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Somalia's New Digital Payment Era: Transforming Financial Access and Inclusion March 24, 2025 – Mogadishu: The dawn of a new financial era has arrived in Somalia with the launch of the country's first-ever Instant Payment System, spearheaded by the Somalia Payment Switch (SPS). This groundbreaking system, bolstered by BPC’s cutting-edge SmartVista platform, marks a pivotal step in the modernization of Somalia's financial landscape. The Central Bank of Somalia (CBS) stands at the helm of this ambitious project, aiming not…

A High-Stakes Visit: AU's Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Mogadishu The vibrant city of Mogadishu recently opened its arms to the African Union Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, for a crucial two-day working visit. His agenda, packed yet purposeful, revolved around intense discussions with Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre. At the heart of these meetings, unsurprisingly, was the persistent menace of terrorism – a pressing challenge that painfully continues to hinder peace and…

Engaging Diplomacy at the Cape: A Summit on Labor Conditions Edited By Ali MusaAxadle Times international–Monitoring Cape Town, South Africa (Horn Observer) – An air of anticipation surrounded a noteworthy event this past week as key stakeholders gathered in the vibrant city of Cape Town. Among them was Mr. Mohamed Ali Cibaar, Somalia's Commercial Affairs Attaché to the South African Embassy, who lent his presence and insights at a significant summit aimed at addressing labor…

Engaging with Elders in Adale: A Commitment to Peace In the heart of Somalia's Middle Shabelle region, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is not just meeting with local elders; he is weaving a tapestry of unity and resilience that aims to transform the landscape of Somalia's security challenges. As efforts ramp up against the formidable Al-Shabaab, labeled by the nation as a terror organization, these gatherings take on a deeper meaning, serving as more than just diplomatic exchanges. They become a battleground for…

The African Union's Resolute Stance in the Wake of Mogadishu Attacks In the heart of Mogadishu, where life pulses with resilience amidst adversity, the sounds of mortar attacks once again pierced the tense air. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has strong words for these cowardly acts. Al-Shabaab’s recent mortar attacks on Aden Abdulle International Airport and adjacent residential areas reek of desperation and disregard for human sanctity. Who are the faces impacted by these…

A City Under Duress: Mogadishu Faces Another Onslaught In the heart of Somalia, Mogadishu's Adan Adde International Airport and the fortified Halane Compound, home to numerous foreign diplomats, came under siege on a recent Wednesday. The air was punctuated with the ominous sounds of mortars finding their marks, sending tremors through nearby neighborhoods. This assault, carried out by Al-Shabab, a notorious group linked with Al-Qaeda, has once again reminded the city of its fraught security landscape. The mortars, one…

Serbia and Somalia Explore Boundless Opportunities Together On a seemingly ordinary Tuesday, a significant conversation unfolded over the phone between two dedicated leaders, each passionately representing their nations — the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Serbia. This wasn't just a routine diplomatic exchange. Instead, this dialogue echoed the possibility of forging new paths in international politics, security, economy, and technology. Imagine a world where two countries,…

The Struggle for Press Freedom in Somalia In a world where the freedom of speech is all too often taken for granted, the recent events in Somalia serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of this fundamental right. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) have been vocal in their condemnation of the arrest of five journalists from the Risaala Media Corporation. These arrests took place following a police raid on their station in Mogadishu on what seemed like an ordinary Tuesday…

MOGADISHU, Somalia – 18 March 2025 In the early hours of Tuesday in Mogadishu, tragedy struck the vibrant heart of Somali journalism. The hand of terror reached out, leaving in its wake the loss of a young and passionate journalist. Mohamed Abukar Mohamed, better known to his peers and listeners as Dabaashe, was only 31 when an Improvised Explosive Device detonated, claiming his life at his residence in the Ceel Gaabta area. Although the intended target, the president, survived this cowardly attack, the aftermath was…

Mogadishu Tragedy: Resilience Amidst Unforgiving Turmoil Edited By Ali MusaAxadle Times International–Monitoring In the heart of Somalia's bustling capital, Mogadishu, where resilience is both a necessity and a tradition, an unsettling event unfolded on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's convoy became the target of a deadly bomb attack, a calculated strike that left a trail of destruction, claiming the lives of his devoted bodyguards as well as innocent civilians, among them an online…