BAIDOA, Somalia — Gunfire broke out on the outskirts of Baidoa on Friday after fighters loyal to the ousted South West State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen moved against positions held by Somali federal government troops, according to security sources and local residents. The violence flared near the southwestern city at a moment of already sharp political strain, deepening concerns over security in a region long shaped by disputes over South West State’s leadership. Residents said the confrontation started when…

Friday May 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s intelligence service says it and international partners have killed 26 al-Shabab fighters in a series of coordinated military operations in the Hiiraan region, striking what officials described as key militant hideouts and support sites. The National Intelligence and Security Agency said Friday that the operations hit al-Shabab positions in Mahaas, Mukayle and Shaw, areas where the group had been assembling fighters, stockpiling weapons and preparing attacks. NISA said the…

Friday May 22, 2026 Pretoria (AX) — Somalia’s Embassy in South Africa has warned Somali citizens to stay alert after fresh xenophobic attacks in parts of the country targeted African and Asian foreign nationals. In its advisory, the embassy urged Somalis to remain vigilant, steer clear of areas where violence or security threats have been reported, and avoid any gatherings that could escalate into unrest. It also advised Somali business owners to consider closing their shops during periods of heightened tension in order to…

Friday May 22, 2026 Photo courtesy of Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs. Egypt on Thursday sharply denounced the opening of what was described as an “embassy” for the self-declared “Republic of North Western State of Somalia” in occupied Jerusalem, saying the move violates international law and multiple resolutions tied to international legitimacy, the foreign ministry said. In a statement, the ministry described the step as “illegal and rejected,” adding that the mission’s inauguration in occupied Jerusalem amounted to “a…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) has hailed a major advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice that says the right to strike is protected under a core international labor treaty. In a statement released Thursday, FESTU described the ruling as an important win for workers, trade unions and the wider cause of social justice. The ICJ said the right to strike is covered by the 1948 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, also…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) has hailed a landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice that confirms the right to strike is protected under a core international labor convention. In a statement issued Thursday, FESTU described the ruling as a significant win for workers, trade unions and the broader cause of social justice. The court concluded that the right to strike falls under the 1948 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to…

AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State State of Somalia of Somalia on Thursday said Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is staying in office illegally, arguing that his four-year presidency ended on May 15 after the mandates of Somalia’s federal institutions expired. The accusation came in a communique released after a cabinet meeting in Garowe, which Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni chaired. According to Puntland State, Mohamud’s term expired on May 15, 2026, while the Federal Parliament’s mandate ended on April 14, 2026. The…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, on Wednesday issued a sharp condemnation of any plan by North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared authorities in Somalia’s northwestern region, to open an embassy in occupied Jerusalem. In a statement, Aboul-Gheit said such a step would have no legal standing and would amount to a blatant provocation to the Arab and Islamic worlds. "Such rapprochement seeks to solicit illegitimate recognition of Israel from entities and regions…

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday sharply condemned reports that the self-declared “North Western State of Somalia” region intends to open an embassy in al-Quds, a move that would further signal growing ties between the Israeli regime and the breakaway territory in the Horn of Africa. In a press statement, the OIC General Secretariat said it was deeply alarmed by media reports about plans by “North Western State of Somalia” to establish a so-called “embassy” in occupied Jerusalem. It…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Health said Thursday it is stepping up emergency readiness after Ebola outbreaks were reported in East and Central Africa, with officials moving quickly to reinforce surveillance and public awareness before any case reaches the country. State Minister of Health Dr. Maryan Mohamed Hussein said the federal government is prioritizing early detection, public education and coordination with regional health workers to help keep the disease out of Somalia. “Today, we are…