IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mayor Omar Abdullahi Atuu

A young Somali mayor on the frontlines of change

May 11, 2024

In the southwest of Somalia, Hudur communities are thriving amid climate shocks and security issues. As the first phase of the UNDP-supported stabilization initiatives is coming to a completion, District Commissioner/Mayor of Hudur Mr. Omar Atuu shares outcomes, lessons learned, and hopes for the future.

As Somalia is recovering from yet another drought that threatened livelihoods, hard-to-reach areas face increased challenges with the ongoing blockades by al-Shabaab insurgents. In Bakool’s capital, Hudur communities struggle with limited ways of receiving external aid, relying only on-air help and donkey carts carrying food.

With a reduced supply of local food and the increase of global food prices converging into record-high food prices in Somalian markets, Hudur faces daily challenges that worsen the humanitarian situation of one of the worst drought-affected regions in the world.

In August 2022, the government launched a new offensive against Al-Shabaab that marked breakthrough territorial gains in a war that held back development in the country. Alongside the military campaign, the government partnered with international organizations, including UNDP, on a National Stabilization Strategy to help local communities rebuild their lives. Almost a year after the stabilization projects started in Hudur - UNDP’s first stabilization intervention point, together with Barawee - relevant interventions have been implemented that led to the improvement of livelihoods. In an interview with UNDP, District Commissioner/Mayor of Hudur, Mr. Omar Atuu shared insights on the evolution of these projects, highlighting their positive outcomes, and expectations for the future ahead.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: Could you briefly share your background: your experiences in Hudur and an overview of your work as its Mayor?

Mayor Atuu: Initially, I worked as a teacher at a local school, and as a regional director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the South West. Then from 2020 to 2022, I was the Director of the Southwest State House for Bakool in Hudur town and after that I contested for the District Council/Mayor in Hudur and I won the election. At 32 now, I am one of the youngest elected DCs in Somalia. I love working with my people and partners like UNDP. And I’m very happy to be here with you today.

Could you share about the situation in Hudur before the blockades started 10 years ago?

Mayor Atuu: Yes. Life in the community was quite good, but in 2014 the AS started to lock the city in the Hudur district. They blocked all roads that come to Hudur. That made people’s lives more difficult: the price of food went up, and the availability of food items was not guaranteed. It became extremely hard for people to get their daily food products.

"I receive inquiries from Baidoa and across Bakool about the development in Hudur. People are very happy to see the progress and wonder how we achieved it. I always tell them that it is because of our partnership with UNDP."

When the UNDP stabilization initiatives started taking place, what did it represent for your community?

Mayor Atuu: When UNDP started the stabilization process in Hudur people were very happy. A UNDP delegation came to Hudur to meet with the people here and observe key infrastructures in town, visiting schools, and the administrative offices. Immediately, we saw the impact of their visit to our district. They engaged with people, listened to our stories and our needs. They responded instantly, and we started the stabilization projects, the first phase of which are coming to a conclusion now. People are very happy to see UNDP doing projects in Hudur, and so am I.

The rebuilding of the market, the youth center, the women’s center, and the police system tackle four important key areas – economic, youth, gender, and security. How are these projects strengthening these specific areas?

Mayor Atuu: Let me start with the police station first. The police buildings were destroyed in 1991, and there has been no rehabilitation. The commander of the police, and the officers, were asking me about the restoration of the police station because it increases their security, and consequently, the security of our community. The police officers can now work efficiently and comfortably, they are even more motivated. It was a great support on the side of security.

About the market, people who have small businesses in an open-air market in town are now getting their space in a building that offers good conditions, without fearing the rains, the sun, fire breakouts, all these things. They are happy, they can even think of increasing their businesses a bit more. They feel more comfortable in the new market that the UNDP has built. It is meant for small businesses, and most of them - around 90% - are women, and this helps to increase the economic development of the town.

Regarding the youth, it is the same. Me, as the Mayor, I normally put more effort into the youth, so that they can have their chances in the governance system, in the district. Efforts were made for them to be supported in sports tournaments, in the rehabilitation of the stadium, in training, and in creating jobs for them. As an administration, we are quite pleased about that and we are planning even more to be there for the youth because most of the population of the town - almost 75% - are youth. And these young men and women need to be supported. They have needs to be met and they need to be taught vocational skills because if they don’t get the job and the support they need, they will leave, or join AS or another group. So we are very focused on ensuring youth participation in every sector.

In the gender area, women were having problems without electricity in the offices and now they are getting the support they needed. They feel safer and they are considering doing something even after dark because they have electricity now. With all these measures, women and youth get more motivated and therefore push to improve the economy of the district.

What kind of feedback from community members have you received since these projects started to be implemented by the UNDP?

Mayor Atuu: People are giving me exceptionally good feedback because this changed a lot. A good example is the one of the market. We built the market but in 2019 a fire breakout and women there selling charcoals and all other goods burned by the fire. They were worried about another fire breakout because charcoals are very sensitive materials. But now in the new market we built for them, they feel safer. They approached me to thank me and to the UNDP. All the projects are like that. All of them were useful projects and people are reacting positively.

The newly built Hudur Market center provides a safe environment for small traders and entrepreneurs, over 90% of whom are women.

Photo: UNDP Somalia

The mayor is a full-time executive, but also a member of the community. How do you feel watching your town gaining new strengths?

Mayor Atuu: As a community member, it was my dream to see Hudur move forward, developing, working with UN partners, seeing roads being built, the rehabilitation of the police station, and the market. All those things are a part of the development of the Hudur district. And this is our priority as a district community. I believe my community differs from others in the region and countrywide in their awareness of community cohesion and collaboration with local governments. I believe this is also what attracted these stabilization initiatives that facilitate peace-building and economic recovery.

How has the stabilization support helped increase security and justice in your area?

Mayor Atuu: As part of the stabilization effort, UNDP has supported the security sector through capacity building and training young men and women to become police officers. They distributed some items like metal detectors to the community, and we now have Community-Based Organizations working at the checkpoints to search people entering the town. These tools strengthened and encouraged the capacity of policing services performed by the community. And now they are rehabilitating the police station which is a great support for our security. Also, the courts are being supported with training from Baidoa and Mogadishu, strengthening our justice system.

Mayor of Hudur, Mr. Omar Atuu inaugurating the road construction

"As part of the stabilization effort, UNDP has supported the security sector through capacity building and training young men and women to become police officers."

You mentioned that dialogue plays a crucial role in these projects. How exactly are you promoting it?

Mayor Atuu: Initially, we mobilized the community to establish stronger structures and promote collaboration among the residents, Local Authorities, and security personnel, including the police. Our collective efforts have been focused on restoring effective governance systems. We've been actively gathering various ideas coming from community dialogues. Specifically, we're exploring ways to enhance the capabilities of the security sector and contribute to the development of the district. All the concerns shared by the community members were recorded and we have them in a document in the office, to be taken into consideration.

What kind of challenges do you face as you lead the recovery efforts in Hudur?

Mayor Atuu: One of the most intense challenges we had when we started the UNDP projects was the flooding that limited operations. And the lack of engineers in town to supervise the construction site. In Hudur, companies doing construction face daily challenges because the town is under siege and the roads are blocked so getting the required materials is very difficult. But we solved all of them and we are finishing the projects.

Hudur Mayor — Mayor Atuu greets UNDP team visiting the district. Photo: UNDP Somalia

Have you been inquired about these projects by other communities in the country?

Mayor Atuu: Yes, I receive inquiries from people in Baidoa, and all other locations of Bakool. People are very happy to see the development that has been happening in Hudur and they are curious to know how we are getting these stabilization projects done. I always tell them that we make this happen because of the partnership we have with UNDP.

The increasing international engagement in Hudur is a sign of hope for economic development and peacebuilding. As the Mayor of Hudur, what do these projects mean for the future you envision for the region?

Mayor Atuu: We're hopeful that these projects persist as they're pivotal for our economic revival. They ignite motivation and instill hope within our community. Over the next two or three years, we aim to continue this impactful project, counting on UNDP's ongoing support for stabilization efforts. Despite facing siege and blockades, limiting our mobility to air travel only, we're committed to empowering our women and youth. However, assistance is crucial for us to achieve this goal.

We are one hundred percent positive and hopeful in our effort to restore peace and security, driven by community cohesion and international support.

Rehabilitated Stadium in Hudur where local youth organize sports and social events regularly. Photo: UNDP Somalia

The interview by Carolina Silva, under the guidance of the Stabilization Team in Somalia. | Photo credits: Mayor Atuu, UN Habitat Hudur Urban Profile, and UNDP Somalia