Miski Osman: Identity, work and investment in East AfricaCEFR B2
23 Sept 2025
Adapted from Mohamed Mohamud, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Brett Jordan, Unsplash
A project supported by the African Union Media Fellowship (AUMF), International Consulting Expertise and the European Union collected interviews about Somali diasporans in Mogadishu and Nairobi. The AUMF is run by the African Union Information and Communication Directorate and seeks to shift common narratives about Africa. The published series addresses migration, culture, creative art, community activism and international cooperation and contains a long interview with Miski Osman that explores identity, career choices and regional impact.
Miski’s personal and professional path moved across Europe and East Africa. Born in Sweden and raised in the United Kingdom, she first visited Mogadishu in 2015 for two weeks; that stay extended to six months and eventually she lived and worked there for four years. In Somalia she worked with the Federal Government on governance, resilience and security projects. Living on the ground challenged her earlier assumptions: she describes Somali identity as multi‑layered and shaped by history, geography, politics, language and religion, and the experience increased her appreciation of Somali resilience across the homeland and the diaspora.
By 2020 she moved to Nairobi for a different challenge and to work at a regional level. Nairobi appealed as a hub for international organisations and for a different pace of life, and she has taken investment opportunities in real estate and petroleum while noting fast growth in the property market. She views the Somali diaspora in Kenya as having carved a significant economic space, from property to trade and politics, while maintaining strong community ties. In January 2024 she became Project Governance Manager at UNOPS in Sierra Leone and remains focused on governance and resilience work with the UN, on investing in East Africa, and on supporting the Somali community across the region.
- 2015: first visit to Mogadishu
- Four years living and working in Mogadishu
- By 2020: moved to Nairobi
- January 2024: Project Governance Manager, UNOPS, Sierra Leone
Difficult words
- narrative — a commonly told story or explanationnarratives
- diaspora — people from one country living abroad together
- resilience — ability to recover after difficult situations
- governance — the way organisations or governments are managed
- identity — a person's sense of who they are
- invest — to put money into something for profitinvesting
- hub — a central place for activity or services
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might living both in the homeland and abroad change a person's sense of identity? Give examples from the article or real life.
- What are possible benefits and challenges when members of a diaspora invest in property and businesses in the region?
- How can organisations like the AUMF change common narratives about a continent or community?
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