West Africa

Abdirahman emphasized the widespread repercussions of the recent disappearances, which have left a deep impact even within government circles. "This isn't just an issue for officials—opposition folks are feeling the heat too," he remarked. In the midst of probing deeper into these incidents, he assured transparency would be the order of the day. Now, diving into the unexpected drama on social media: a slew of Facebook accounts belonging to prominent figures, like journalists, have mysteriously gone silent—vanished into…

The Biden administration's approach to the Israel-Gaza conflict has stirred unrest among Somali and Muslim Americans nationwide, contributing to Kamala Harris's dip in support normally expected by Democrats. In Minnesota, community organizers dispersed leaflets in mosques and Somali shopping centers, urging folks to consider third-party options, portraying the administration as backing what they termed genocide in the Middle East. Discussions with voters and community figures reveal alternative motivations: nostalgia for a…

A South Korean prosecutors' office representative revealed that Ramsey Khalid Ismael, better recognized as Johnny Somali in online circles, is set to be tried and temporarily prohibited from departing the nation. SEOUL, South Korea — In recent developments, an American livestreamer infamous for his audacious antics abroad is facing serious charges from South Korean authorities, who have accused him of stirring up chaos in a local convenience store, announced on Wednesday by the prosecutors. Widely known by his alias,…

On a bustling November day in 2024, citizens lined up at polling stations throughout Hargeisa and across North Western State of Somalia. Each of them was eager to participate in this pivotal moment—the presidential elections of this self-governing, albeit unrecognized, region. As the day waned, the clang of the ballot boxes ceased and doors of polling stations across North Western State of Somalia closed at precisely 6 pm, with the North Western State of Somalia National Electoral Commission (NEC) confirming the smooth…

Hargeisa (AX) — This past Wednesday, North Western State of Somalia's National Electoral Commission (NEC) received heaps of praise from international observers for orchestrating a serene and transparent presidential election. As the polls closed across this self-declared independent region, reports signaled an impressive voter turnout.A consortium of foreign diplomats, hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom, and a slew of European nations, undertook visits to over 30 polling locations within Hargeisa, Boroma,…

The European Commission has made the call to let the current fishing agreement between Brussels and Dakar lapse, citing significant issues related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices. Jean-Marc Pisani, the EU’s ambassador to West Africa, highlighted that the decision stems from Senegal's lack of adequate measures against these harmful fishing activities. As a result, he noted, European fishing vessels will cease operations in Senegal’s exclusive economic zone starting from midnight on November 17th.…

London (AX) — Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madoobe, the esteemed Somali Lower House Speaker, recently found himself in the bustling metropolis of London. There, he engaged in a pivotal meeting with none other than the British Parliament's Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The rendezvous, which took place on a brisk Wednesday, was a platform for discussing how their respective legislative bodies could knit stronger ties.Somali Parliament, following this significant meeting, issued a statement highlighting the core themes of their…

Mogadishu (AX) — In Tuesday's bustling corridors of Mogadishu, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre sat down with a notable Kenyan delegation, opening the gateway to diplomatic interventions aimed at untangling the political snafu between Somalia's federal government and Jubbaland's head honcho, Ahmed Madobe, regarding the looming electoral festivities.The Kenyan synergy was spearheaded by heavyweights like former IGAD Secretary General Mahbub Moalim, the erstwhile IGAD Special Envoy for Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed Abdi…

Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, gathered with Germany's Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in Berlin from November 5-6, 2024. The photo credits: Hannes P. Albert / picture alliance. Recently, Germany and Somalia unveiled a new agreement, sparking varied reactions and opinions. Historically, similar attempts to repatriate migrants have often faced challenges and shown limited success, as noted by several experts. On November 6, after their meeting in Berlin, Scholz and Mohamud declared their intention to return more…

Back in January 2012, German-American journalist Michael Scott Moore found himself in dire straits when he was kidnapped in Galkayo, Somalia. That's quite a ways, roughly 400 miles, northeast of the capital, Mogadishu, huh? It's a wild world we live in. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Fast forward to today, two Somali fellows—prosecutor lingo for pirates—got slapped with 30-year prison sentences. Who are these dudes, you ask? Well, they played starring roles in the dramatic 2012 abduction of Moore, and he…