West Africa

In a recent turn of events, Abdiwali Abdullahi finds himself in hot water, facing accusations of consumer fraud concerning the marketing of his planned Nolosha Development in Lakeville. A legal pursuit is underway to secure refunds for the countless families potentially swindled. The state's legal eagle, Attorney General Keith Ellison, has squared off against the developer targeting the Somali community in Lakeville. This bit of intrigue was disclosed in The Minnesota Star Tribune by Alex Kormann. Fueling the fire, this…

In a recent address, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi underscored Egypt’s solidarity with Somalia, a nation grappling with instability for nearly thirty years. As he spoke to distinguished guests during a ceremony celebrating a new class of police officers, Al-Sisi emphasized that Egypt's support for Somalia was not intended to provoke Ethiopia. This announcement comes amidst rising tensions in the region, especially following the arrival of a cargo ship laden with a substantial cache of military equipment from the Egyptian…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia's National Consultative Council (NCC) wraps up its important meeting on Thursday in Mogadishu. This summit is a hotspot where both federal and regional bigwigs are charting a course to tackle Al-Shabaab head-on. There's also some juicy behind-the-scenes drama with Northeastern State that can't be ignored. Gathered over two days, orchestrated by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the assembly zeroes in on boosting efforts against Al-Shabaab, which the Somali leadership brands as "Khawarij,"…

The Nigeria Emergency Management Agency has reported a grim development: 14 bodies have been retrieved from the waters of central Niger State. Unfortunately, around 150 passengers are still unaccounted for following a tragic boat capsizing incident. According to officials, the boat overturned after it was overloaded, carrying about 300 passengers from the Mundi community. These individuals had congregated for a religious event in the nearby Gbajibo village. Of those on board, 150 were successfully rescued, leaving a…

The Turkish seismic ship, Oruç Reis, is set to embark on a mission to Somalia this weekend, as mentioned by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. Minister Bayraktar broke the news about this expedition during an assembly held in Ankara on October 2. A recent accord between Türkiye and Somalia allows exploration for hydrocarbons in three specific offshore blocks. According to the agreement concluded in July, Türkiye has obtained the sole rights to explore and produce hydrocarbons in blocs each…

During a lively drill in Mogadishu, Somali authorities diligently track seafaring vessels from their Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). This exercise is part of an ongoing effort to enhance search and rescue operations. Credit/ EUCAP Somalia Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is amping up its game to improve SAR, or search and rescue, initiatives in both the aviation and maritime sectors. Partnering up with EUCAP Somalia and a bunch of European allies, they're working hard to patch up challenges that have gnawed at them for…

In an iconic moment, the new Somali Police Chief Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyaano (far right) accepted command from the outgoing Chief Major General Sulub Ahmed Firin (far left) amidst a formal handover at the Somali Police Headquarters in Mogadishu. Overseeing this baton-passing spectacle was Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag (center). Mogadishu (AX) — It's a fresh era for the Somali Police Force! Tuesday's ceremony saw Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyaano grip the reins as the new leader at the police…

FILE - Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abshir Omar Jama, at a press briefing in Mogadishu, detailing diplomatic concerns. Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has slammed the attack on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador's home in Khartoum. Calling it a blatant breach of international law, they condemned it as a grave violation of diplomatic norms. This incident raises serious questions about safety in volatile regions. In an official communication, the ministry appealed…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (left) accepts a ceremonial gift from Haluk Bayraktar (right), CEO of Baykar Technologies, in a Mogadishu meet aimed at enhancing Somalia-Turkey defence ties. Mogadishu (AX) — Over the weekend, Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of Turkey's defence behemoth Baykar and the brain behind the globally acclaimed Bayraktar TB2 drone, touched down in Mogadishu, flagging a renewed vigor in Somalia-Turkey relations. Welcomed by Somalia's Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Bayraktar then had…

Mogadishu (AX) – On Wednesday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud kicked off the National Consultative Council (NCC) gathering in Mogadishu, aiming squarely at tackling key political and security concerns. Over the course of two days, this meeting pulls together heavyweights from four regional states - Jubaland, Hirshabelle, Southwest, and Galmudug. The mayor of Mogadishu, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and his deputy are also in attendance. Per the federal government's insights, the agenda is crammed with…