Somalia

Mogadishu (AX) – Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, sounded a sharp critique, pointing fingers at the Ethiopian government. He claimed they are masking a land grab under the guise of fighting terrorism. At a United Nations Security Council gathering on Friday, Fiqi revealed that Somali authorities had thwarted attempts of Ethiopian-origin arms sneaking into Somalia. They believed these weapons were meant to stir the local pot, which he labeled as a "shameless breach" of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AXADLE) – Himilo Qaran, fronted by a previous Somali leader, has slammed any talk of prolonging the terms of federal and regional bosses, tossing allegations at President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for leveraging the National Consultative Conference to fuel his own political fire. In a hurried assembly held Thursday in Mogadishu, Himilo Qaran sat down to chew over the nation’s political climate, zeroing in on the ongoing National Consultative Council get-together in the city, which drew select federal bigwigs…

Mogadishu (AX) — Friction over Somalia's governance and upcoming electoral strategies dominated the discussions at the National Consultative Council (NCC) assembly in Mogadishu, marked by notable tensions and absentees influencing the discourse.A confidential insider from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) whispered to AX that Khatumo State wasn't even on the docket. Further, this source remarked that at least one Federal Member State (FMS) fancies sticking with the moniker "President" for their leaders, despite earlier…

The Israeli military unleashed an intense barrage on southern Beirut late Thursday, marking one of the fiercest offensives since the campaign escalated last week.An insider connected to Hezbollah revealed to AFP that Israel executed 11 back-to-back strikes on the group's firm grounds in Lebanon's capital.Hashem Safieddine, tipped to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah's chief and the current head of its executive council, was reportedly the target of these attacks, according to reports by the New York Times and Axios,…

Mogadishu (AX) — In the home stretch before the African Union forces exit, global partners are scrambling to lock down plans for a fresh strategy in Somalia. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is on deck to succeed ATMIS come January 2025. It’s a linchpin effort aimed at resisting the relentless Al-Shabaab insurgency threatening Somalia’s fragile peace.The African Union's Peace and Security Council has given two thumbs up to AUSSOM's strategic playbook, known as CONOPs. This mission’s…

MOGADISHU, (CAJ News) – Somalia stands poised to become the trailblazer for China’s freshly unveiled "Action for a Mine-free Africa" mission. President Xi Jinping announced this ambitious plan amid much fanfare during his pivotal address at the commencement of the Beijing Summit, part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). A key milestone for Somalia was marked by discussions between Wang Yu, the Chinese Ambassador, and Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag), Somalia's Minister of Internal Security. The purpose is to…

(Bloomberg) -- The Islamic State faction in Somalia, linked to the notorious worldwide terrorist network, has ramped up its operations in the Horn of Africa this year, according to a top military figure from US Africa Command. "I've got my eye on the northern stretch of Somalia where ISIS is swelling in size," expressed Africom Chief Michael Langley during a chat on Voice of America, expressing concern over the increased influx of foreign fighters into the region. Abdulkadir Mumin helms the IS-Somalia division. Born from a…

The Horn of Africa continues to grapple with aftershocks from Ethiopia’s agreement with North Western State of Somalia in January. This pact, which bestowed Ethiopian naval units access to North Western State of Somalia’s coastline, has sparked strife and intrigue across the region. In a twist, Hargeisa claims Ethiopia is mulling over acknowledging North Western State of Somalia’s boundaries, stirring the pot further. Fast forward nine months, and tensions escalate with new forces entering the fray, like Egypt making chummy…

The storm clouds of conflict hover ominously as Iran launches missiles at Israel. Here's the nitty-gritty of their military arsenals.Late Tuesday, Iran unleashed a salvo of at least 180 ballistic missiles at key Israeli cities.The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran declared this bombardment a reprisal for Israeli raids in Gaza and Lebanon that resulted in civilian casualties, also citing the assassinations of notable figures from IRGC, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Targeting three strategic military locales in Tel…

Taxes, the lifeblood of nations, are the engines driving public services like healthcare, education, and roads, fostering economic growth everywhere. In the vibrant yet resource-strapped landscape of sub-Saharan Africa, adequate public services hinge on tax collection, but obstacles loom large. Kenya's recent tax uproar highlights the friction brewing as folks demand justice in tax policies that evenly spread the fiscal load. Tax collection is a bit of a pickle with small-time businesses and farming galore. Capturing this…