West Africa

Imagine the rugged Al-Miskat mountains of Northeastern State, where the silence is often broken not by birdsong, but by the ominous buzz of drones. It’s in this formidable landscape that the Northeastern State security forces, working round the clock, are making waves in the ongoing operations against ISIS. On a particularly tense Monday morning, the word was out—nine drones, each poised to wreak havoc, had been intercepted and destroyed. This is not merely a skirmish; this is tactical chess played at a high…

Galkayo (AX) — Picture this: midnight drama on the high seas as airwaves crackle with urgent distress signals. In an audacious move reminiscent of a bygone era, the MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi cargo ship heavy with coal and dreams, was hijacked in March 2024, setting off a flurry of international whispers and nail-biting negotiations. Fast forward a few months, and the dust finally begins to settle. In a significant victory against maritime crime, Northeastern State authorities have successfully nabbed Ali Ahmed Ali Shirwa,…

In the rugged landscapes of Somalia's Al Miskad mountain range, a fierce battle is unfolding, as Northeastern State forces embark on what appears to be their most ambitious military endeavor against ISIS to date. Nestled in this treacherous terrain, the insurgents have long found refuge, plotting their malicious schemes away from prying eyes. But that time, it seems, is coming to a close. The operation, which kicked off in earnest earlier this week, has been nothing short of a whirlwind—plumes of determination and grit in…

In the heart of Baidoa, a storm is brewing. The city, the bustling capital of Southwest State, is bubbling over with frustration and fury as its residents take to the streets to voice their outrage over the alarming wave of youth trafficking that has gripped the community. Picture this: determined faces woven with worry and resilience rallying together, their voices rising in a chorus demanding justice. It's a scene that could move even the hardest of hearts. The message? Crystal clear and urgent. "This is about protecting…

The Chinese government did not mince words when they denounced what they referred to as a "vicious act" that posed a grave threat to both the ship’s crew and the sanctity of international navigation. With a promise to tenaciously defend the legitimate rights of Chinese citizens and businesses abroad, they made their stance crystal clear. Picture the scene in late November: a ship leisurely cruising through the vast waters, suddenly intercepted and spirited away to the Xaafuun district, nestled within Somalia’s…

In the rapidly whirling world of social media, where even a speck of misinformation can snowball into a frenzy, rumors spun a fantastic yarn about Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Ethiopia. The buzz sprang from claims, running wild across online platforms, that the president was inspecting Ethiopia’s naval forces. But let's pause here and consider, have the metaphorical ships really come in on this? To set the record straight, factual accounts and photographic evidence reveal that President Mohamud was…

Mogadishu (AX) — In the labyrinth of African geopolitics, where the sands of strategy shift almost as swiftly as the dunes of the Sahara, Somalia finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. The nation, energetically charting the course for the African Union's next phase in peacekeeping — dubbed the African Union's Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) — eagerly gestures towards its long-time neighbor, Ethiopia, hoping to draw them into this unfolding tapestry of collaboration. Yet, the path to inclusion is anything but a…

The long-standing dream of bringing Somalia’s identification system into the 21st century is finally blossoming before our eyes. Imagine this: a country ready to leap into the future, armed with a powerful tool known as the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). Now, with an astounding capacity to handle two million ten-print records and 50,000 latent records, ABIS is not just a piece of tech hardware—it's a crucial ally in aiding the Somali Police Force's relentless pursuit of justice. It’s like having a digital…

Addis Ababa—The sun shone brightly over the Ethiopian capital on January 11, 2025, as an air of optimism and anticipation filled the streets. Against this vibrant backdrop, a monumental announcement was made—one that carried the promise of a brighter future for two historic neighbors. Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, stood before an attentive audience of officials and journalists, his composed demeanor hinting at the weight…

Mogadishu — Off the shimmering Somali coast, where the endless waves whisper secrets of the deep, a game-changing adventure is underway. Somalia, a nation poised at the crossroads of opportunity and challenge, is setting the stage for what could be its grandest economic revival—or its most precarious gamble. Picture this: a Turkish-owned research vessel slicing through the azure waters, its mission as ambitious as it is daring. By April 2025, the Oruc Reis vessel—Turkey’s pride and joy—aims to uncover untapped oil and gas…