West Africa

Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly, rallying global leaders for a united front on the world's most urgent crises. In his stirring address, Barre tackled everything from ongoing conflicts to climate change, explicitly calling out Ethiopia for infringing on Somalia's borders, and appealed for swift international intervention.

Over the last few decades, Somalia has waded through turbulent waters, moving from chaos to reclaiming its independence and self-reliance. The collapse of its central government in 1991 unleashed a wave of domestic disputes, with numerous factions unable to find common ground. This era of chaos was further complicated by external meddling, particularly from Ethiopia, which saw Somalia’s instability as an opportunity for influence, often fueling conflicts by supplying arms to various groups. Some Somali politicians courted…

With a hold brimming with heavy weaponry and ammunition for Somalia amid the turbulent Horn of Africa, the voyage of the Al Hurreya 2 was fraught with hazards in the Red Sea's perilous southern waters. The stakes? Enormous.If the Al Hurreya 2's mission faltered or was interrupted, it would spell significant embarrassment for a nation with the region's largest military, which invested billions in modern arms over the past decade.Two days post-discharge in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Monday, insiders confided in The National about…

Montreal (AFP) – Somali-Canadian artist K'naan, recognized globally for his smash hit "Wavin' Flag," which became synonymous with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, faces charges of sexual assault in Quebec City, as per local news outlets.The 47-year-old musician, born Keinan Abdi Warsame, is accused of assaulting a woman in her 20s back in July 2010, during his stay in Quebec City for a music festival.The alleged incident was reported to the police in May 2022.His legal team entered a not-guilty plea during Thursday’s court session,…

Mogadishu (AX) — President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt has underscored Egypt's unwavering allegiance to Somalia, underlining the Arabic nation's critical function within the Arab League while affirming that no entity will be allowed to jeopardize its autonomy. El-Sisi's remarks arrive amid escalating military and political friction in the Horn of Africa, where Egypt's increased involvement is altering the regional landscape."We're not making hollow threats, but anyone endangering Somalia will face consequences," el-Sisi…

City officials say the long haul to rejuvenate the Minneapolis Police Department is finally making an impact. The force has welcomed close to two dozen new officers, including several groundbreaking recruits, after a recent graduation ceremony. "As these brave individuals prepare to take their oaths today, in front of you all and before God, I recognize my sacred duty to support them fully," MPD Chief Brian O'Hara declared during the event. "I vow tonight to do everything within my power to care for them." The new…

The Somali Embassy found itself embroiled in a sticky legal tango over unpaid renovation dues. A Kenyan court recently mandated the disbursement of $201,942 to Kingsly Construction Limited from the embassy's accounts after a contractual hiccup back in 2016. NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — A Kenyan court has directed Premier Bank to release KSh 26 million ($201,942) from the Somali Embassy's funds to Kingsly Construction Limited. This verdict marks the end of a three-year tussle over unpaid renovation bills for the embassy's Nairobi…

Mogadishu— Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi dismissed immediate negotiations with Ethiopia over their maritime squabble, blaming Ethiopia's steadfastness over its controversial deal with North Western State of Somalia. The heart of the conflict lies in an agreement struck in January 2024, where North Western State of Somalia granted Ethiopia a 50-year lease over 20 kilometers of coastline. This pact would provide landlocked Ethiopia with coveted sea access for commercial and naval use. In return, Ethiopia was…

Aida Diarra, the bigwig behind Visa’s Sub-Saharan Africa division, couldn’t contain her excitement about the business tie-up. “Teaming up with UNDP Somalia lights us up as we aim to bring the digital age and financial services to every nook and cranny of the region. With our smarts in digital payments, we want to give Somali small business folks and underserved communities a real shot at economic strength and sustainable living," Diarra shared with palpable enthusiasm. Lionel Laurens, the go-to persona at UNDP Somalia, shed…

On Tuesday, Ethiopia's foreign minister cautioned that the influx of arms into Somalia might not only ignite further conflict but could also end up in the hands of terrorists, according to Ethiopia's state news agency.