Women who led

Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi (Samsam Cabdullaahi Cabdi)

Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi is a Somali journalist and human rights activist who works on the rights of women and children. She was abducted in Mogadishu in October 2004 while working for the Association of Somali Women Journalists. In 2016 she stood trial in Kenya's High Court on charges linked to an attack on a Mombasa police station.

Last checked 2026-11-12 1 source Reading time: 1 min

Zam Zam Abdullahi AbdiZamzam Abdullahi Abdi

Known as one of
Women who led
Era
Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

Who is she?

Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi is a Somali journalist and human rights activist who focuses on the rights of women and children (Wikipedia, Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi). She holds Somali and Kenyan citizenship (same source).

Activism

She has worked as capacity building officer for the Coalition of Grassroots Women's Organizations (Wikipedia). She chaired the Somali chapter of the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect, and works for easier access to education for Somali women (same source).

Abduction in 2004

In 2004 she was in charge of information for the Association of Somali Women Journalists (Wikipedia). Armed men held her in Mogadishu from 24 to 25 October that year (same source). She has said she believes she was taken because of her work defending children (same source).

Trial in Kenya, 2016

In October 2016 she went on trial in Kenya's High Court, accused of involvement in an attack on a police station in Mombasa (Wikipedia). The group Cage Africa criticised the case, saying lawyers for the four accused women were not allowed to present evidence against the charges (same source). See Somalis in Kenya.

This page records events without taking sides.

In short

A Somali journalist and activist for women's and children's rights who was abducted in Mogadishu in 2004 and tried in Kenya in 2016.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi · en.wikipedia.org

Zam Zam Abdullahi AbdiZamzam Abdullahi Abdi

Known as one of
Women who led
Era
Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

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