Electoral commission rejects Mogadishu mayor’s dismissal of district commissioners

Saturday May 2, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has rejected Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab’s move to dismiss district commissioners in parts of the capital, saying the decision has no legal basis. In a statement, the commission said the Banadir Region’s local councils were duly elected in the December 25, 2025 polls and formally took office on April 2, 2026, after being sworn in. The electoral body said the Federal Constitution and the National Electoral Law…

Piracy rises off Somalia again amid concerns over Iran war

By Shola LawalFriday May 1, 2026 A fresh wave of hijackings off Somalia is rattling shipping lanes and reviving memories of the piracy crisis that once made the Horn of Africa one of the world’s most dangerous maritime corridors. At least three vessels have been targeted this week, according to reports, prompting fears that the region may be sliding back toward the turmoil that plagued global trade in the early to mid-2000s before an international naval response helped bring the threat under control. According to the World…

Middle East Conflict Fuels Piracy Resurgence Off Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Rising tensions tied to Iran’s regional conflict are now reverberating far beyond the Middle East, with a new Bloomberg report saying the turmoil has helped drive a piracy comeback off Somalia’s coast. European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) personnel in the area say the instability has opened a security gap that Somali pirate groups are moving quickly to exploit. With oversight strained and maritime patrols stretched, pirates are again targeting some of the busiest shipping corridors in the region. The…

Trump tells Congress ceasefire means he does not need approval for Iran war

Sareen HabeshianFriday May 1, 2026 President Donald Trump has informed Congress that US hostilities with Iran have "terminated" because a ceasefire remains in place, while insisting he did not need lawmakers' approval to carry out the conflict. "There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026," the president wrote to congressional leaders. "The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have terminated." It came on the 60th day since he formally notified Congress of strikes…

Family of Pakistani sailor seized by Somali pirates seeks safe return

Ismail DilawarFriday May 1, 2026 The collage created on April 30, 2026, shows (left) Syed Hussain Yousuf’s daughter looking at his photo on a mobile phone, pleading for his safe return, and (right) a photo of Syed Hussain Yousuf. (AN Photo) A family in Karachi is living through every parent’s worst fear after a pirate assault off Somalia stranded a Pakistani tanker crew member at sea and pulled his 12-year-old daughter out of school. Syeda Masooma Batool has not been attending classes since the MT Honour 25 was seized on…

Justice Mohamed Warsame nominated as Supreme Court judge

by STAR REPORTERFriday May 1, 2026  Justice Mohamed Abdulahi Warsame  Justice Mohamed Abdulahi Warsame has been nominated by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for appointment to the Supreme Court of Kenya, ending a competitive process launched to replace the late Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim. The Commission said the decision followed deliberations on applicants who had sought the position of Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya, with the selection exercise now complete. The nomination now proceeds to the President for…

British Ambassador Calls Mogadishu One of the World’s Most Dangerous Diplomatic Postings

MOGADISHU, Somalia — For British Ambassador Charles King, diplomacy in Mogadishu comes with a soundtrack few envoys ever hear: the thrum of F-16 fighter jets cutting across the morning sky. In a recently published account, King painted an unvarnished picture of life in Somalia’s capital, calling it one of the most dangerous diplomatic assignments in the world. He described a posting defined by security restrictions that shape nearly every movement, with armored vehicles, protective equipment and tightly controlled travel…

Hawadle leaders meet in Mogadishu to bolster unity and cooperation

Friday May 1, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — In a show of broad support, the Hawadle Community Unity and Development Council held a senior-level meeting in Mogadishu on Thursday, drawing leaders and representatives from across the community. The session brought together government ministers, members of parliament, politicians, traditional elders, scholars, business figures, as well as youth and women representatives. Among those in attendance was the Hawadle community’s traditional chief, Ugaas Yusuf Ugaas Hassan Ugaas Khaliif. The…

Somali army joins multinational military exercise in Turkey

Friday May 1, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali National Army units have taken part in a multinational military exercise held in Turkey over the past several days, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense. The expansive drill drew troops from a wide roster of countries, including Somalia, the United States, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Cameroon, Libya, Pakistan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, the exercise highlighted a broad spectrum of…

Somali-born British man charged with attempted murder in Golders Green attack

Friday May 1, 2026 Essa Suleiman is due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Friday. Photograph: Newsquest/SWNS London (AX) — A knife attack in Golders Green, north London, has led to charges of attempted murder against a 45-year-old man after two Jewish men were stabbed, the Metropolitan Police Service said. Police said Essa Suleiman, a British national born in Somalia, faces two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place in relation to the Golders Green incident.…