Maydi Newsletter: August 2025
Hi everyone!
Welcome to this month’s edition of the Maydi Newsletter. Our thirteenth edition. We would like to thank all of our readers from the first to the latest subscriber for coming along this journey. We hope you have benefited from reading our newsletter 📰
As summer draws to a close, we’re wrapping up a successful run of back-to-back events. While we narrowly missed out on our bid to re-host LCOY this year, we instead focused on delivering a series of impactful gatherings for the Somali diaspora community in London. From a fantastic workshop with TfL on sustainable city planning to a lively BBQ and climate debate with Bright Centres on fossil fuels, we’ve had plenty to reflect on — and we’ll dive deeper into it all in this edition.
Oh, and we’ve also included our usual Word of the Month to help you learn Somali! Do you know the Somali word for fossil fuels?
Thank you—as always—for reading!
S4S News 🗣
🌍🚇 Mind the Climate Gap: Reflections on our Event with TfL
On Wednesday, August 6th, Somalis for Sustainability (S4S) held a collaborative workshop hosted by Transport for London (TfL) on the topic of sustainable city planning in the face of climate change. Guests were treated to keynote guest speeches from TfL’s Qamar (who is one of their sustainability apprentices), who presented what challenges TfL themselves face when it comes to urban planning, development, and general service provision in London in the face of the physical realities that a negatively changing climate is bringing to the British capital.
This was followed by an interactive talk from Dr Daniel Oviedo (of UCL’s Development Planning Unit), who presented the inequalities that urban transport designs and policies can perpetuate, and potentially resolve with targeted solutions, using his vast experience in South America as case studies. Our very own Amin (of S4S) capped off with a very thorough briefing on the Somali Peninsula’s main metropolises, Mogadishu and Hargeisa, and the difficulties they face, respectively.
With the attendees informed of the parameters of the workshop and split off into groups, they got to work devising solutions for their allocated city, picking two of four sectors to focus their policy formation brainstorming on. We were delighted to hear very holistic policy recommendations from each and every group, ranging from: having the local government subsidising water costs for the poorest residents in Hargeisa whilst using taxes levied on private water companies to build a national water provider, to launching public relation campaigns on safely disposing wastage and especially requiring the restaurant industry to collect their food wastage so as to be turned into compost in Mogadishu, to name but a few examples from the attendees breakout groups.
The evening was brought to a close with a light networking session in order for the audience to ask questions of our guest speakers, but also build connections with fellow attendees in the spirit of actualising these ideas of theirs.
The eager uptake and attendance of this event (which was sold out) is extremely encouraging to us all at S4S, and we have more engaging programs in store so be sure to keep track of our social media accounts!
🔥🛢️🍔 Grill the issues: Fossil Fuels Debate + Summer BBQ with S4S
On Saturday, 23rd August, Somalis for Sustainability (S4S) partnered with Bright Centres to host a vibrant Summer BBQ and debate exploring one of the most urgent issues of our time: the role of fossil fuels in Somalia’s development. The event was completely sold out, with over 90 attendees gathering at Bright Centres on a sunny afternoon in London. The atmosphere was filled with energy, food, and conversation, as we engaged in thoughtful discussion on whether Somalia should pursue Fossil fuels for economic growth.
To open the discussion, attendees were divided into groups to discuss the motion: “This house believes that Somalia should not pursue a policy of fossil fuel extraction to drive economic development.”
After the group discussion, it was time for the spirited panel debate, where two passionate teams presented opposing perspectives:
- Team Anti-Fossil Fuels: presented the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuel extraction, the socio-economic risks, and the opportunities Somalia has to delve into renewable energy. They argued that Somalia’s future should be built on green technologies rather than on finite and polluting resources.
- Team Pro-Fossil Fuels countered that Somalia should use its natural reserves to industrialise and develop economically before transitioning to green energy. They pointed to examples like Ghana, where fossil fuels have been leveraged for growth.
The debate sparked passionate arguments on both sides, with the audience actively engaging and sharing their perspectives. Many attendees said they learned something new about fossil fuels, and some even admitted their opinions had shifted after hearing the discussions.
After the debate, everyone gathered to enjoy a delicious BBQ, Somali food from Sabiib, and sweet treats from The Fried Coffee Bakery. The evening concluded with networking and in-depth conversations about Somalia’s energy future. We want to thank the team at Bright centres, S4S, and all who attended for making this event a success.
Keep a lookout for more events in the future!
Word of the Month: Shidaal Foosil (Shi-daal Foo-sil) Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels remain central to Somalia's energy mix, long dominated by imported diesel for electricity generation, while charcoal has served as the primary household fuel. Oil and gas exploration first began in the mid-20th century with international majors, but decades of conflict stalled development. In 2025, in partnership with Turkey’s state energy company (TPAO), Somalia completed its first phase of offshore exploration. Early findings suggest reserves of up to 20 billion barrels of crude oil alongside commercially viable natural gas — one of the most significant resource discoveries in the country’s history.
Against this backdrop, we hosted our debate to give Somali youth a platform to critically engage with one another, share perspectives, and reflect on the climate challenges that domestic fossil fuel extraction could exacerbate.
Upcoming events/News:
🌍 The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Somalia is back this year with two events. We wish the hosts all the best in delivering an impactful LCOY this year!
📅 Sub-national LCOY: Sunday, August 31, in Garowe
📅 National LCOY: Monday–Tuesday, September 15–16 in Mogadishu
📍 We’ll be keeping a close eye on what happens and sharing updates in our next newsletter.
🔗 More info: lcoysomalia.org
Our director, Amin, has written an insightful article exploring how climate action is often seen as a cause for the privileged, yet in reality, it directly affects everyday issues like air pollution, public health, and inequality. He makes the case for a just and inclusive transition that benefits all communities — worth a read!
