President Mohamud Mobilizes Somali Poets to Support Unity, State-Building

MOGADISHU: Federal government of Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened a high-level consultation with leading Somali poets and cultural figures as part of efforts to strengthen national unity, public awareness and state-building initiatives through literature and the arts.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, underscored the president’s growing focus on using Somali cultural influence and traditional communication networks to reinforce reconciliation, civic mobilization and stabilization efforts across the country.

President Mohamud praised Somali poets for their historic contribution to preserving national identity, defending Somalia’s unity and shaping public consciousness during periods of political instability and conflict.

The president said Somali poetry and literature remain powerful tools for promoting peace, strengthening patriotism and countering extremist ideologies, describing cultural leaders as central partners in rebuilding public trust and national cohesion.

The discussions focused on integrating Somali arts, oral traditions and creative platforms into wider government awareness campaigns linked to governance, peace building and civic education.

The consultation was attended by the president’s advisor on public awareness and civic mobilization, Abdirahman Abdikarim Abdi, who discussed strategies for aligning cultural outreach initiatives with federal government policy objectives.

Poets and literary leaders participating in the talks shared proposals on expanding cultural heritage programs and using Somali creative arts to support reconciliation, governance and social development across all Federal Member States.

Somali poetry has historically played a major role in political dialogue, conflict resolution and public mobilization, with successive governments relying on poets and traditional storytellers to influence public opinion and strengthen national identity.

The meeting comes as President Mohamud’s administration intensifies efforts to combine military operations against Al-Shabaab with ideological, religious and civic campaigns aimed at weakening extremist influence and strengthening support for federal institutions.