# Books about Somalis since 2006: Somaliland, al-Shabaab, piracy and the diaspora

> Key books on Somalis since 2006: Becoming Somaliland, Getting Somalia Wrong?, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Inside Al-Shabaab, Africa's First Democrats, City of Thorns.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/history/books-about-somalis-since-2006/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What these books are

Since 2006, books about Somalis have followed the main events of the period: the Islamic Courts Union and the Ethiopian intervention of 2006 ([Islamic Courts Union, 2006](/en/history/islamic-courts-union-2006/)), the rise of al-Shabaab ([Al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/)), piracy off the coast, the federal governments from 2012, and the growth of Somali communities abroad.

- **[Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) and [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/).** Mark Bradbury's Becoming Somaliland (2008) and Markus Hoehne's study of [Sool](/en/regions/sool/) and [Sanaag](/en/regions/sanaag/) (2015).
- **Al-Shabaab.** Stig Jarle Hansen (2013) and [Harun Maruf](/en/people/harun-maruf/) and Dan Joseph (2018) wrote histories of the movement.
- **Piracy.** Jay Bahadur (2011), Jatin Dua (2019) and Awet Weldemichael (2019).
- **The first Republic revisited.** [Abdi Samatar](/en/people/abdi-samatar/)'s Africa's First Democrats (2016) on [Aden Abdulle Osman](/en/people/aden-abdulle-osman/) and [Abdirizak Haji Hussein](/en/people/abdirizak-haji-hussein/).
- **The diaspora and refugees.** Ben Rawlence on Dadaab (2016), Keren Weitzberg on Somalis in Kenya (2017), Giulia Liberatore on Somali women in [London](/en/diaspora/london/) (2017) and Cawo Abdi on Somali migrants (2015).

## The books, oldest first

### Transnational Nomads: How Somalis Cope with Refugee Life in the Dadaab Camps of Kenya (2006)

**Cindy Horst** · English

Life, money and networks in the Dadaab camps.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/transnational-nomads-horst/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL9030960W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Transnational+Nomads+Cindy+Horst)

### Renewers of the Age: Holy Men and Social Discourse in Colonial Benaadir (2008)

**Scott S. Reese** · English

Islamic scholars and Sufi orders on the Banaadir coast under Italian rule.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/renewers-of-the-age-reese/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL9090942W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Renewers+of+the+Age%3A+Holy+Men+and+Social+Discourse+in+Colonial+Benaadir+Scott+S.+Reese)

### Becoming Somaliland (2008)

**Mark Bradbury** · English

How Somaliland built institutions after 1991.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/becoming-somaliland-bradbury/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/becomingsomalila0000brad) · [HathiTrust](https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005686202) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2232292W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Becoming+Somaliland+Mark+Bradbury)

### Understanding Somalia and Somaliland: Culture, History, Society (2008)

**I. M. Lewis** · English

Short overview by Lewis of history and society.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/understanding-somalia-and-somaliland-lewis/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21746003W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Understanding+Somalia+and+Somaliland+I.+M.+Lewis)

### East Africa and the Indian Ocean (2009)

**Edward A. Alpers** · English

Essays on the Indian Ocean coast including the Banaadir ports.

Where to read: [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=East+Africa+and+the+Indian+Ocean+Edward+A.+Alpers)

### The Ethiopian Revolution: War in the Horn of Africa (2009)

**Gebru Tareke** · English

Includes the Ogaden war of 1977 to 1978.

Where to read: [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/ethiopianrevolut0000gebr) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL3240655W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=The+Ethiopian+Revolution+Gebru+Tareke)

### Understanding the Somalia Conflagration: Identity, Political Islam and Peacebuilding (2010)

**Afyare Abdi Elmi** · English

Clan, Islam and peace-building since 1991.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/understanding-the-somalia-conflagration-elmi/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/understandingsom0000elmi) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17389170W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Understanding+the+Somalia+Conflagration%3A+Identity%2C+Political+Islam+and+Peacebuilding+Afyare+Abdi+Elmi)

### The Pirates of Somalia: Inside Their Hidden World (2011)

**Jay Bahadur** · English

Journalist's time with pirates in Puntland.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/the-pirates-of-somalia-bahadur/) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=The+Pirates+of+Somalia%3A+Inside+Their+Hidden+World+Jay+Bahadur)

### Getting Somalia Wrong? Faith, War and Hope in a Shattered State (2012)

**Mary Harper** · English

BBC Africa editor's account of Somalia after 1991.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/getting-somalia-wrong-harper/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/gettingsomaliawr0000harp) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16615706W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Getting+Somalia+Wrong%3F+Faith%2C+War+and+Hope+in+a+Shattered+State+Mary+Harper)

### Clan Cleansing in Somalia: The Ruinous Legacy of 1991 (2013)

**Lidwien Kapteijns** · English

The violence of 1991-1992 in Mogadishu and the south.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/clan-cleansing-in-somalia-kapteijns/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/clancleansingins0000kapt) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16654370W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Clan+Cleansing+in+Somalia%3A+The+Ruinous+Legacy+of+1991+Lidwien+Kapteijns)

### Al-Shabaab in Somalia: The History and Ideology of a Militant Islamist Group (2013)

**Stig Jarle Hansen** · English

History of al-Shabaab from 2005 to 2012.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/al-shabaab-in-somalia-hansen/) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Al-Shabaab+in+Somalia%3A+The+History+and+Ideology+of+a+Militant+Islamist+Group+Stig+Jarle+Hansen)

### The World's Most Dangerous Place: Inside the Outlaw State of Somalia (2013)

**James Fergusson** · English

A journalist's account of Somalia and the diaspora around 2010.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/the-worlds-most-dangerous-place-fergusson/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/worldsmostdanger0000ferg_z9a1) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21060539W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=The+World%27s+Most+Dangerous+Place+James+Fergusson)

### A House in the Sky (2013)

**Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett** · English

Memoir of a Canadian journalist held hostage in Somalia from 2008 to 2009.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/a-house-in-the-sky-lindhout/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/houseinskymemoir0000lind) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17918639W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=A+House+in+the+Sky+Amanda+Lindhout)

### Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions (2015)

**Markus V. Hoehne** · English

The contested Sool and Sanaag regions.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/between-somaliland-and-puntland-hoehne/) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Between+Somaliland+and+Puntland%3A+Marginalization%2C+Militarization+and+Conflicting+Political+Visions+Markus+V.+Hoehne)

### Elusive Jannah: The Somali Diaspora and a Borderless Muslim Identity (2015)

**Cawo Mohamed Abdi** · English

Somali migrants in the UAE, South Africa and the US and their faith.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/elusive-jannah-abdi/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/elusivejannahsom0000abdi) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20498124W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Elusive+Jannah%3A+The+Somali+Diaspora+and+a+Borderless+Muslim+Identity+Cawo+Mohamed+Abdi)

### Somali Oral Poetry and the Failed She-Camel Nation State (2015)

**Ali Mumin Ahad** · English

Reading of Somali poetry and the idea of the nation.

Where to read: [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21102334W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Somali+Oral+Poetry+and+the+Failed+She-Camel+Nation+State+Ali+Mumin+Ahad)

### A Man of Good Hope (2015)

**Jonny Steinberg** · English

The life of Asad Abdullahi, a Somali who grew up as a refugee and moved to South Africa.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/a-man-of-good-hope-steinberg/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20245218W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=A+Man+of+Good+Hope+Jonny+Steinberg)

### Africa's First Democrats: Somalia's Aden A. Osman and Abdirazak H. Hussen (2016)

**Abdi Ismail Samatar** · English

The civilian governments of 1960-1969 and their two leaders.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/africas-first-democrats-samatar/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21126490W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Africa%27s+First+Democrats%3A+Somalia%27s+Aden+A.+Osman+and+Abdirazak+H.+Hussen+Abdi+Ismail+Samatar)

### City of Thorns: Nine Lives in the World's Largest Refugee Camp (2016)

**Ben Rawlence** · English

Lives in the Dadaab camps in Kenya.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/city-of-thorns-rawlence/) · [Read free on Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/cityofthornsnine0000rawl_o2t1) · [HathiTrust](https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102324968) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20016085W) · [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Thorns) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=City+of+Thorns%3A+Nine+Lives+in+the+World%27s+Largest+Refugee+Camp+Ben+Rawlence)

### Somali, Muslim, British: Striving in Securitized Britain (2017)

**Giulia Liberatore** · English

Young Somali women in London and how they practise Islam.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/somali-muslim-british-liberatore/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20595431W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Somali%2C+Muslim%2C+British+Giulia+Liberatore)

### We Do Not Have Borders: Greater Somalia and the Predicaments of Belonging in Kenya (2017)

**Keren Weitzberg** · English

Somalis in Kenya from colonial times.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/we-do-not-have-borders-weitzberg/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20210596W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=We+Do+Not+Have+Borders+Keren+Weitzberg)

### Inside Al-Shabaab: The Secret History of Al-Qaeda's Most Powerful Ally (2018)

**Harun Maruf & Dan Joseph** · English

History of al-Shabaab by two VOA journalists, one of them Somali.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/inside-al-shabaab-maruf/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20597859W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Inside+Al-Shabaab+Harun+Maruf)

### Captured at Sea: Piracy and Protection in the Indian Ocean (2019)

**Jatin Dua** · English

Piracy off Somalia, insurance and the shipping trade.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/captured-at-sea-dua/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21211825W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Captured+at+Sea+Jatin+Dua)

### Piracy in Somalia: Violence and Development in the Horn of Africa (2019)

**Awet Tewelde Weldemichael** · English

History of piracy off the Somali coast.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/piracy-in-somalia-weldemichael/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21194258W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Piracy+in+Somalia+Awet+Tewelde+Weldemichael)

### Mobile Urbanity: Somali Presence in Urban East Africa (2019)

**Neil Carrier & Tabea Scharrer (eds.)** · English

Somalis in Nairobi, Kampala and other East African cities.

Where to read: [Full page on this book](/en/books/mobile-urbanity-carrier-scharrer/) · [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21355351W) · [Find in a library (WorldCat)](https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Mobile+Urbanity+Neil+Carrier)

## Related pages

- [Books about Somalis, 1960 to 1990](/en/history/books-about-somalis-1960-1990/)
- [Books about Somalis, 1991 to 2005](/en/history/books-about-somalis-1991-2005/)
- [Books about Somalis since 2006](/en/history/books-about-somalis-since-2006/)
- [Somali authors and their books](/en/society/somali-authors-and-their-books/)
- [Books about Somalis: every era](/en/history/books-about-somalis/)

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