Monday May 18, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Cabinet on Sunday examined a roadmap for putting the country’s new federal constitution into effect from 2026 to 2029, even as the government pushed ahead with reforms that prominent opposition figures have rejected. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre chaired the meeting in Mogadishu, where ministers discussed constitutional implementation, one-person, one-vote elections, government regulations, international agreements and the approval of national policy measures. The Ministry of…

Rania AbushamalaMonday May 18, 2026 Saudi Arabia said on Sunday evening that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed three drones after they crossed into the kingdom’s airspace from Iraq. Defense Ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the drones were downed on Sunday morning after entering Saudi airspace from Iraqi territory. Maliki stressed that the kingdom “reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.” Saudi Arabia “will take and implement all necessary operational measures to respond to any…

U.S. and Nigerian forces have intensified their counterterrorism efforts in northeastern Nigeria, conducting a second wave of strategic airstrikes against Daesh terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin. This escalation follows a high-profile joint operation that successfully eliminated a senior leader of the group, according to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Monday. On Sunday, targeted airstrikes hit confirmed Daesh West Africa Province positions. AFRICOM stated that the targets were identified through thorough intelligence…

In a significant escalation of military efforts, the U.S. and Nigerian forces have launched new airstrikes against militant groups in northern Nigeria, occurring shortly after the announcement regarding the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a prominent figure within these insurgent factions. According to a recent statement from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the airstrikes were executed on Sunday and specifically targeted ISIS militants. Notably, there were no reported casualties among either U.S. or Nigerian military…

Monday May 18, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia on Monday marked 35 years since it broke away from Somalia, staging military parades, public festivities and fresh calls for wider international recognition. Tens of thousands turned out in Hargeisa and other major cities, including Burco and Borama, to observe May 18, the date North Western State of Somalia says represents its 1991 declaration of independence after the collapse of Somalia’s central government in Mogadishu. The main ceremony took place in…

Monday May 18, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Monday sharply denounced drone strikes aimed at Saudi Arabia after Riyadh said it had intercepted and destroyed three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq. In a statement issued Monday, the Federal Government of Somalia called the incident a grave breach of Saudi sovereignty and warned that such attacks could undermine peace and stability across the region. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said the drones were stopped on Sunday morning after crossing into the kingdom’s…

Monday May 18, 2026 Borama (AX) — Police in Borama opened fire Sunday to break up young demonstrators who burned tires in parts of the city during a protest against North Western State of Somalia’s May 18 independence celebrations, according to residents and officials. No casualties were immediately reported. The unrest unfolded in Borama, the capital of Awdal region, one of several places where tensions have been building ahead of North Western State of Somalia’s annual May 18 commemoration. The day marks North Western…

In a harrowing incident, over 50 children—primarily aged between two and five—were taken by armed assailants from three schools in Mussa, Borno State. Witnesses to the attack recounted that the kidnappers employed the young victims as human shields while making their escape on motorbikes, complicating efforts by security forces to engage. The abductions occurred at the Government Day Secondary School, Mussa Central Primary School, and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Secondary School. As of now, no group…

Botswana has scrapped the sections of its penal code that outlawed same-sex relations, a decisive move that cements one of the continent’s most significant advances for LGBTQ rights. The change formalises a 2019 High Court judgment that struck down the provisions as unconstitutional. Activists from Legabibo say the amendment underscores the government’s commitment to human rights, even as momentum elsewhere on the continent moves in the opposite direction. Several nations, including Senegal, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali,…

Monday May 18, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State security forces detained suspected pirates on Sunday in a sweep across Somalia’s Bari region, stepping up pressure on groups accused of trying to revive maritime crime along the coast. According to Puntland State security officials, the suspects are thought to have ties to pirate networks linked to attacks, kidnappings and attempted hijackings of commercial ships in Somali waters and along nearby Red Sea shipping lanes. The operations form part of a wider effort to block…