West Africa

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…

Djibouti music icon Fuaad Ahmed ‘Ilkacase’ dies after long illness; funeral draws officials, artists DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti — Fuaad Ahmed Gadhle, the towering Djiboutian singer and actor known on stage as Ilkacase and celebrated for a career that spanned more than four decades, died this week in Djibouti City after a prolonged illness. He was buried Monday night, with senior officials, artists and residents in attendance, according to family and colleagues. Ahmed’s health had been in decline for years and he recently…

DOHA, Qatar — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud used the Doha Forum to argue Somalia is moving from crisis response to an assertive phase of state-building, urging partners to align aid and security programs with the country’s plans as Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye signaled fresh commitments. Chairing a roundtable titled “State-Building in Somalia: Coordinated Strategies to Sustain Progress,” Mohamud said Somali institutions are increasingly capable of setting and executing priorities — from national security and…

Benin Foils Attempted Coup with Regional Support Amid a surge of military takeovers in West Africa, Benin successfully thwarted an attempted coup with assistance from regional allies. The president assured stability despite an early morning crisis. President Patrice Talon confirmed the situation is under control. Nigerian forces provided critical support to counter the coup. A troubling pattern of coups has developed in West Africa. Swift Response to Crisis On Sunday, Benin experienced a coup attempt when…

MOGADISHU — The Somali Electoral Commission said Monday that a dozen political organizations have submitted candidate lists for the December 25 district elections in the Banadir region, marking a significant step toward the first such vote held in the capital in more than 50 years. Commission Chairman Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan told reporters in Mogadishu that the 12 organizations have collectively put forward hundreds of names toward the required slate of 390 candidates per party. Some groups have completed their submissions,…