• Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Middle East logoCarnegie lettermark logo
LebanonIran
{
  "authors": [
    "Mohanad Hage Ali"
  ],
  "type": "commentary",
  "blog": "Diwan",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Three Question Time"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Yemen",
    "Middle East",
    "Gulf"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}
Diwan English logo against white

Source: Getty

Commentary
Diwan

Closer Than They Seem

Khalif Abdirahman discusses the ties between Yemen and Somalia, at a time of crisis in the two countries.

Link Copied
By Mohanad Hage Ali
Published on Aug 14, 2018
Diwan

Blog

Diwan

Diwan, a blog from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Middle East Program and the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, draws on Carnegie scholars to provide insight into and analysis of the region. 

Learn More

Khalif Abdirahman is a Somali researcher with five years of experience in the Horn of Africa. He has participated in numerous studies on issues related to the region, at Tufts University, Humanitarian Outcomes, Transparency International, the Overseas Development Institute, and the Rift Valley Institute. He also has more than ten years of experience in community work and issues relating to the Somali diaspora and their involvement in political and other issues at home.

Currently Abdirahman is working in London with the Rift Valley Institute and the London School Economics. Diwan met with him in early August, at a conference in Beirut organized by Carnegie, to get his perspective on a little-discussed topic, namely the ties between Yemen and Somalia, particularly at a time of crisis in both countries.

About the Author

Mohanad Hage Ali

Deputy Director for Research, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Mohanad Hage Ali is the deputy director for research at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center.

    Recent Work

  • Commentary
    Lebanon Needs a New Negotiating Strategy with Israel

      Mohanad Hage Ali

  • Commentary
    Is Türkiye Lebanon’s New Iran?

      Mohanad Hage Ali

Mohanad Hage Ali
Deputy Director for Research, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
Mohanad Hage Ali
Political ReformYemenMiddle EastGulf

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Diwan

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    A Military Balance Sheet in the U.S. and Israeli War With Iran

    In an interview, Jim Lamson discusses the ongoing regional conflict and sees an unclear picture when it comes to winners and losers. 

      Michael Young

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    The United States and Iran Have Agreed to a Two-Week Ceasefire

    Spot analysis from Carnegie scholars on events relating to the Middle East and North Africa.

      Michael Young

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    What Does the Strait of Hormuz’s Closure Mean?

    In an interview, Roger Diwan discusses where the global economy may be going in the third week of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

      Nur Arafeh

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    Tehran’s Easy Targets

    In an interview, Andrew Leber discusses the impact the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran is having on Arab Gulf states.

      Michael Young

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    The Gulf Conflict and the South Caucasus

    In an interview, Sergei Melkonian discusses Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s careful balancing act among the United States, Israel, and Iran.

      Armenak Tokmajyan

Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
Carnegie Middle East logo, white
  • Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
  • Projects
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.