Thursday May 14, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders left the table Wednesday without a deal after hours of hard-fought talks over the country’s contested electoral roadmap, according to sources familiar with the meeting. The negotiations took place within the tightly secured compound of Aden Abdulle Osman International Airport in Mogadishu, at a venue operated by the National Intelligence and Security Agency. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama…

Excitement is building as the U.S. Department of State has revealed a significant update for international fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Visitors hailing from specific countries previously burdened by U.S. visa bond requirements will no longer have to pay those fees. This development traces back to 2025, when the Trump administration implemented a policy mandating visitors from select nations to submit bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 for tourist visas. Among the 50 nations affected by this…

Thursday May 14, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Britain has tightened its travel guidance for Somalia, urging its citizens to avoid nearly all travel to the country amid terrorism fears, armed clashes and an unsettled security climate. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office says against all travel to Somalia, including the eastern North Western State of Somalia regions of Togdheer, Sanaag and Sool. The department said violence has escalated in those areas in recent months and that conditions remain highly unstable. It…

By JEREMIAH WAKAYAThursday May 14, 2026 Ruto said Kenya had made significant progress toward reopening the frontier before clashes erupted between Somalia’s Federal Government and regional state forces near the Kenyan border/PCS/FILE President William Ruto has said the long-promised reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border collapsed because renewed violence and political turmoil in Somalia upended the plan. In an interview with France 24 on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Ruto said Kenya had been moving…

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held talks Tuesday with Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji in Kampala, a meeting that centered on bilateral ties and other matters of shared concern. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the discussions covered cooperation between Somalia and Saudi Arabia and explored ways to deepen relations between the two countries. El-Khereiji was in Uganda to represent Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the inauguration of…

Alastair McKeeWednesday May 13, 2026 Councillor Yassin Mohamud has represented Lawrence Hill in Bristol since 2021 Bristol is preparing to welcome a Lord Mayor who says his first priority will be bringing people together. Yassin Mohamud, the Green councillor for Lawrence Hill, will be sworn in at City Hall later. Born in Somalia, he came to the UK as a refugee and has spent the past 15 years living in St Jude's, while serving his ward since 2021. Mohamud said he entered public life "to listen, to serve, and to work with the…

By Abdiaziz Ali Mohamed Wednesday May 13, 2026 Somali identity has never been fixed, singular or simple. It has taken shape over centuries through three powerful currents: a deeply rooted Islamic worldview, a durable clan-based social order, and newer influences born of diaspora life, state-building projects and global modernity. These forces do not replace one another. They overlap, collide and reinforce each other, creating an identity system that remains central to Somalia’s political and social future. The real question…

In a significant declaration, Dansa Kourouma, the Speaker of Guinea's National Transitional Council (NTC), affirmed the nation's commitment to safeguarding the contested Solumba border region. This area is at the heart of a territorial disagreement, with Liberia asserting that it lies within its own boundaries. Kourouma's remarks emerged during a discussion at the ECOWAS Parliament, as reported by Senator Edwin Snowe, who leads the Liberian delegation. According to Snowe, Kourouma conveyed to the regional assembly that,…

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Egyptian diplomats moved quickly after pirates seized a commercial cargo vessel with an Egyptian crew off the Somali coast, as Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad Ambassador Haddad El-Gohary laid out the steps taken to safeguard the sailors and push for their release. Speaking by phone on Al-Hayat TV, El-Gohary rejected claims that the pirates had singled out the Egyptian crew. He said such attacks are typically indiscriminate, with pirates boarding vessels before…

Tragic news has emerged from the Nigerian film industry as beloved Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has passed away at the age of 40 after a prolonged battle with cancer. His absence from social media and public appearances in recent months had raised alarms among fans and colleagues alike. The last update shared by Ekubo on his social media accounts dates back to December 2024. Alexx Ekubo captivated audiences with his performances in a variety of romantic comedies and dramatic films, including noteworthy titles such as Ladies…