About Us
The Global Somali Council (“GSC”)
The Global Council of Somalis (“GCS”) is a public affairs council linking all Somali organizations, states and communities across the globe. It is a membership-based organization and provides consulting services, risk management, policy development and building of good governance infrastructures and systems.
The GCS works in tandem with the governance institutions of Somalia in the reconstruction of the Somali State through fostering unity among the Somali people in the face of the tremendous pressures they are being subjected to, as a nation, as a people, and as a country. The GCS is a not-for- Profit institution and is organized as an association.
Vision
To be a leading organization, which links all Somali organizations, develops, and protects Somali people across the globe.
Mission
To promote the reconstruction of the Somali State and represent the interests of Somali people across the globe on the basis of merit and competency.
Shared values
Somali ethnicity, tongue, and origin, and Muslim by faith – in general, with civility and respect as the core behavior of members towards each other. Many activities and attitudes will be generally respectful of Somali norms and traditions, although other good and beneficial non-Somali etiquettes is also adopted.
Meet Our Team Members
Dr. Suleiman Walhad
President (GSC)
Dr. Suleiman Walhad is the Founder and President of Horn of Africa States and the conceptualiser and Founder of Amoud University. With an impressive background in Islamic and international investment and commercial banking, Dr. Walhad brings extensive experience and expertise in his works of education, development, and business.
He served as Head of commercial banking at BNP and as Head of Islamic banking at TAIC, OBU, both of Bahrain and as the CEO of Dahabshiil Bank International, where he played a pivotal role in the bank’s growth and development.
His leadership and vision have been instrumental in shaping the financial and educational landscapes of the Horn of Africa. Dr. Walhad is the author of several books and a writer of many articles published in major international magazines.
His profound impact on the financial sector, higher education, and development continues to inspire and benefit communities across the Horn of Africa region.
Ambassador Farah. H. Amalo
Vice President (GSC)
Ambassador Farah. H. Amalo is a veteran officer of Somalia’s Minsitry of Foreign Affairs, mostly as Director of Finance and Amassador to Turkiye at the time of collapse of the state in 1991.
Ambassador Amalo is a security expert and a consultant for a security firm in Maryland, United States. He currently manages his own business in Somalia.
Sheiknor Abucar Qassim
Executive Director (GSC)
Sheiknor Abucar Qassim is currently President/CEO of Prime-Time Essential Care (PrimTEC), a health organization in Rochester, Minnesota, United States, providing transitional care to patients from Mayo Clinic.
It is the first Somali American-owned nursing home in the United States. He is a founding member of and board chair of a number of institutions including the Somali Institute for Peace Research (SIPR), a think tank that provides consultation on Somalia, various non-governmental charity and other organizations, both local and international.
Mr. Qassim has nearly 30 years of experience in government and business consulting including the establishment of Tia Chin medical city destination in China, which has been instrumental in US-China cooperation . He is a lead governance consultant for various governmental agencies and is a highly regarded community leader and a distinguished and well-respected Somali diaspora expert. He has master’s degree in international business from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, USA.
The GSC is to complement all existing Somali organizations, communities and states with respect to the Somali language, culture and history. It is to assist all these global organizations achieve their shared goals and objectives assisting them in raising the necessary funds for their activities and shared objectives.
The GSC believes that there must be creative synergy among all Somali organizations, which could be benefncial for all Somalis across the globe. It will help Somali organizations connect with the governments of their locations and countries. It is a membership organization that all Somalis of all backgrounds are welcome as long as they share the values, vision and mission of GSC. The GSC will operate in a professional, business-like and transparent fashion.
The GSC aims at recreating a new Somali with these and other good values:
- Civility in terms of goodwill towards all Somalis to resolve all kinds of issues.
- Redevelopment of the old norms of non-reliance on law for everything. One cannot make a rule for every possible human action or behavior. Many things should be standard and understood that they are either good or bad for a Somali society.
- Deployment of laws and regulations to protect the rights of everyone in the Somali landscape and not to threaten anyone. This improves the quality of life in the country.
- Protection of rights and freedoms in terms of what is good for the Somali society, which should be in line with its culture and faith.
- Maintaining the Somali family as a microcosm of the larger Somali family with expectations from members such as educating the children and looking after and protecting each other.
- Preserving the Somali culture and religion in terms of the traditional Somali set up, as it is now exposed to enormous pressures from other cultures and other peoples’ norms. The GSC will have to watch for the best to maintain the identity of the Somali culture.
- Deployment of positive politics in terms of how the Somali society is controlled and where authority lies – the traditional clan leaderships versus modern political parties, competencies and capacity of leaders in either case and setting up a balance between these two major sources of authority and the Islamic faith, as was traditional in the past.
- Accountability in terms of holding leaders accountable for their actions, discourses and other issues related to the respect or disrespect for the law in the Somali territories.
- Rebuilding thr old Somali Identity in terms of encouraging all Somalis to have a shared purpose and values and a general sense of fellowship as it was always in the past, thus belittling the urge to clan belonging and adherence, thereto.
- Developing the soft infrastructures including education, healthcare, policing, courts and judicial systems, regulatory bodies and public services.
- Developing the hard infrastructures of linking and connecting the Somali lands and seas with the involvement of Somali global networks.
- The participation of Somalis in the financing of their governance infrastructures through an efficient taxation systems in the home countries.
- Building an efficient Somali economic system, which puts Somali people among the greats of human societies and more specifically in the African continent.
- Preserving the Somali heritage in order to learn from the past and prepare for the future.
- Preserving the Somali language, culture, myths, stories, folklore dances, poems and poetry to promote the Somali people’s shared values and purposes.
- Maintaining the Somali pride and resilience in the face of the enormous pressures that have been exerted on the country and people for over half a century.