Ahmed Mumin Warfa
Encyclopedia
Ahmed Mumin Warfa is a Somali
scientist
specializing in botany
, who with his colleague Mats Thulin discovered Cyclamen somalense
, the newest species
to be described.
and agriculture
. He also regularly conducted research with colleagues in Somalia
, where he jointly discovered several endemic species
, notably in the northeastern Bari region.
With the outbreak of the civil war
in 1991 and the closure of the university, Ahmed became an important peacemaker, working as a translator for the United Nations
and setting up councils for the reconciliation process in Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia
. His efforts brought him into conflict with several local militia leaders, and was thereafter a marked man. In 1994, he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when his car was sprayed with bullets at a checkpoint in Mogadishu
.He has three grand childern Bashir Roble,Rashid Roble ,and Nurta roble
, Kenya
, from where he then emigrated to the United States
and joined the Salt Lake Community College
as a professor
. He continues to attend conferences on herbology as a keynote speaker or contributor.
Warfa is also actively involved in the affairs of Somalia and the Somali diaspora
, whether as a reconciliator
working for the UN and the Somali President or as an activist raising funds for projects such as Hiiraan University
.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
specializing in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, who with his colleague Mats Thulin discovered Cyclamen somalense
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a genus of 23 species of perennials growing from tubers, valued for their flowers with upswept petals and variably patterned leaves...
, the newest species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
to be described.
Somalia
Warfa was a professor at the Somali National University, where he taught biologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. He also regularly conducted research with colleagues in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, where he jointly discovered several endemic species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, notably in the northeastern Bari region.
With the outbreak of the civil war
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
in 1991 and the closure of the university, Ahmed became an important peacemaker, working as a translator for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and setting up councils for the reconciliation process in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. His efforts brought him into conflict with several local militia leaders, and was thereafter a marked man. In 1994, he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when his car was sprayed with bullets at a checkpoint in Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
.He has three grand childern Bashir Roble,Rashid Roble ,and Nurta roble
United States
Warfa subsequently left Somalia for NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, from where he then emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and joined the Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is the largest higher education institution with the most diverse student body in Utah . The College offers and operates throughout the Salt Lake valley. Even with its large student body, the College maintains a student to faculty ratio of just 20 to 1...
as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. He continues to attend conferences on herbology as a keynote speaker or contributor.
Warfa is also actively involved in the affairs of Somalia and the Somali diaspora
Somali diaspora
The Somali diaspora refers to expatriate Somalis who reside in areas of the world that have traditionally not been inhabited by their ethnic group...
, whether as a reconciliator
Reconciliation
Reconciliation may variously refer to:* Bank reconciliation* Truth and reconciliation commission-Religion:* Sacrament of Penance , also known as Reconciliation...
working for the UN and the Somali President or as an activist raising funds for projects such as Hiiraan University
Hiiraan
Hiran is an administrative region in south-central Somalia.-Overview:Hiiraan is bordered by the Somali Region of Ethiopia to the northwest, and the Somalian provinces of Galgudud to the northeast, Middle Shebelle) to the south, Lower Shebelle to the southwest, and Bay and Bakool to the west.The...
.
Work
- Cordia (Boraginaceae) in NE tropical Africa and tropical Arabia - 1988
- Warfa, A.M. (1990). Taxonomy and distribution of Cordia sinensisCordia sinensisCordia sinensis is a species of flowering tree in the borage family, Boraginaceae. The species’ range extend from South Africa, through East Africa Madagascar and the Middle East to the Indian Subcontinent and Eastern Indochina. There is also a disjunct native population in Senegal. The species...
and C. nevillii (Boraginaceae), a widespread species pair in Africa and Asia.