Somalia

North Western State of Somalia declares coordinated internet price hike illegal North Western State of Somalia’s government has ruled that a recent, simultaneous internet price increase by telecommunications companies was unlawful and incompatible with the region’s free‑market system. A ministerial committee said the coordinated move lacked legal basis and was reversed within days after public backlash across major towns and online. Officials said prices must reflect competition and market forces, not joint action by service…

Somalia’s space ambitions meet environmental realities Somalia’s coastline and equatorial latitude have thrust Bashaqle, in Middle Shabelle, into conversations about an African launch site. The prospect promises strategic access to orbit and a pathway into the global space economy. It also brings complex environmental, health, and governance questions that must be addressed before ignition. Equatorial launches reduce fuel needs and enable heavier payloads to orbit, making Bashaqle geographically attractive. Turkey’s…

Security warning from Puntland State authorities Puntland State has urged travelers using foreign passports to avoid Somalia’s federal E‑VISA platform, citing significant security weaknesses that could expose personal data. The warning, delivered from Garowe by Puntland State’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Caydiid Dirir, alleges flaws that could allow sensitive traveler information to be accessed and misused. Dirir said the E‑VISA system contains vulnerabilities that put user data at risk. He framed the platform…

Somalia's New Cargo Tracking System Shakes Port Management Landscape Mogadishu, Somalia — In a significant shift aimed at consolidating federal control over maritime operations, Somalia's Ministry of Ports and Marine Transports has enacted a mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Number (ECTN) for all its ports. This action, highlighted in an official notice released late September, comes as a challenge to the historically autonomous port administrations of North Western State of Somalia, Puntland State, and Jubbaland, which…

Parts of the web appear to have stopped working amid a technical problem at Cloudflare. Visitors to websites such as X, formerly known as Twitter, ChatGPT and film reviewing site Letterboxd saw an error message that indicated that Cloudflare problems meant that the page could not show. Cloudflare is an internet infrastructure that offers many of the core technologies that power today’s online experiences. That includes tools that protect websites from cyber attacks and ensure that they stay online amid heavy traffic, for…

Somalia: Islamic State deploys suicide attackers in Puntland State as offensive intensifies BOSASO, Somalia — Islamic State militants in Somalia launched suicide attackers against a Puntland State security position in the Miiraale valley on Saturday, prompting a fierce clash that left at least seven people dead as regional forces push deeper into militant strongholds in the Cal-Miskaad mountains. Assault and casualties Puntland State authorities said their forces repelled the attack and killed four militants at the scene.…

Somali forces kill at least 56 Al‑Shabaab fighters in coordinated raid on Lower Jubba stronghold Joint SNA–Jubaland operation targets Jamaame area; 20 suspects captured, hideouts destroyed MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali security officials say at least 56 Al‑Shabaab fighters were killed and 20 others captured during a major operation in Lower Jubba, marking one of the most significant joint actions by federal and regional forces in the area in recent months. The raid, described by security sources as carefully planned, was…

Somalia meet Bahrain in a timely test ahead of regional fixtures Somalia face Bahrain in a friendly on Monday at 6:30 p.m. local time at Bahrain National Stadium, a tune-up with immediate stakes for the hosts and long-term value for the visitors. The match arrives two days before Bahrain’s Arab Cup qualifier against Djibouti in Doha, and offers Somalia a rare window to build cohesion and benchmark progress. Both staff groups see the fixture as an examination as much as a contest. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Bahrain…

Breaking News: Bridge Collapse at DRC Cobalt Mine Claims 32 Lives In a tragic incident, a bridge collapse at a cobalt mine in Lualaba province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has resulted in the deaths of at least 32 informal miners. The accident occurred on Saturday at the Kalando mine, approximately 42 kilometers southeast of Kolwezi, the provincial capital. Details of the Incident Provincial interior minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde reported that the bridge fell onto a flooded area of the mine, where wildcat miners were…

Airstrikes Reported on Al-Shabaab-Held Jamame as Somali Forces Advance KISMAYO, Somalia — Multiple airstrikes struck the Al-Shabaab-held town of Jamame in Lower Jubba on Friday, local sources and witnesses said, coming during a coordinated operation that included ground actions by the Somali National Army (SNA) and allied regional forces. What happened Residents and local media reported a series of precision strikes on positions in Jamame. Some accounts identified the strikes as being carried out with support from the US…