Ubah Ali
Born1996 (age 27–28)
Burao, Somaliland
CitizenshipSomaliland
EducationUniversity of Stirling American University of Beirut
OccupationSomali activist
AwardsBBC's 100 Women List

Ubah Ali (born 1996) is a social activist and feminist from Somaliland, who campaigns against female genital mutilation. In 2020, she was listed by the BBC as one of the world's most influential 100 Women.[1]

Biography

Ali was born in 1996 in Burco in the Toghdeer region of Somaliland.[2] Her parents are both primary school dropouts: her father worked as a cab driver until he had a stroke in 2012, and her mother used to sell clothes.[3] It was her mother who encouraged Ali's education and for her to apply for scholarships.[4] She studied at the Abaarso School of Science and Technology from 2011 and left there in 2015.[5] She then moved to Miss Hall's School and graduated from there in 2016.[6] As of 2019, she was studying for a BA degree in Politics and Human Rights at the American University of Beirut.[2] Her undergraduate study is funded by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.[3] Whilst studying there, she also tutors Syrian refugees.[5]

Activism

In 2015, aged 18, Ali established an organization called Rajo: Hope for Somaliland Community with the aim of providing educational opportunities for orphans and under-privileged students from Somaliland.[6] This was inspired by work she undertook at the Hargeisa Orphanage Centre, between 2012 and 2015, where she tutored students.[6] In 2015 she also fundraised for communities in Somaliland affected by drought.[5]

In 2020, Ali became more widely known due to her campaigning against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somaliland.[2] In 2018 she founded the Solace for Somaliland Girls Foundation, which aims to end the practice through education and awareness campaigns.[2] The group established the first anti-FGM group in Somaliland as a result.[4] Whilst many Somali people associate FGM with Sharia, Ali alongside doctors and a growing number of religious leaders believe it to be a cultural phenomenon, which can be altered.[2] Ali, as well as her three sisters, are survivors of FGM.[2]

In 2020, Ubah Ali was part of the BBC’s list of the 100 most influential women in the world.[7][8]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "UpStart Kitchen helps local food entrepreneurs start and grow their business". TMJ4. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "UNPO: Ubah Ali, Somaliland". unpo.org. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 Somaliland Sun (5 November 2018). "Somaliland: 22 Years Old Victim of FGM Ubah Ali now Fighting to End the Practice". Somaliland Sun. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 linaduque (28 September 2020). "Ubah Ali, Activist". Untold. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "OUR STUDENTSS". Abaarso Network. 13 April 2020. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ubah Ali". The Resolution Project. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "How Nigerians Aisha Yesufu, Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim enta BBC 100 Women list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
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