Hiiraan Online (HOL) is one of the most popular websites dedicated to news and information about

Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...

and the

Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...

. It was founded in 1999 to deliver news to the growing but underserved Somali diaspora. It has gained recognition for its impartiality and accurate news. It is published in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and Somali as a primary source for Somali news and affairs. It has been described by many as being the most viewed Somali-owned website in the world.

History

Hiiraan Online was founded in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, on July 1, 1999. Its founder, Ahmed Gure, a former

airline Captain The pilot in command (PIC) of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the captain in a typical two- or three-pilot aircrew, or "pilot" if there is only ...

with Somali Airlines, started the website to serve the growing Somali diaspora.

Content

The website publishes news articles, opinions, and political commentary and remains one of the most critical and reliable news websites in the Somali media landscape. Hiiraan Online is regularly cited frequently in academia, books and international media. The website hosts external links to the popular daily radio services for

BBC Somali The BBC Somali Service is a BBC World Service radio station transmitted in the Somali language and based in Broadcasting House in West London and in Nairobi, where most of the radio and digital operations are based. Most of the listeners live in ...

and VOA Somali. The website also hosts job advertisements for

international bodies International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

, government agencies and NGOs.

Notable contributors

Abukar Arman Abukar Arman ( so, abukar Carman, ar, أبوبكر أرمان) is a Somali political analyst, writer and former Special Envoy to the United States. Arman is also a widely published foreign policy specialist, writing extensively on Somalia and ...

- Political analyst and writer * Yusuf Garad - Journalist, former diplomat and politician *

Ilwad Elman Ilwad Elman ( so, Ilwaad Elman) is a Somali-Canadian social activist. She works at the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in Mogadishu alongside her mother Fartuun Adan, the NGO's founder. She was voted the African Young Personality (Female) ...

- Somali Activist * Hassan Sheikh Mohamud - Former Somali President *

Neil Wigan Desmond Patrick Neil Wigan is a British diplomat who was UK Ambassador to Somalia from 2013 to 2015. Since 13 June 2019, he serves as the British ambassador to Israel, replacing David Quarrey. Personal life Wigan studied at the University of ...

- British Diplomat *

Adam Matan Adam Matan OBE ( Somali ''Adan Mataan'') (Arabic: آدم متان) is a Somali-British civil society leader and social activist. He is the former Director of the Anti-Tribalism Movement, a non-profit organisation established in 2010 to combat tr ...

- Social Activist *

Abdi Ismail Samatar Abdi Ismail Samatar ( so, Cabdi Ismaaciil Samatar, ar, عبدي إسماعيل ساماتار) (born 1950) is a Somali scholar, writer and professor of geography. Personal life Samatar was born in 1956 in Gabiley in Somaliland. He is the brothe ...

- Somali scholar, writer and professor

Cited by

* Anadolu Agency - Turkish news agency *

Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazeera ...

- Qatari news channel *

Face2Face Africa Face2Face Africa is a media company based in New York, U.S. The company's online portal reports on Global Black news and current affairs covering topics such as politics, entertainment, and culture. Face2Face Africa holds events, such as the 30 B ...

- Media company *

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

- British international broadcaster *

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

- British newspaper * Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada - Government agency * Chatham House - Think Tank

References

External links

* Mass media in Somalia Canadian news websites African news websites 1999 establishments in Ontario English-language websites Somali-language websites {{News-website-stub