West Africa

Beledweyne (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said Monday it carried out a targeted raid with international partners in the Hiiraan region that killed seven al-Shabaab militants and destroyed a truck loaded with ammunition. In a statement, the agency said the pre-planned operation struck Biyo Madobe, a village under the Jicibow area of Hiiraan, part of a broader campaign to dismantle critical al-Shabaab positions and supply lines in central Somalia. NISA said the truck the militants were…

A Historic Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda After three decades of violence, proxy wars, and relentless political maneuvering, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a peace agreement that is being heralded as historic. Yet, in the Great Lakes region—a landscape marked by the tumult of conflict and fragility—optimism walks a delicate line alongside skepticism. As the ink dries on this pivotal document, questions linger: Will this truly signal the dawn of durable…

BORAMA, North Western State of Somalia — Traditional leaders in North Western State of Somalia’s Awdal region said Tuesday they have handed security responsibilities in Borama back to the police, moving to restore order after days of unrest that left at least 20 people dead and more wounded. The elders announced the decision after a closed-door meeting in the regional capital, reversing an earlier directive that had ordered all security forces — including police and army units — to withdraw from the city amid escalating…

Somali Danab commandos arrest two suspected al-Shabab members in Lower Shabelle raid One detainee identified as son of senior militant commander as operation near Tooratoorow targets extortion network, officials say File photo: Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers ride on a military vehicle during a security patrol in southern Somalia. The SNA’s elite Danab commandos have intensified operations in Lower Shabelle as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt al-Shabab activity across the region. MOGADISHU — Somali Danab…

Somalia’s long campaign for debt relief culminated in December 2023, when the IMF and World Bank certified the country had reached the HIPC “Completion Point.” In March 2024, Paris Club creditors followed with sweeping cancellations, clearing much of the stock of legacy obligations. On paper, the breakthrough restores Somalia’s access to concessional finance and signals confidence in the government’s economic direction. Yet the core domestic underpinnings that are supposed to safeguard a post-relief economy remain uneven…

Puntland State deploys new forces to Al-Miskaad as campaign against ISIS-Somalia enters ‘closing phase’ BOSASO, Somalia — Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 Puntland State has deployed new military units to the Al-Miskaad mountain range in the Bari region as its yearlong campaign against the Islamic State group’s Somali branch moves into what officials describe as its closing phase. Regional authorities said Monday that hundreds of recently assigned soldiers were sent to the Baallade valley and surrounding areas to reinforce and…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s passport has climbed to 100th place on the 2025 Henley Passport Index, giving Somali travelers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 33 destinations, according to data released by Henley & Partners in October 2025. While labeled “2025,” the latest Henley ranking reflects travel-access conditions measured during 2024, a methodological detail that underscores how passport power often lags behind diplomatic change by a year. Even so, the new standing marks one of Somalia’s strongest positions in more…

IMF approves additional $40 million for Somalia, releases $30 million in immediate budget support MOGADISHU — The International Monetary Fund has approved an additional $40 million for Somalia after completing the fourth review of the country’s Extended Credit Facility, authorizing an immediate $30 million disbursement for budget support. The decision lifts Somalia’s total access under the program to about $140 million and brings cumulative disbursements to roughly $100 million under the arrangement approved in December…

MOGADISHU — The man at the center of a viral deportation saga stepped into Mogadishu last month to cheers, ululations and a crush of cellphone cameras. For many Somalis online, Mahad Maxamud — a TikTok creator with a following now exceeding 450,000 — returned a folk hero. For others, he was the face of a bruising fight over truth, power and the politics of migration. In late October, the official White House account on X labeled Maxamud a “criminal illegal scumbag,” alleging he helped kidnap two French intelligence officers…

Nigerian Air Force Clarifies C-130 Landing in Burkina Faso Amid Controversy The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that the landing of its C-130 aircraft in Burkina Faso was a precautionary measure due to safety concerns stemming from a "technical issue" encountered during its operations. This clarification follows reports suggesting that the aircraft’s landing had sparked tensions between Nigeria and the Burkinabe government, raising accusations of airspace violations. The incident occurred on Monday and quickly…