Somalia

Saturday April 25, 2026 An oil tanker was left under guard after being freed, a stark reminder of how quickly piracy can again unsettle the waters off Somalia. Somali pirates have hijacked four ships in the past month.Credit...Abdiqani Hassan/Reuters Mogadishu (AX) — Somali pirates seized an oil tanker carrying 18,500 barrels of fuel and 17 crew members off Somalia’s northeastern coast, officials said Friday. The ship, identified as Honour 25, was taken late Wednesday by at least six armed men roughly 30 nautical miles…

Hassan IstiilaFriday April 24, 2026 On a dusty roadside in Elasha Biyaha, some 15 kilometers from Mogadishu, Sharmarke Aden sits in his bajaj, thumbs moving over a Samsung phone as he tries again and again to pull up his digital national ID. The app, eAqoonsi, sits at the center of Somalia’s drive to take public services online. In the best-case scenario, it should spare Aden the expense and lost time of traveling to a registration center and standing in long lines, all while sacrificing a day’s earnings. Instead, patchy…

Turkey’s expanding role in Somalia has become a fresh source of political unease in Mogadishu, after reports surfaced of direct talks between Ankara’s envoy and opposition leaders increasingly wary of Turkish influence. MOGADISHU, Somalia — New details have emerged about meetings and discussions between Turkish diplomats and Somali opposition politicians united under the Somali Future Council, amid growing accusations that Ankara is playing an increasingly visible role in Somalia’s internal political affairs. Sources…

Friday April 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia brought home 174 young nationals from Libya on Thursday in a government-led repatriation effort aimed at rescuing citizens trapped abroad, many of them after facing detention, abuse and difficult conditions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the return operation is part of continuing efforts to assist Somalis in distress and reduce the dangers linked to irregular migration and human trafficking networks. Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Mohamed…

At Least 17 Somali Migrants Die After Boat Sinks Between Algeria and Spain, Envoy Says ALGIERS, April 24 - At least 17 Somali migrants died after a vessel carrying them went down in waters between Algeria and Spain, Somalia’s ambassador to Algeria said on Thursday, underscoring once again the deadly risks Africans face on the journey toward Europe. Ambassador Yusuf Ahmed Hassan told Somali state media that distraught parents had reached out to him in search of news about missing children. Among the dead were 12 men and five…

Friday April 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A boat carrying Somali migrants capsized between Algeria and Spain, killing at least 17 people, Somalia’s ambassador to Algeria said Thursday. Ambassador Yusuf Ahmed Hassan told state media that 12 men and five women drowned after the vessel overturned during the crossing. It was not immediately clear how many passengers were aboard. “I was reached by parents who were looking for their children and wanted to know their whereabouts,” Hassan said. He said he later spoke with Algerian…

BRUSSELS — The European Union and its member states have signed off on a €75 million contribution to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, cementing the bloc’s position as the mission’s biggest financial supporter. The latest package lifts total EU assistance to a string of African Union-led operations in Somalia over the past 20 years to nearly €2.8 billion, highlighting the bloc’s enduring investment in security efforts across the Horn of Africa. Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political…

By Mohamed OladThursday April 23, 2026 With Ethiopia’s 7th National Elections just days away, the political temperature in the Somali Regional State is rising fast. In that charged atmosphere, old networks tied to the Abdi Iley era — including some of his former close advisers — and a diaspora faction of the ONLF have turned to smear politics as their chosen weapon. Their campaign against President Mustafa Omer has grown increasingly loud, multilingual, and contradictory, revealing more about the tactics of its authors than…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday opened the new headquarters of the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport, placing fresh emphasis on the government’s push to turn the maritime sector into a pillar of economic growth. Addressing the ceremony in Mogadishu, the president said the federal government is giving priority to upgrading ports, reinforcing maritime security and safeguarding marine resources as part of a broader effort to support long-term national…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia has renewed its sharp condemnation of Iran’s recent attacks on Arab countries, voicing unequivocal backing for Gulf and regional governments and urging a united front to safeguard Middle East stability. Deputy Foreign Minister Hasan Mohamed Ali set out Somalia’s position at an extraordinary ministerial session of the League of Arab States, held by videoconference on Tuesday. The meeting focused on a draft resolution put forward by Bahrain over Iran’s actions and its…