Meet Makaraan

Abdikafi Mohamud Makaran, born on 01 October 1987 at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, is a distinguished youth leader, public administration professional, and policy advisor with more than 15 years of experience in leadership, governance, peacebuilding, and community development. He was raised and educated in Mogadishu, where his early life experiences shaped a deep sense of responsibility, resilience, and commitment to serving society.

From a young age, Abdikafi was recognized for his natural leadership qualities, strong character, and ability to bring people together. During his formative years, he consistently demonstrated initiative, responsibility, and a passion for community engagement—traits that later defined his career in public service and youth leadership. His early involvement in social and community activities laid the foundation for a lifelong dedication to leadership, youth empowerment, and societal development.

Abdikafi currently serves as Advisor for Youth Affairs at the Office of the Ministry of Youth and Sports od Somalia, where he provides strategic advice on youth policies, programs, and institutional coordination. In this role, he acts as a vital link between government institutions and youth-led organizations, represents youth interests in policy and decision-making forums, and supports the development of inclusive initiatives that enhance youth participation in governance and development processes.

Previously, Abdikafi served for ten consecutive years (2014–2024) as the Chairperson of the Banadir Regional Youth Association (BARYA). During his tenure, he represented youth across the Banadir Region, chaired Youth Advisory Committee meetings under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, supported government-led youth programs, and organized large-scale youth engagement events in Mogadishu. His leadership significantly strengthened youth coordination mechanisms and amplified youth voices at both regional and national levels.

At the national and international level, Abdikafi was selected as a Member of the United Nations Somalia Youth Advisory Board (2019–2021), where he represented Somali youth nationwide. In this role, he worked closely with UN agencies and development partners to ensure that youth perspectives, priorities, and aspirations were meaningfully integrated into national policies, peacebuilding efforts, and development programs.