Somalia

Baidoa (AX) — On Thursday, Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre engaged in meaningful discussions with the traditional elders of the Southwest state in Baidoa. The conversations pivoted on their indispensable role in building the nation and steering Somali governance.Southwest state President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen also graced the meeting, emphasizing the elders’ inputs on peace, reconciliation, and conflict resolution, especially in the Southwest regions.Prime Minister Barre underscored the crucial nature of…

Minneapolis, MN (AX) — Indian Congress heavyweight Rahul Gandhi's chat with U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) while he was in Washington has sparked a barrage of backlash from India, notably from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP harshly criticized Gandhi, accusing him of siding with folks deemed "anti-India," pointing to Omar's vocal stance against India's Kashmir policies, religious intolerance, and human rights offenses. Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American legislator representing Minnesota's 5th District,…

Mogadishu (AX) — Shazam! Mogadishu University clinched victory in the Somali International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Competition and will now wave Somalia’s flag at the All Africa IHL Competition in Nairobi this November. The showdown, which happened on Wednesday in Mogadishu, marked the first in-person gathering after a couple of years of virtual reality. Mogadishu University outperformed Somali National University in a tense and gripping final match-up.This dynamic contest, crafted by the International Committee of the Red…

ISIS Militants Rake in $6 Million Through Extortion in Somalia NAIROBI, Kenya - The relatively small yet menacing ISIS faction in Somalia has reportedly gathered nearly $6 million over the past couple of years, as highlighted in a recent report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). The report also points to the group’s ambitious endeavors to broaden its control. Currently active in Northeastern State’s Bari region, the ISIS-linked faction comprises around 500 combatants, including several foreigners. Their…

Dhusamareb (AX) — Tragedy struck on Wednesday night in a remote area nestled between Adado and Godinlabe districts in central Somalia. Local folks report that unknown assailants gunned down a man and his wife.The victims, named Ilmi Omar and his spouse, met their untimely demise at their residence, courtesy of armed militiamen who wasted no time in hightailing it to Dhusamareb before the security forces could show up.Eye-witnesses believe this cold-blooded act is tangled in a long-standing tribal vengeance. Word has it, the…

Djibouti Declines to Sell Tadjoura Port to Ethiopia NAIROBI, Kenya - In a move aimed at easing tensions in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti has offered to jointly manage the Tadjoura port with Ethiopia instead of selling it outright. Ethiopia, embroiled in a Red Sea access dispute with Somalia, finds itself at a tricky crossroads. Relations have soured between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa due to Ethiopia's intent to gain Red Sea access through Somaliland, a semi-autonomous part of Somalia. The resulting backlash…

Mogadishu (AX) — The police in Mogadishu have apprehended ten men implicated in killings, thefts, and other security-related crimes through recent raids. According to a statement from the Banadir regional police, the suspects will be brought before the appropriate courts, although their names remain undisclosed. "An operation by the Banadir regional police force, in coordination with other security agencies in the capital, has led to the arrest of ten individuals responsible for acts of killing, wounding, and robbery…

Journalists Wali Hashi (left) and Horio Abdulkadir (right), fluent in Somali, are set to helm Yle's fresh new Somali-language news service, a beacon scheduled to shine from September 2024. This initiative is crafted to bolster integration and deliver dependable newsworthy nuggets to Finland's burgeon-ing Somali-speaking populace. Kudos to Benjamin Suomela & Juha Laukkanen for the snap.HELSINKI, Finland (AX) — Come September 23, 2024, Yle Uutiset is all set to unveil a Somali-lingo news service tailored for Finland's…

Ethiopian Airlines Halts Flights to Nairobi Amid Unrest Nairobi, Kenya - Ethiopian Airlines, renowned as one of Africa's most reliable national carriers, declared a disruption of flights to Nairobi, Kenya's bustling capital. This upheaval was spurred by a rift between aviation laborers and Kenya’s government. On Wednesday, employees at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi—the largest hub in East Africa—halted work. Their protest was in response to a governmental agreement aimed at expanding the facility.…

Josep Borrell, who holds the title of Vice President of the European Union and also leads its Foreign Affairs department, recently addressed the crisis in Gaza at the Rafah border crossing.