Each year, the world celebrates World Camel Day on 22 June. This occasion is especially significant in the Horn of Africa, where camel populations are increasing as more livestock keepers diversify into camel keeping as a drought-coping mechanism. Tahira Mohamed explores trends and opportuninites in this op-ed on the ILRI website.
Reflecting on trends and opportunities in the region, Mohamed argues that “camel-based development must go hand in hand with investments in critical infrastructure, access to rangelands, market systems, financial services, and locally grounded institutions. If these foundations are strengthened, camels can become more than a symbol of resilience in the Horn of Africa. They can become a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth, food security, and climate adaptation for millions of people across the region.”
More:
Shaping Kenya’s Camel Centre of Excellence for sustainable impact – notes from GLFAfrica May 2026 discussion
Mohamed, T.S. 2025. Do they not see the camels, how they are created? Poster on camels and the Koran
Mohamed, T.S. and Nori, M. 2025. The moral economy behind the commoditisation of camel milk in northern Kenya. Journal of Eastern African Studies 19. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2024.2512641
Mohamed, T.S. and Jilo, R.B. 2025. Camels, climate, and capital: Subverting the narrative of pastoral sustainability. The Elephant. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173471
Jameel Observatory. 2024. Photovoice project shows pastoralist perspectives on prosperity and resilience. A community ‘photovoice’ project in northern Kenya illustrates some of the opportunities and challenges of camel keepers and producers – with images and narratives from the perspectives of the community members.
Mohamed, T.S. 2024. The moral economy and camel milk marketing in northern Kenya. Presented at a University of Nairobi Institute of Development Studies webinar, 21 March 2024. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.