Pakistan and Somalia agree to deepen security, counterterrorism partnership

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Somalia agreed Friday to step up cooperation on internal security and counterterrorism in a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Somalia’s Interior Minister Ali Yusuf at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad. Officials said the talks focused on building shared capacity across a range of security functions and formalizing channels for sustained collaboration between the two governments. The ministers also discussed ways to streamline people-to-people links, including easier…

Pakistan and Somalia set to expand security and counterterrorism cooperation

Pakistan, Somalia move to strengthen security, counterterrorism ties ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Somalia agreed to deepen cooperation on internal security and counterterrorism following talks between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Somali counterpart, Ali Yusuf, on Friday at Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior. The ministers outlined a plan to expand collaboration across security training, policing and border management, along with measures to bolster disaster response and share expertise on urban management. Both sides cast…

Somalia Arrests Five al-Shabab Suspects Over Alleged Mogadishu Attack Plot

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Friday it arrested five alleged al-Shabab militants accused of plotting to infiltrate Mogadishu and carry out attacks aimed at destabilizing the capital. In a statement, the agency, known as NISA, said the suspects were detained following an intelligence-led operation that tracked the network’s movements and communications. Authorities said they seized explosives, weapons and vehicles believed to have been readied for use in attacks. NISA did not…

Somalia Defends Scrapping UAE Defense Agreements, Citing Sovereignty at Stake

MOGADISHU — Somalia has canceled its defense and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates, a move the government said Friday was necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and public safety while keeping broader diplomatic ties intact. Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Daud Aweys Jama said the termination applies strictly to military and security cooperation frameworks between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. He argued the arrangements had become more harmful than helpful to Somalia’s…

Why Israel Took the Risk—and What We Should Do Next

Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia has jolted Somalia’s public square, igniting protests in the streets, on social media and from mosque pulpits. The outrage is understandable: for many Somalis, it feels like a direct strike at sovereignty and territorial integrity. But the larger truth can’t be shouted down. This moment is less a bolt from the blue than the culmination of long-standing vulnerabilities Somalis have allowed to deepen at home. This opinion argues that the crisis is a mirror, not a…

UN and UK Support Somali Government’s Call for Inclusive Election Talks

UN mission, UK back Somalia’s plan for inclusive election talks as tensions mount Friday January 23, 2026 MOGADISHU — The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) has welcomed the Somali federal government’s decision to convene a national consultative forum and formally invite the Somali Future Council, a leading opposition alliance, as political tensions rise over the country’s electoral timeline. In a statement Wednesday, the UN mission reaffirmed its support for an inclusive political dialogue…

Somalia’s Cabinet Approves Maritime Safety Agreement for Indian Ocean Ports

Somalia approves regional maritime safety pact, gains authority to inspect foreign ships MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a regional maritime safety agreement that will allow the country to inspect foreign vessels, enforce international shipping standards and better protect its 3,300-kilometer coastline, marking a significant step in rebuilding oversight of a long-neglected maritime sector. The Cabinet endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding among Port State Control authorities in the Indian…

Somalia Defense Chief Vows Tough Response to Any Sovereignty Threats

DOHA, Qatar — Somalia’s defense minister vowed a firm response to any threats against the country’s sovereignty, saying Mogadishu will not accept military or diplomatic actions that undermine its territorial integrity or national dignity. Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, speaking to Al Jazeera Net during a visit to the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) 2026, said the federal government has suspended all agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after what he described as…

Somali Cabinet Commends SNA for Killing 130 al-Shabaab Militants in Lower Juba Region

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Council of Ministers on Thursday praised the national army and said more than 130 al-Shabab militants were killed during a 24-hour battle that repelled a major assault on the coastal town of Kudhaa in the Lower Juba region. Officials described the operation as a decisive security victory, saying government troops thwarted what they called a desperate attempt by the al-Qaida-linked group to seize the strategic town. Authorities said the swift response prevented civilian casualties and restored stability…

Puntland State president meets Nairobi diplomats ahead of looming Somalia political talks

NAIROBI, Kenya — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni met in Nairobi with diplomats from key international partners to discuss Somalia’s political landscape, his office said, as foreign envoys prepare parallel contacts with regional leaders and opposition figures ahead of proposed national talks. Deni, accompanied by members of his cabinet, held talks with representatives from the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, according to officials. The meeting comes amid heightened…