Sunday May 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Interior said on Saturday that Banadir district commissioner elections will be held after the Eid al-Adha holiday, with newly chosen local council members set to vote for district leaders and their deputies. Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Ali Yusuf Ali Hosh unveiled the plan in Mogadishu during a training session for newly elected local council members. He described the vote as part of a broader effort to complete a democratic and accountable…

Saturday May 23, 2026 Maths teacher Hassan Mohamed Ibrahim lost his job in one of eight IDP schools in Baidoa closed by funding cuts/Abdullahi Mohamed/Ergo More than 120 teachers in Baidoa’s displacement camps have been left without work after aid cuts shut down eight schools, pushing hundreds of families deeper into hardship in one of Somalia’s busiest hubs for the displaced. The schools, located in the Bookay area north of Baidoa, had been educating about 1,500 children from internally displaced families. With the…

Saturday May 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Police in Mogadishu have detained several young people accused of interfering with security checkpoints and taking part in violent incidents, authorities said Friday, even as opposition leaders denounced the arrests as a political crackdown. The Banadir Regional Police Command said the suspects were taken into custody in security zones after allegedly engaging in conduct that could endanger public safety, disrupt stability and restrict movement in the capital. Police said initial…

The Oyo State Police have categorically refuted claims of a successful rescue of the victims, emphasizing the need for community tranquility as they intensify their pursuit of the kidnappers. This alarming incident, involving the mass abduction of students and teachers, unfolded on May 15 when armed assailants stormed several educational institutions. Authorities caution that the circulation of misinformation exacerbates anxiety and misallocates vital security resources that are essential for ongoing rescue efforts.

Ali Al ShoukFriday May 22, 2026 Livestock costs are on the rise at Dubai's Al Qusais market ahead of Eid Al Adha. Chris Whiteoak / The National Dubai’s livestock traders are heading into Eid Al Adha with brisk business — and sharply higher prices — as families prepare for the holiday’s traditional sacrificial feast amid heavy demand and disruption linked to the Iran war. Vendors in Al Qusais said animal prices have climbed by as much as 40 per cent before the festival, a jump they attribute largely to higher shipping costs…

Friday May 22, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Fresh fighting erupted late Thursday on the outskirts of Baidoa, where Southwest State security forces clashed with militias loyal to former regional President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, officials said. The confrontation unfolded in the Idoow Dhagoole area, north of Baidoa, and left casualties, including people killed and wounded, according to reports from the scene. The precise toll was not immediately available. In a statement issued Friday, the Southwest Ministry of Security…

Friday May 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s intelligence service says it and international partners have killed 26 al-Shabab fighters in a series of coordinated military operations in the Hiiraan region, striking what officials described as key militant hideouts and support sites. The National Intelligence and Security Agency said Friday that the operations hit al-Shabab positions in Mahaas, Mukayle and Shaw, areas where the group had been assembling fighters, stockpiling weapons and preparing attacks. NISA said the…

Supporters of President Joseph Boakai are heralding a proposed piece of legislation as a landmark move toward accountability in post-conflict Liberia. This crucial initiative, which includes the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court, aims to tackle the grave injustices faced during Liberia's tumultuous period of political instability and armed conflict from 1979 to 2003. In addition to addressing wartime offenses, the legislation outlines the creation of a dedicated national anti-corruption court that will focus…

In a significant twist to a long-running legal saga, Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi said Home Affairs would lift the five-year entry ban on Nigerian evangelist Pastor Timothy Omotoso if the National Prosecuting Authority succeeds in its attempt to appeal his acquittal on sexual offences charges. Omotoso was declared an undesirable person in South Africa and handed a five-year ban in May 2025, after which he left the country voluntarily. The move came on the heels of his acquittal following a seven-year trial on…

Friday May 22, 2026 Pretoria (AX) — Somalia’s Embassy in South Africa has warned Somali citizens to stay alert after fresh xenophobic attacks in parts of the country targeted African and Asian foreign nationals. In its advisory, the embassy urged Somalis to remain vigilant, steer clear of areas where violence or security threats have been reported, and avoid any gatherings that could escalate into unrest. It also advised Somali business owners to consider closing their shops during periods of heightened tension in order to…