Somali forces and AU troops kill more than 42 al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — More than 40 al-Shabab militants were killed on Thursday when the group tried to reclaim a town recently taken in southern Somalia, according to officials. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) said the clashes broke out in Mubarak, a strategically placed settlement in the Lower Shabelle region that joint forces from the Somali National Armed Forces and African Union troops seized earlier this month. According to AUSSOM, militants launched an attack on…

Trump Considers Deploying 10,000 Additional U.S. Ground Troops to Middle East

Trump Mulls Sending Up to 10,000 More U.S. Ground Troops to the Middle East WASHINGTON — Confronting mounting regional tensions, Donald Trump is weighing a plan to send as many as 10,000 additional U.S. ground troops to the Middle East, on top of more than 6,000 personnel already en route, according to officials familiar with the deliberations. The prospective deployment is intended to reinforce the American military…

Somali Prime Minister dismisses ministers who resigned over federal policies

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s political fallout over constitutional changes deepened this week after Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre formally fired two state ministers who had already announced they were quitting in protest earlier this month. In a statement released Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said the dismissals were carried out under Articles 120 and 117 of the Provisional Constitution, as well as the Council of Ministers’ internal regulations. The office said the move was intended to…

Abdalla Samatalis sub-clan inaugurates new traditional leader in Mogadishu

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - With clan unity and local stability high on the agenda, Abdijamal Mohamed Ali was officially inaugurated on Wednesday as the traditional leader of the Abdalla Samatalis sub-clan of the Hawadle community at a Mogadishu ceremony that drew traditional elders, politicians, youth representatives and women leaders. Senior clan elders chose Abdijamal in a consensus meeting, pointing to his long record of service in community mediation and conflict resolution. Those involved in the selection…

Somali forces, AU troops kill 42 al-Shabaab fighters in Lower Shabelle

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - A fierce clash in southern Somalia left more than 40 al-Shabab militants dead after the group tried to claw back control of a recently captured town, officials said Thursday. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), said in a statement that the fighting erupted in Mubarak, a strategic town in the Lower Shabelle region that joint Somali National Armed Forces and African Union troops seized earlier this month. According to AUSSOM, the militants struck a…

Trump floats seizing Iranian oil, claims Iran is desperate for deal

Trump floats 'taking control of Iranian oil,' says Tehran eager for deal US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran’s leaders are “begging to make a deal” to halt the ongoing Middle East war, pushing back on suggestions that Washington is chasing talks. He claimed Tehran signaled its willingness to negotiate by allowing 10 oil tankers to move through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, describing the passage as a…

Kenya considers military escorts for export ships bound for Middle East

by Frankline Oduor Thursday March 26, 2026 Kenya Navy officers conducting a joint maritime operation in the Western Indian Ocean, March 18, 2025. Photo KDF As fighting in the Middle East continues to unsettle major sea lanes, the government is weighing a tougher response: using military-supported maritime security to protect Kenyan exports bound for the region. Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana said in an interview on NTV on Tuesday that the State is considering special escort arrangements for cargo vessels…

Former Somali Custodial Corps commander dismissed, placed under house arrest

Thursday March 26, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A sudden shake-up at the top of Somalia’s prison service has taken a new turn, with former Somali Custodial Corps Commander General Mahad Abdirahman Aden reportedly placed under house arrest without a court order just days after being removed from his post, according to sources familiar with the matter. Those sources said General Mahad’s personal security detail has been pulled and that his movements are now being watched. Federal authorities have not released any public statement to…

Uganda to Join Iran War on Israel’s Side, Military Chief Warns

Uganda’s top military commander signaled Wednesday that Kampala could be pulled into a wider Middle East war — and would back Israel — even as he urged an immediate end to the fighting. “We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it. But any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war — on the side of Israel,” Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the chief of defense forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, wrote on the US social media company X. His warning comes as regional tensions…