In an unprecedented demonstration of communal solidarity during the holy month of Ramadan, Dahabshiil, on Thursday, organized simultaneous mass iftar gatherings across five major cities: Hargeisa in the Republic of Somaliland, Mogadishu and Baidoa in Somalia, Djibouti in the Republic of Djibouti, and Jijiga in Ethiopia’s Somali State. Garowe, the capital of Somalia’s Puntland, opted for an additional contribution to the Drought relief effort, instead.
Tens of thousands of fasting citizens and residents gathered in open spaces and public venues to break their fast together in what organizers described as a “free-for-all collective iftar” — open to all, without invitation, distinction, or hierarchy. In Hargeisa, the founder of the Dahabshiil Group of Companies, Mohamed Saeed Duale (above), sat among the general public to observe the breaking of the fast, reinforcing the spirit of humility that defined the event. Joining him were the Mayor of the city, Abdikarim Ahmed Moghe, and Dahabshiil’s Operations Chief, Jama Ismail, both of whom emphasized the importance of closing ranks and strengthening unity across all segments of society. Their remarks centered on the need to rise above division and work collectively for social harmony and shared progress.
In Mogadishu, the gathering reflected a similar tone of solidarity. Senior leaders of Dahabshiil were joined by key government ministers alongside Defense Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and the Mayor/Governor of the capital city, who attended the iftar in a display of national togetherness. The presence of both corporate leadership and high-ranking public officials underscored the broader message of cooperation between institutions and citizens. Comparable scenes unfolded in the other host cities, where leaders and residents sat side by side, reinforcing the shared spirit of Ramadan and collective responsibility. Beyond Corporate Social Responsibility Dahabshiil is widely known as one of the largest remittance and foreign exchange companies operating across the Horn of Africa and globally within the Somali diaspora. Founded in the 1970s, the company has grown into a financial lifeline connecting millions of families across continents.
But this Ramadan initiative went beyond financial services or conventional corporate philanthropy. It was a symbolic act rooted in Islamic principles of equality, humility, and social cohesion.
At each location, senior government leaders — including central and regional officials — sat on the ground alongside ordinary citizens. There were no VIP sections, no preferential seating, no visible hierarchy. Public servants, businesspeople, elders, youth, religious leaders, and laborers all shared the same food, the same space, and the same spiritual moment. The Islamic Foundation of Equality The gathering drew directly from Qur’anic values. The Holy Qur’an emphasizes that superiority is not based on wealth, lineage, or status, but on righteousness and consciousness of God:
“Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” (Qur’an 49:13)
This foundational teaching rejects class systems and tribal arrogance. It places moral integrity above social rank. The event embodied that teaching visibly.
Ramadan itself is designed to level society. Hunger and thirst soften the heart. They remind the wealthy of the vulnerable. They train the powerful in humility. A communal iftar magnifies that effect — especially when leaders sit shoulder to shoulder with the public. The Year’s Motto The motto of this year’s initiative — “Aan midayno quluubta, ka fogeyno qabyaalad” — “Let us unite our hearts and distance ourselves from tribalism.”
This message carries deep weight in the Somali context. Qabyaalad (clan-based division) has historically fractured political trust, social cohesion, and state-building efforts across the Somali territories.
By hosting synchronized gatherings across territories that are politically distinct — Somaliland, Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia’s Somali region — the initiative symbolically transcended political and clan lines. It created a shared spiritual moment across borders.
It reminded participants that Ramadan binds Muslims not through political systems, but through faith. Simultaneity as a Statement The simultaneous nature of the iftar was particularly powerful. While separated by borders and administrations, thousands were breaking their fast at the same time, under the same banner of unity.
In a region often portrayed through the lens of fragmentation, this act projected an alternative narrative: one of interconnectedness and shared identity.
It reinforced a truth long reflected in diaspora remittance flows — that families, economies, and communities across these cities are deeply interlinked. Social Impact and Soft Power Events of this nature generate impact on multiple levels. Shared meals help dissolve perceived social barriers, bringing people of different backgrounds into one space where distinctions feel less rigid and more human. When leaders sit among citizens without privilege or separation, the symbolism reinforces humility and signals a form of moral leadership grounded in service rather than status.
At the same time, when a major company contributes meaningfully to spiritual and civic life, it strengthens its legitimacy by aligning commercial success with social responsibility.
Perhaps most importantly, young people witness unity not as empty rhetoric but as a lived reality, seeing firsthand that cooperation and shared identity can transcend divisions.
In regions where trust in institutions can be fragile, visible acts of equality matter. A Tradition Rooted in Faith, Scaled to a Region Communal iftars are not new in Muslim societies. What distinguished this initiative was its scale, cross-border synchronization, and explicit anti-tribal messaging.
By aligning business resources with spiritual values, Dahabshiil positioned itself not merely as a financial institution, but as a civic actor invested in moral cohesion.
In a month defined by reflection, restraint, and renewal, the mass iftar gatherings across Hargeisa, Mogadishu, Garowe, Djibouti, and Jijiga offered a practical demonstration of Qur’anic equality. Click to view slideshow.