NOREAF-Norwegian East African Strategic Partners

28/08/2026

NOREAF mourns the loss of King Harald V alongside the people of Norway.

He was a unifying figure who stood for warmth, equality and belonging. For immigrants and diaspora communities, he represented an inclusive Norway where everyone could feel seen and at home.

For many of us, he was more than our king; he embodied the very best of Norway. His words from 2016 will live on in the hearts of a generation of Norwegians with immigrant backgrounds.

Our deepest condolences to Queen Sonja, the Royal Family and the people of Norway.

Rest in peace, King Harald.

11/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for “African Diaspora in Norway: History, Culture, and Social and Economic Participation” during Demokratiuka in Kristiansand.

With over 150,000 people of African descent living in Norway today, the African diaspora is a community that has been shaping Norwegian society for decades — culturally, economically and socially. Yet real barriers remain. This evening was about acknowledging both: the contributions and the challenges.

We are grateful to Kristiansand Municipality and Deputy Mayor Charlotte Beckmann Finnestad for the warm welcome and opening remarks.

A heartfelt thank you to all our speakers and panelists for bringing their experiences, knowledge and perspectives to the table. Your contributions made the evening what it was.

We hope this is the beginning of a longer conversation.

07/05/2026

Last week in Oslo, NOREAF hosted an evening with the Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia focused on Somalia’s economic development, financial reforms, institution-building and the country’s ongoing economic transformation.

We would like to thank our speakers:

-Abdirahman M. Abdullahi, Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia , for sharing insights into Somalia’s economic journey and the reforms shaping the country’s future.

-Peter Henriksen Ringstad (Norad ), for reflecting on Norway’s engagement in Somalia and Norway’s new Africa Strategy.

-Hamdi A. Mohamed, for sharing perspectives on aid dependency, economic vulnerability and the important role of the Somali diaspora in Somalia’s economy.

-Thea Sofie Rusten Grastvei (Debt justice Norway), for moderating the conversation and guiding the programme throughout the evening.

Thank you as well to everyone who attended. We truly appreciated the turnout, the thoughtful questions and the engagement throughout the evening.

We filmed the event and will share the recordings in the coming days.

28/04/2026

This Thursday in Oslo (30 April 2026).

We are pleased to welcome Abdirahman M. Abdullahi, Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia, who will speak about Somalia’s economic development, reforms and debt relief.

Joining the discussion:

--Peter Henriksen Ringstad, Acting Head of Governance, Norad (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation).

Hamdi A. Mohamed, Economic Analyst & Senior Advisor, Norwegian Tax Administration

Thea S. R. Grastvei, Senior Advisor, Debt Justice Norge , moderating the conversation

The event is fully booked (https://luma.com/o5ds099s) , but a recording will be shared afterwards.

03/04/2026

On April 1st, Noreaf organized an event on Reframing Mental Health in collaboration with the Somali Student Association in Norway (Somalisk Studentforening).

We would like to thank all the nearly 200 participants who took the time to join us and be part of such an important conversation.

A special thank you to our speakers:
Juweria Hassan, Substance Use Counselor & CEO of Generation to Generation (GTG), and Abdirahman Warsame, Author, Speaker, and Community Leader from Minnesota, USA.

Finally, we would like to thank the Somali Student Association in Norway (SSF) for a great collaboration and for a well-coordinated and successfully executed event.

11/03/2026

Last week, NOREAF-Norwegian East African Strategic Partners hosted its annual Iftar gathering, bringing together young Norwegian-Somali leaders, student leaders, academics, policymakers, and representatives from organisations and community initiatives.

We were pleased to welcome the Minister of Labour and Inclusion, Kjersti Stenseng, and the Minister of International Development, Åsmund Grøver Aukrust. During the evening, the ministers shared the government’s initiatives and priorities related to inclusion, youth participation, and cooperation with Somali authorities.

The gathering created an important space for the exchange of experiences and perspectives. Participants shared insights from their work in local organisations and communities, highlighting practical initiatives, youth engagement, and efforts that contribute to inclusion and participation.

A special thank you to each and every one of the nearly 40 participants for their contributions to the discussions and for sharing their experiences and initiatives. The group represented an impressive range of young leaders, student representatives, academics, and organisers working actively to strengthen their communities. The conversations clearly reflected that significant progress and positive change are taking place at an impressive pace within the Norwegian-Somali community.

We would also like to thank the Somali Student Association in Norway(Somalisk Studentforening) for hosting the event, and OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University — an institution that for many of us has been an important meeting place where friendships, ideas, and networks are formed, often shaping both careers and communities.

We also thank Pro-Rector Carl Christian Thodesen for joining the evening.

Finally, we extend our appreciation to the ministers and their teams for taking the time to participate and for their constructive engagement throughout the evening.

13/01/2026

On Monday, 12 January 2026, NOREAF was pleased to meet with the leadership of the Department of Diaspora Affairs at Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia in Mogadishu, represented by our International Director Abdullahi M. Alason.

The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation with the Somali diaspora in the Nordic countries, identifying joint initiatives, and exploring opportunities related to diaspora engagement, social development, and economic and investment cooperation.

A key topic of discussion was how collaboration between Somali authorities and diaspora communities in the Nordic region can strengthen youth-focused initiatives, including internship opportunities and broader youth cooperation.

Sincere thanks to H.E. Ibrahim Guure, Director of the Diaspora Affairs Department دائرة شؤون المغتربين, for his hospitality and openness to cooperation, as well as to the department’s leadership team and Dr. Adam Hilowle, Deputy Ambassador at the Somali Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

22/12/2025

16/12/2025

12/12/2025