Somalia: Rift Deepens Between President and Intelligence Chief Over Galmudug Election MOGADISHU, Somalia — A widening clash between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director Mahad Salad has raised alarm over the risk of unrest in central Galmudug, according to people familiar with the talks. What began as a round of political consultations in Mogadishu has now soured into a breakdown in negotiations over who should lead Galmudug ahead of the regional presidential…

by STEPHEN ASTARIKOThursday May 28, 2026 Education leaders, special school representatives, parents, human rights activists and advocates for children with special needs in Tana River have warned that current funding levels for special schools are too low to meet the rising demands of learners living with disabilities. Speaking at a forum held in a Garissa hotel, the stakeholders said special needs institutions are grappling with persistent problems rooted in underfunding. They pointed to shortages of teachers, a lack of…

Somalia sits on a strategically important stretch of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, close to one of the world’s busiest chokepoints. The country’s maritime space influences how goods move between Europe, Asia and Africa—and how shipping security in the region is managed. This explainer outlines why Somalia matters to global trade routes, what has shaped maritime activity over time, and key facts that help explain the geography of shipping in the Horn of Africa. Somalia’s location: a gateway to major sea lanes…

by Zach LebowitzThursday May 28, 2026 What begins as a rehearsal in a Minneapolis art space quickly opens into something larger: a celebration of Somali tradition, a meditation on diaspora, and a performance built to feel like a wedding afterparty brought to life. Nadira Hussein and Maryan Yusuf’s new work reimagines a Gaaf — the customary Somali celebration that follows a wedding — blending music, dance, cultural references, audience participation and newly invented twists. Members of the Saanta Collective perforn at the…

Thursday May 28, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has accused Somalia and Djibouti of meddling in North Western State of Somalia’s internal affairs, saying Hargeisa will stand firm in defending its security and political choices as tensions mount over its ties with Israel. In Eid al-Adha remarks on Wednesday, Irro said North Western State of Somalia’s foreign policy is rooted in peaceful coexistence, cooperation and mutual respect. He added that some neighboring states had taken a hostile…

Thursday May 28, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Saadiq Omar Hassan Joon, a Somali lawmaker and former Banadir police chief, has cautioned President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud against meddling in the coming election in Galmudug, as political tensions sharpen in Dhusamareb. Writing on Facebook on Wednesday, Saadiq Joon linked peace in Dhusamareb, the Galmudug capital, with calm in Mogadishu’s Wardhigley district, home to the presidential palace. “Oday Hassan, the peace in Dhusamareb and the peace in Wardhigley are interconnected, you…

Wednesday May 27, 2026 Somali minister says partnership with Türkiye could support economic growth and energy security Somalia is anticipating encouraging developments before the end of this year from offshore oil and gas drilling with Türkiye, while also seeking to broaden cooperation with Ankara in mining, Somali Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed said. Speaking to Anadolu, Mohamed said Somalia and Türkiye have entered a new stage in their energy partnership after completing seismic…

Video: Garissa religious leaders sound alarm over surging crime and human trafficking - Hiiraan Online…

MOGADISHU — A widening political feud is taking shape inside Somalia’s federal leadership, with a struggle over Galmudug’s next president exposing fault lines around President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s inner circle. Sources familiar with the talks told Axadle that shortly after returning from Djibouti, where he attended the inauguration ceremony of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President Hassan Sheikh privately urged one of his close political allies — a businessman described as holding substantial influence over revenues…

By Faisal AliWednesday May 27, 2026 A flower-decked swing at Lido Beach offered a cheerful backdrop for young women marking Eid in Mogadishu, where the holiday brought a rare, bright pause from the city’s harsher realities. Mogadishu, Somalia- Across the Muslim world, Eid al-Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice — was observed on Wednesday, closing out the Hajj pilgrimage season with prayer, family gatherings and acts of charity. The holiday is the second major celebration in the Islamic calendar, coming after Eid al-Fitr, which…