West Africa

MOGADISHU — Somali National Army Danab special forces, working with international partners, killed at least 20 al-Shabab fighters — including senior leaders — in a planned overnight operation in Somalia’s Bay region, the federal government said Saturday. The raid struck late Friday in the Buula Fuleey area, where the militants were assembling, according to a government statement. Officials said the target was a key gathering point for the group’s commanders in the region and described the strike as a significant blow to…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Defence said Thursday that national forces, working alongside international partners, killed 29 al-Shabaab militants in an operation centered on the town of Jabad Godane in the Middle Shabelle region. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the coordinated operation included overnight airstrikes that also destroyed vehicles and weapons the group “intended for use in attacks against civilians.” The statement did not specify the timing beyond overnight strikes or provide details on…

Somali forces repel al-Shabab assault in Middle Shabelle, kill senior commander MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali government forces, backed by organized local community fighters, repelled an al-Shabab attack on the Wargaadhi area of Middle Shabelle on Friday, killing a senior militant commander and forcing the remaining fighters to flee, the Defense Ministry said. The Somali National Army said the assault was thwarted in a coordinated defensive operation that returned and maintained full control of the area, which officials…

Saturday January 3, 2026 JOWHAR, Somalia — A landmine explosion struck a convoy escorting Hirshabelle State President Ali Guudlawe Hussein on Friday as it traveled from Mohamed Dheere Airport toward Jowhar, injuring several members of his delegation but leaving the president unharmed, officials said. The blast occurred at Jiiro Carmoole, a stretch of road between the airport and Jowhar town, and hit one of the vehicles providing security for the president shortly after his arrival, according to security sources. Ali Guudlawe…

Somalia’s president warns Israel against North Western State of Somalia presence, says recognition risks importing conflict to Horn of Africa Published Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia and any effort to establish a foothold in the breakaway region would risk dragging the Horn of Africa into broader Middle East hostilities. “We have never attacked Israel. We never have created problem to Israel. We don’t want Israel to come to us…

Opinion | Jerusalem’s lost mayoral mandate shows how factional rivalry surrenders power — a warning for Somalia’s leaders A boy holds a Palestinian flag on top of a mound of rubble in the central Gaza Strip. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images When Britain consolidated control over Jerusalem after World War I, the city’s future turned not only on imperial policy and Zionist immigration, but on a bitter rivalry inside Palestinian society. The struggle between the Husayni and Nashashibi families — two influential clans with distinct…

MOGADISHU — North Western State of Somalia-born politicians based in Mogadishu urged Somalia’s federal authorities on Thursday to avoid punitive steps that could damage the economy, restrict movement or undermine security for people living in North Western State of Somalia, warning that coercion would deepen, not heal, divisions. In a joint statement, the group — which includes current lawmakers and ministers — said forceful measures “will never bring unity” and called for a return to dialogue to resolve disputes between…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A group of North Western State of Somalia-born politicians based in Mogadishu urged the Federal Government of Somalia on Thursday to avoid punitive steps that could harm the economy, restrict movement, or undermine the security of people living in North Western State of Somalia, calling instead for de-escalation and renewed dialogue as tensions rise over Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia. The politicians warned that coercive or punitive measures would not advance Somali unity. They…

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — North Western State of Somalia on Thursday denied that it had agreed to resettle Palestinians from Gaza or host Israeli military bases in exchange for recognition from Israel, rejecting the claims as false and politically motivated. In a statement posted on X, North Western State of Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “firmly rejects false claims made by the President of Somalia alleging the resettlement of Palestinians or the establishment of military bases in North…

Tragedy Strikes as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off The Gambia At least seven people have died and many others remain missing after a boat carrying about 200 migrants capsized off the coast of The Gambia while attempting to reach Europe. This harrowing incident underscores the grave dangers faced by those seeking a better life, and it highlights the ongoing migration crisis engulfing the region. The vessel overturned near Jinack village in the North Bank Region, a noted backdrop for previous such attempts. It was later…