Somalia

There’s growing chatter around Mandera’s prolonged border closure, with local leaders pushing to lift this directive. They believe reopening the border could spark business opportunities and bolster revenue collection. The border, shut down over a decade ago, hasn't entirely halted illegal trade, claim both leaders and residents. This persistent underground activity continues to impact lawful businesses and has wider economic consequences. The government initially sealed the border to throttle Al Shabaab terror threats and…

In Hirsalama village, located in Somalia's Mudug region, 300 families were forced to flee from ongoing clan conflicts, now gripping the wind-blasted coastal hamlet of Dhinowda, where they grapple with basic survival. Take Mohamed Abdirahman Osman, for instance. He and his nine-member family trudged for three grueling days to reach Dhinowda, about 45 kilometers from their home. Initially, they had 60 goats, but lost 40 to thirst and hunger during the journey. Upon arrival, the ordeal worsened. More goats perished due to the…

Mogadishu (AX) – Monday saw Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the big cheese at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), touch down in Mogadishu for a chinwag with Somali bigwigs, aiming to boost ties between Somalia and IGAD. In a sit-down with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, they chewed over burning regional issues like security hurdles, economic hook-ups, and IGAD's ongoing projects in Somalia. President Hassan doubled down on Somalia's resolve to tighten bonds with IGAD and to play a pivotal role in the…

MOGADISHU, Sept 16 (AX) - The Somali presidency has reportedly rolled out new directives to challenge South West State's President Abdiaziz Laftagareen's administration, insiders divulged. These directives were hashed out in a secretive parley at Villa Somalia, the presidential domicile, attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and House Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe). From sources in the loop, President Mohamud made it clear that any dialogue with Laftagareen hinges on…

Federal Government Halts Battalion Leader's Return As Tension Soars Mogadishu, Somalia — In recent revelations, the Federal Government has detained the commander of the 9th Battalion stationed in Xudur as he arrived at Aden Adde International Airport. The commander embarked from Baidoa following a security conclave targeting South West State’s stability, where he conferred with local chiefs and President Abdiaziz Laftagareen. Just as he was gearing up to head back to Xudur, plans went sideways. Sheikh Adan Madobe, Speaker…

Türkiye's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, addressed the media alongside Egypt's Foreign Minister during a joint press briefing in Cairo on August 5, 2024. AFP The third round of mediation talks under the Ankara Process between Somalia and Ethiopia, originally slated for September 2, and then moved to September 17, has now been postponed indefinitely, without a new date announced, as per Turkiye Today. Although no official explanation was provided for the delay, it follows remarks by Somalia's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moalim…

The deal allowing Ethiopia access to North Western State of Somalia's Red Sea coast has ignited a diplomatic skirmish. Somalia views this as a breach of its sovereignty since North Western State of Somalia, despite declaring independence in 1991, remains part of Somalia in Mogadishu's eyes. Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi suggested that Somalia might support Ethiopian rebel factions if Ethiopia continues with the agreement. "The option to engage with armed rebels in Ethiopia...is available to us," Fiqi stated on…

U.S. Envoy Stands Firm with Somalia, Urges Peaceful Solutions Amid Regional Strife ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — U.S. Special Envoy Mike Hammer made it unequivocally clear: Washington backs Somalia's territorial sovereignty. From within the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Hammer's words carried weight, "Hear this plainly, the United States stands with Somalia's sovereignty and unity, firmly and clearly." The backdrop to Hammer's declaration involves a contentious Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and…

Mogadishu (AX) — Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), landed in Mogadishu on Monday for high-stakes powwows with Somali leaders. Somalia's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moallin Fiqi, along with other dignitaries, greeted the IGAD delegation upon their arrival at Aden Adde Airport. The visit aims to bolster ties between IGAD and Somalia, honing in on critical matters like regional security, climate change, and the inception of a Blue Economy Centre of Excellence in…

MOGADISHU, Somalia – In a fierce lambasting, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) blasted the newly enforced ban on journalists hindering their reportage from the Lower House of the Federal Parliament. This crackdown marks yet another attempt to stifle the freedom of the press in Somalia, a calculated move to muzzle those who dare speak out on the often overlooked tension betwixt Egypt and Ethiopia in the region. On the 6th of September, a communique from the parliamentary media director landed in the inboxes of…