West Africa

In the bustling heart of Mogadishu, where ancient traditions meet modern-day challenges, a stirring call to action echoed through a gathering, drawing the attention of many. Abdikhkhadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye, the head honcho of the SSC Khaatumo administration, took center stage at a celebratory event over the weekend, but his words carried a weight far beyond the festivities. His mission? The liberation of Erigavo from the grip of North Western State of Somalia, a task as daunting as it is crucial. “My friends, my family,…

Monday January 13, 2025 Under the golden yet oppressive Californian sun, Hussein Mohamud Bulow finds himself contemplating the menu at his quaint Somali eatery tucked away in southern Los Angeles. It's hard not to notice the weight on his shoulders as he wistfully recalls better days before the thick shroud of smoke and ash from the encroaching wildfires turned life topsy-turvy. These blazes have painted a rather grim picture, discouraging Angelenos from venturing out for a meal and leaving local business owners, like…

There I was, reflecting on the preliminary pact between my homeland and Ethiopia, and suddenly, I found my thoughts drifting to the echoes of post-World War II Europe. That brutal conflict left an indelible mark on history, claiming the lives of an estimated 40 million souls—among them, 20 million military personnel and between 19 to 25 million civilians. The devastation was all too real, with economic ruin leaving nations grappling with widespread poverty, famine, and collapse.Rising from these ashes was no small feat.…

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…