Dr. Ahmed M. Musa

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Ahmed Musa, PhD

(Fellow)

Ahmed Musa, PhD

Ahmed Musa earned his PhD from the University of Nairobi in 2020, with a thesis on Institutional Dynamics in Livestock Export Trade in the Berbera Corridor. Between 2020 and 2024, he completed two postdoctoral research projects on humanitarianism in complex and protracted crises. With over a decade of academic and operational research experience, Ahmed has led more than 15 high-value consultancies for donors, embassies, and other clients. His research focuses on cross-border trade, governance, democratization, and humanitarianism in the Horn of Africa. He has an extensive publication record, including journal articles, working papers, policy briefs, blog posts, and book chapters.

List of Publications – Ahmed Musa, PhD

Kleist, P. Albrecht, A. E. Ali, M. Bradbury, M. A. Hassan, K. Kanyinga, F. D. Mohamed, A. M. Musa and J. Norman (2025). ‘Situated polycrises: Somali responses to COVID-19’. International Affairs, 101: 1 (2025) 233–252; doi: 10.1093/283
Iazzolino, G., & Musa, A. M. (2024). ‘The political economy of connectivity in the Somali Horn of Africa’. International Affairs, Volume 100, Issue 4.
Musa, A. M., & Kleist, N. (2022). ‘Somali Vernacular Humanitarianism: Translocal
Emergency Assistance During Times of Crisis’. Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies, 22(1).
Musa, A. M., Stepputat, F., & Hagmann, T. (2021). ‘Revenues on the hoof: livestock trade, taxation and state-making in the Somali territories’. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 15(1), 108-127.
Musa, A. M., Wasonga, O. V., & Mtimet, N. (2019). ‘Factors influencing livestock export in Somaliland’s terminal markets’. Pastoralism, 10(1), 1.
Musa, A. M., & Horst, C. (2019). ‘State formation and economic development in post-war Somaliland: the impact of the private sector in an unrecognised state’. Conflict, Security & Development, 19(1), 35-53.
Musa, A. M., & Schwere, R. (2019). ‘The hidden tactile negotiation sign language in Somaliland’s livestock markets’. An International Journal of Somali Studies, 18, 50-69.

Musa, A. M. (2023). Inclusion and exclusion in Somali drought emergency assistance’, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS): Copenhagen
Musa, A. M. (2019). ‘From trust to Oligopoly: Institutional Change in Livestock Trade in Somaliland after 1991’, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS): Copenhagen

Musa, A., M & Horst, C. (2019), Accountability through Technology in Somali Collective Crisis Response’, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO): Olso
Musa, A M., & Aden, H., & Horst, C. (2023), ‘Leveraging Local Elections to Advance Somalia’s Transition to a Multiparty Democratic System’. Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Olso.
Wasuge, M., Musa, A. M., & Hagmann, T (2021), ‘Who owns data in Somalia? Ending the country’s privatised knowledge economy’. Somali Public Agenda (SPI): Mogadishu.
Hassan, A. M., et al. ( (2021), ‘Recognising Diaspora Humanitarianism: What we know and what we need to know more about’. Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS): Copenhagen
Musa, A., M & Horst, C. (2019), ‘The Role of Business in Maintaining Peace in Somaliland’. Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO): Olso

Musa, A. M., Varming, K. S., Stepputat, F. (2023). ‘ Raising fiscal revenues: the political economy of Somali taxation’. Book, ‘ Trade Makes the States: Governing the Greater Somali Economy’. Edited by Hagmann, T., Stepputat, F. Hurst Publishers: London
Musa, A. M., (2020). ‘The Berbera Corridor Development and Somaliland’s Political economy’. Book ‘Land, Investment and Politics: Reconfiguring Eastern African’s Pastoral Drylands’. Edited by Jeremy Lind, Doris Okenwa and Ian Scoones. James Currey African Issues Series: UK

Musa, A. M. (2024), “TRANSBORDER MOBILE MONEY PLATFORMS IN THE GREATER SOMALI ECONOMIC SPACE” Rift Valley Institute: London/Nairobi
Musa, A. M., Aden, H., Adam, A., & Horst, C ( 2023). ‘Transitioning Somalia to Direct Elections Lessons from Somaliland and Puntland’. Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO): Olso
Musa, A. M. (2022). ‘City at the margins: Lasanod’s trade politics between Somaliland and Puntland’. Rift Valley Institute: London/Nairobi
Musa, A. M. (2022), ‘Barriers and opportunities faced by Somaliland women in their struggle for political leadership and representation’. Academy of Peace and Development (APD):Hargeisa.

Musa, A. M., Aden, H., Adam, A., & Horst, C ( 2023, November 9). ‘Why has the Puntland state of Somalia been unable to conduct a ‘one person one vote’ election for over 24 years?’ Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO): Olso, https://blogs.prio.org/2022/11/why-has-the-puntland-state-of-somalia-been-unable-to-conduct-a-one-person-one-vote-election-for-over-24-years/

Aden, H., Adam, A., Musa, A. M., & Horst, C. (2023, December 28). ‘What can Somalia’s Federal Member States Learn from Somaliland as they transition to multiparty elections? Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO): Olso, https://blogs.prio.org/2022/12/what-can-somalias-federal-member-states-learn-from-somaliland-as-they-transition-to-multiparty-elections/

Musa, A. M ( 2022, March 3)’ What are the causes of Somaliland’s droughts crisis?’ Rift Valley Institute: London/Nairobi. https://riftvalley.net/news/what-are-causes-somalilands-drought-crisis
Majid, N., et al, (2022, May 5), ‘Puntland and COVID-19: Local Responses and Economic

Impact’. London School of Economics (LSE), https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/crp/2020/05/05/puntland-and-covid-19-local-responses-and-economic-impact/

Musa, A. M., Wasuge, M. (2021, October 12),’Digital Data In Somalia: Capture, Usage, And Protection’. Datafication and Digital Rights, https://datarightsafrica.org/digital-data-in-somalia-capture-usage-and-protection/

Bradbury, M., et al., (2021, April 19), ‘ Covid-19 has transformed Somaliland’s remittance lifeline’, OpenDemocracy. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/covid-19-has-transformed-somalilands-remittance-lifeline/

Schwere, R., & Musa, A. M. (2020, December 11) ‘Pack camels in photos. A transforming practice in Somaliland retraced in postcards and Instagram posts’, Carnets de Terrain: Hypothèses, https://blogterrain.hypotheses.org/16276

Musa, A. M., et al., (2020, September 21), ‘ Tech and Trust Challenges: Emerging Trends in Somaliland Diaspora Response to Covid-19’. Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS): Copenhagen, https://www.diis.dk/en/research/tech-and-trust-challenges