In a tragic incident in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, at least 100 civilians lost their lives due to a military airstrike targeting the bustling Tumfa market, Amnesty International reported on Tuesday. The organization has called for an urgent investigation into the incident. This devastating airstrike, which occurred Sunday in the remote Zurmi district, marks the second time in a month that a crowded market in northern Nigeria has been hit, resulting in numerous casualties. According to Amnesty, medical…

Wednesday May 13, 2026 The UAE has strongly denounced the hijacking of an oil tanker off the Yemeni coast, a vessel carrying several Egyptian sailors, and its later diversion into Somali territorial waters. In its statement, the UAE said the incident amounts to a direct threat to maritime security and to the safety of international shipping lanes. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the UAE's full solidarity with Egypt and with the families of the kidnapped sailors, and its support for efforts aimed at…

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia police said Tuesday they had arrested several people accused of firing gunshots in Hargeisa amid protests surrounding the city council’s انتخاب of a new mayor and deputy mayor. Police spokesman Abdiaziz Sheikh Ismail said officers had already identified those suspected of opening fire in the capital on Monday night. He said some were in custody while others were still being tracked down. “Last night, shots were fired in the capital by suspects who have…

Hussien ElkabanyTuesday May 12, 2026 Egypt said Monday that an oil tanker carrying eight Egyptian sailors was seized off Yemen’s coast and transported to Somalia, deepening concerns over a renewed spike in maritime insecurity in the region. “Egypt is closely monitoring the hijacking of the tanker M/T Eureka from Yemeni territorial waters, which was taken to Somali territorial waters,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had directed Egypt’s embassy in…

Nik MartinTuesday May 12, 2026 Somali pirates have turned large dhows into floating bases, extending their reach and giving them a platform from which to target commercial vesselsImage: EU NAVFOR/Handout/dpa/picture alliance With ships already diverting around Africa to steer clear of conflict zones in the Middle East, piracy off Somalia is surging again. The comeback is adding pressure across global supply chains, driving up insurance bills, lengthening voyages and forcing operators to spend more on security. For the…

Tuesday May 12, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — Hargeisa’s city council installed Abdirisaq Mohamed Farah Wiwaa as the city’s new mayor on Tuesday, just hours after members moved to oust former Mayor Abdikarin Ahmed Mooge and his deputy from office. In the same extraordinary session at Hargeisa City Hall, councilors also chose Aden Jamaac Haddi Mideeye to serve as deputy mayor. Speaking after the vote, Wiwaa said the meeting had concluded calmly and vowed to focus on improving services in North Western State of Somalia’s capital.…

The acquittal of former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, who faced a $6 million corruption investigation, has ignited discussions surrounding the integrity of the judicial system. A civil society organization, the Independent Societal Watch Advocates, has characterized the verdict as a testament to judicial independence, asserting that justice should not be confined to mere convictions. This perspective comes in the wake of significant backlash from the ruling Unity Party, particularly from its Youth Chairperson, Melvin…

Somalia’s livestock sector has reached a defining moment. But if the country wants this hard-won success to translate into lasting wealth, it must stop letting its “gold” go to market at “silver” prices. The way forward, the article argues, is clear: Somalia must take control of the supply chain — from pasture to plate — and turn livestock from a raw export into a premium global brand. The Gap: Why Our Hard Work Earns Less At present, there is a deep mismatch between what the Somali bush produces and what international…

Tuesday May 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and the European Union opened their first-ever partnership dialogue in Mogadishu on May 10, 2026, setting the stage for talks on political stability, security cooperation, migration and investment, officials said. The discussions took place under Article 3 of the Samoa Agreement, which establishes structured engagement between the EU, its member states and partner countries. This round was held under the banner “A sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.” Somalia’s…

Tuesday May 12, 2026 After more than two years in detention in Somalia, six Moroccan nationals have finally made it home, their return marking the end of a long and closely watched ordeal, according to their families and the Joint Committee for the Defense of Islamist Detainees. The men arrived in Morocco last week and were then held in police custody at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations in Salé for questioning over the circumstances of their detention in Somalia’s Puntland State region.…