West Africa

Mogadishu (AX) — On a sunny Wednesday, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) passed the baton of the Kuday Forward Operating Base (FOB) to Somali forces. It's a significant leap in the third phase of ATMIS's troop drawdown, highlighting Somalia’s budding prowess in managing its security landscape all by itself. Since 2015, this base, which sits snugly near the strategic port town of Kismayo, has been helmed by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) under ATMIS's wing. As an essential defensive anchor, it has…

FILE PHOTO Mogadishu (AX) — On Wednesday evening, a fierce skirmish erupted between the Somali military and al-Shabab insurgents near Lukugoraw, roughly 20 kilometers from Hudur in the Bakol region. Local folks shared insights, highlighting the clash erupted when al-Shabab launched a daring assault with car bombs on a military outpost, triggering relentless combat for about an hour. In a government broadcast, it was shared that their forces repelled the attack and obliterated a car bomb attempted by the rebels. “The…

**MOGADISHU (Xinhua)** -- In an update shared Thursday, a UN relief group noted a drop in humanitarian access issues, falling by 18.6% from the second to the third quarter, landing at 57 compared to the previous count of 70. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) added that three aid workers lost their lives during this timeframe. Interestingly, while these unfortunate deaths coincided with their humanitarian roles, they were not directly tied to their work but were rather outcomes of broader…

"The Egyptian Presidential Spokesman threw a post onto the official social media scene, sprinkling news hot off the press about the recent gabfest between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and PM, Mohammed bin Salman, and Egypt's big cheese." President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi played the welcoming committee at Cairo's bustling airport for the Crown Prince, treating him like royalty as he stepped onto familiar soil in Egypt. Taking the princely guest by the arm, El-Sisi led him over to the Ittihadiya Palace, where they rolled out the…

In October 2024, Turkey's bigwig, Recep Erdogan, launched a seismic research vessel bound for Somalia, as captured by Turkish Presidency/Murat Kula/Handout/Anadolu through Getty Images. Turkey's been dialing up its connection with Somalia lately. They're backing Somalia in safeguarding its seas and have penned a pact to scout for oil and gas along the East African country's coast. Chatter has also surfaced about Turkey setting up a missile and rocket testing ground in Somalia. These moves highlight Turkey's bold dreams and…

Security camera footage from June 14, 2024, captures Michael Sam Teekaye Jr. at a shooting range in Severn, Maryland. He was honing his skills with a rifle, preparing to join ISIS-Somalia. Federal agents nabbed Teekaye in October 2024 as he tried to depart for Somalia to unite with the terror group. Washington, DC (AX) — A 21-year-old from Maryland finds himself in hot water, shackled by charges of trying to back ISIS-Somalia. The U.S. Attorney's Office from Maryland revealed the conclusion of a lengthy undercover probe.…

NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — A fresh initiative is underway with Kenya inaugurating a revamped pricing panel to tackle the plummeting cost of miraa, known as khat in Somalia. This vital cash crop supports thousands of farmers, with the strategy centered around boosting exports to Somalia, the predominant purchaser of Kenyan miraa. The panel's mission is clear: to stabilize miraa and muguka prices and enhance farmer revenues. The nine-strong committee, a brainchild of the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), boasts members from…

On Wednesday, the United Nations pledged a helping hand to Somalia in a bid to ramp up investments in agriculture as part of its World Food Day celebration.The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, together with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), hosted a gathering in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. The event spotlighted “food heroes” for their role in transforming the nation’s agricultural landscape, in line with the 2024 World Food Day theme: "Right to Food for a Better Life…

In a striking announcement, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s chief diplomat, articulated that the Ethiopian Embassy, nestled within the Somali Presidential Palace since 2007, would remain put for the moment, despite simmering discontent from the Somali authorities. Ethiopia set up its embassy in Villa Somalia after its military marched into Mogadishu in December 2006. This intervention was intended to bolster the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) against rebel factions, notably the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).Although…

Mogadishu (AX) — In North Western State of Somalia, two deputy ministers have thrown in the towel, indicating a major realignment in the political sphere just a few weeks shy of the crucial November 13 presidential election. These officials, formerly aligned with the sitting Kulmiye Party, have now pledged their allegiance to Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, from the opposition. Their rationale? A push for transformation.Nasir Aydid Mohamed, once serving as Deputy Minister of Fisheries, expressed his intention to…