Opinions

By Dulmar Maalim Wednesday April 1, 2026 President William Ruto’s announcement that the Somalia–Kenya border will reopen in April 2026 marks a notable turn in the Horn of Africa’s security and economic outlook. Beyond the symbolism, the move speaks to a broader regional recalibration — one that places trade, connectivity, and cooperation at the center of the East African Community’s integration drive. The significance of the decision fits squarely within the broader argument I have made about regional blocs and…

OP-ED: A Federation at a Crossroads: Somalia’s Leap from Standoff to Settlement Somalia is staring down a constitutional and political rupture that exceeds the usual turbulence of fragile states. A high-stakes confrontation between the Federal Government in Mogadishu, headed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the South West State administration led by President Abdiaziz Laftagareen has emerged as one of the most serious tests of Somalia’s federalism since the system took shape. Beneath the surface lies an…

Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia has jolted Somalia’s public square, igniting protests in the streets, on social media and from mosque pulpits. The outrage is understandable: for many Somalis, it feels like a direct strike at sovereignty and territorial integrity. But the larger truth can’t be shouted down. This moment is less a bolt from the blue than the culmination of long-standing vulnerabilities Somalis have allowed to deepen at home. This opinion argues that the crisis is a mirror, not a…

Opinion | Ilhan Omar Must Reassess Her Escalating War of Words with Donald Trump The clash between Rep. Ilhan Omar and President Donald Trump has entered a phase where the volume of rhetoric risks drowning out the lives at stake. With the White House reviving a hard-line immigration agenda and ending protections that stabilized Somali-American families for decades, the cost of political grandstanding is no longer theoretical. It is immediate, personal and potentially irreversible for tens of thousands in Minnesota and…

Somalia’s growth is hitting an avoidable ceiling: the price and reliability of electricity. The country’s telecom sector—quietly swapping diesel generators for sunlight—offers a clear, local blueprint for how to lower costs, cut emissions and power a modern economy. If energy is the missing link, renewables are the bridge.

Somalia’s push to operationalize a National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has ignited a debate that reaches far beyond technical administration. At stake are core questions about the Provisional Constitution, the balance of power between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS), and the real-world consequences of layering a new federal ID on top of existing systems, including the country’s internationally recognized biometric passport. The outcome will shape citizen…

Analysis: In Ceerigaabo, a Local Truce Holds National Promise for North Western State of Somalia and Puntland State At first light in Ceerigaabo, the mountain air smells faintly of resin from the frankincense groves that have fed trade routes for centuries. Today, the conversation in this highland town in the Sanaag region is less about caravans and more about coexistence. Elders, clerics and businesspeople are trying to turn a fragile respite from clan tension into something sturdier—an agreement that could unlock security…

By Axadle Editorial Board Folks, it's been a heck of a week in Somalia’s political scene. The Southwest State is heating up, and tensions are bubbling right under the surface. Everyone's pointing at Ethiopia, but let’s be real; the actual drama is unfolding much closer to home. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent a top-tier team to Baidoa—fronted by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and featuring NISA boss Abdullahi Mohamed Ali . Unfortunately, they returned to Mogadishu dragging two hefty political losses that have…

OP-ED: Understanding Abiy Ahmed’s Mind: The Red Sea, The Indian Ocean & Maybe Alaska too If you can comprehend the mindset of patient A, you wouldn’t be concerned about a hypothetical space war. A…

The escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over territorial sovereignty are not just a bilateral issue; they portend broader regional and global consequences. The potential aggressive actions by Ethiopia risk destabilizing an already fragile region, setting off a chain reaction that could entangle various non-state actors and disrupt critical global trade routes. Ethiopia's recent MoU to establish a military pact with Somaliland, the self-declared region in Northern Somalia, raises significant legal and ethical…