About MAAN
MAAN Institute for Diplomacy and Global Affairs was founded on a simple conviction: Somaliland's future on the world stage is too important to leave to chance.
Our Story
The Republic of Somaliland has spent more than three decades doing what many said was impossible — building peace from within, holding one-person-one-vote elections, and governing itself without international recognition. Yet the machinery of its diplomacy has not kept pace with the quality of its democracy.
MAAN was created to close that gap. Based in Hargeisa and connected to a global network of scholars and practitioners, we combine rigorous research with hands-on implementation — because analysis that never leaves the page changes nothing.
The name carries the mission. Like the camel in our emblem — the animal that made trade and travel across the Horn possible for centuries — MAAN is built for the long journey: patient, resilient, and always moving forward.
Our Vision
To be the premier authority on innovative diplomacy for Somaliland, the Horn of Africa, and the wider world — redefining how nations engage the international community by equipping leaders, policymakers, and institutions with modern tools and forward-looking strategy.
Our Mission
Proactive research, deep analysis, and practical solutions for an effective, modern diplomatic infrastructure for the Republic of Somaliland — strengthening its international relations through strategic, well-planned, actionable steps that blend research with implementation, ideas with practice, and vision with measurable outcomes.
Our Approach
Diplomacy is no longer the exclusive domain of statecraft — it intersects with business, climate, migration, technology, and grassroots movements. We bring political science, economics, security studies, technology, and cultural diplomacy to every question, so our answers hold up in the real world.
Ideas have little impact confined to academic papers. We translate complex research into clear, accessible recommendations for decision-makers, civil society, and the public — ensuring our work doesn't just inform debate, it equips people to shape foreign policy.
We are not satisfied with observing. MAAN collaborates with government institutions, NGOs, businesses, and international partners to turn recommendations into tangible outcomes — training, capacity-building, and advisory work that leads to measurable progress.
Why MAAN Matters
Somaliland has built peace, stability, and democratic institutions — yet remains unrecognized by the international community. That gap limits access to finance, treaties, and the rooms where decisions about the region are made.
But the gap is also a space for invention. Unbound by old templates, Somaliland can design a foreign policy that is distinct, flexible, and unmistakably its own. MAAN steps into this space with a fresh and ambitious perspective — treating diplomacy as a dynamic tool for recognition, partnership, and development.
By reimagining how Somaliland engages the world, we help build a stronger, more confident, and more influential nation.
What We Stand For
Non-partisan, evidence-first, and answerable to the mission — not to any faction.
Every recommendation earns its place through research that withstands scrutiny.
We measure success in outcomes delivered, not papers published.
Somali in identity, global in outlook — fluent in both the region and the world.
Our People
Full leadership and fellow profiles are being finalized — meet the team here soon.
Executive Director
Strategy & External Relations
Director of Research
Policy & Publications
Director of Programs
Training & Partnerships
Senior Fellow
Red Sea & Security Studies
MAAN works with institutions and individuals who believe Somaliland's story deserves a global audience.
