A New York State Civil Servant From Somalia

By ⋅ August 23, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment
Play
Download
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Photo: Daniel Robison)

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Photo: Daniel Robison)

A country in Africa is the starting point for our Geo Quiz this time: We’re talking about Somalia, in East Africa. The country has no functioning national government.

In fact, it hasn’t had one for the two decades that it’s been immersed in a brutal civil war. But Somalia does have a transitional government which controls some territory. Until recently, it’s prime minister was Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. He resigned after a few months and is now back in the city he’s called home for over 20 years.

He works there for the local State Transportation Department. So where is that?

Here’s your main clue: it’s not in Somalia. This city is a gateway to one of the seven wonders of the world, and it’s a lot closer than you might think.

Answer: Buffalo, New York!

Last fall, Mohamed was working as a New York State civil servant when he got a call from Mogadishu. Daniel Robison of station WNED in Buffalo has the rest of the story.

Discussion

2 comments for “A New York State Civil Servant From Somalia”

  • Linda Lowry

    Thanks for the story, which I heard in my car on the drive home today. I was disappointed when the reporter, Daniel Robison, failed to mention that another Western New Yorker was tapped to take over as the Prime Minister of Somalia after Mohamed resigned. He is Dr. Abdiwelli Mohamed Ali, who is a Harvard-educated Economics professor at Niagara University in Lewiston, NY. I had him as professor in my MBA program last year.  See: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/23/abdiweli-mohamed-ali-somalia-prime-minister_n_882848.html

  • Linda Lowry

    Thanks for the story, which I heard in my car on the drive home today. I was disappointed when the reporter, Daniel Robison, failed to mention that another Western New Yorker was tapped to take over as the Prime Minister of Somalia after Mohamed resigned. He is Dr. Abdiwelli Mohamed Ali, who is a Harvard-educated Economics professor at Niagara University in Lewiston, NY. I had him as professor in my MBA program last year.  See: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/23/abdiweli-mohamed-ali-somalia-prime-minister_n_882848.html