi was writing her first lines of code in SNU’s computer lab when she noticed a gap: Somali businesses had no access to locally-built software that understood Somali language, culture, and business practices. Four years later, her company Xiriir Tech employs 85 people and serves over 400 clients across Somalia, Kenya, and the UK-Somali […]