Somalia

Somali police publicly burn 250 cartons of seized drugs in Mogadishu, widening a high-stakes crackdown Somali authorities burned 250 cartons of seized drugs in Mogadishu on Tuesday, a public destruction meant to send an unmistakable message: the country’s ports, airports and border crossings are being watched, and trafficking will be met with the full force of the law. The haul was confiscated at Mogadishu Port and Aden Adde International Airport after weeks of heightened surveillance, police said. The Banadir Regional…

A Fragile Victory: Abdukadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Re-elected Amid Controversy in Northeast Somalia In a politically charged atmosphere marked by signs of corruption and dissent, Abdukadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known as "Firdhiye," has been re-elected as the president of the newly minted Northeast State of Somalia. The election, conducted on August 30 in Laascaanood, was a spectacle of political maneuvering that highlighted the deep-seated issues facing Somalia as it seeks stability and representation amid competing clan interests and…

Somalia's Jubaland State Raises Alarm: A Call for Unity in Troubling Times KISMAYO, Somalia — In a bold and critical statement that echoes through the tumultuous landscape of Somalia's politics, the Jubaland state has voiced increasing concern regarding what it describes as the federal government's abandonment of pivotal national priorities, namely the fight against al-Shabaab militants and the promotion of national unity. As Somalia grapples with the weight of insecurity, economic struggles, and deepening political…

Analysis: A New Chapter in Las Anod Tests Somalia’s Fragile Federalism In the dust-brown city of Las Anod, the center of a long-contested patch of northern Somalia, a political ceremony is poised to send a message that carries well beyond the city’s edge. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre are expected to attend the swearing-in of Abdikadir Ahmed Aw-Cali—widely known as Firdhiye—as president of the newly formed Northeastern Somali administration. The move signals not only the…

The Rising Tensions in Mandera: A Call for Action Against Alleged Jubaland Forces MANDERA, Kenya - The quiet, arid landscape of Mandera is facing a storm of accusations and political demands, thrusting this northern Kenyan county into the global spotlight. Reports of alleged Jubaland forces operating within its borders have ignited a political firestorm, pushing the Kenyan government into a crucible of national security and sovereignty challenges. The urgency is palpable as local and national figures call for decisive…

Analysis: Jubbaland’s Broadside Against Mogadishu Exposes Somalia’s Uneasy Balancing Act Somalia’s fragile political compact wobbled again this week as the Jubbaland regional administration publicly accused the federal government in Mogadishu of drifting from core national priorities, including the campaign against al-Shabaab and the country’s hard-won political unity. In a blunt statement issued Monday, Jubbaland warned that “short-term political interests” were eroding trust and urged a return to consensus politics. “The…

Under the acacia: After a night of fire, families from Adale search for safety Displaced mother and her family sit outside their makeshift shelter/Ergo The tree offers a patch of shade and not much else. A few plastic jerrycans, a cooking pot blackened by smoke, a sleeping mat—this is all that remains for dozens of families who fled Adale, a remote town in Somalia’s Mudug region, after armed men set fire to homes and shops late on July 31. The attack, rooted in a smoldering clan dispute, pushed more than 120 families into…

Egyptian Troops Deploy to Somalia: A New Chapter in Regional Dynamics MOGADISHU, Somalia – As the sun rises over the verdant hills of Middle Shabelle, a new chapter is unfolding in Somalia's ongoing battle against the militant group Al-Shabaab. Egyptian troops have joined the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM) to help restore peace in a region that has long felt the heavy hand of violence. This moment, however, carries complexities that resonate far beyond the borders of Somalia as geopolitical…

Somalia’s Political Turmoil: A Threatened Stability Amid Al-Shabaab Resurgence MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — In a country where shadows loom large, the specter of Al-Shabaab has once again taken root, troubling citizens and alarmingly opposition leaders alike. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud faces accusations of negligence as opposition figures blame the government’s preoccupation with constitutional revisions for the destabilization currently gripping the nation. These concerns echo the compelling narratives of a battered society,…

Somalia’s Political Crossroads: A Call for Electoral Unity MOGADISHU — As Somalia grapples with an ever-complex political landscape, former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has sounded a clarion call for urgency and unity in electoral matters. In his latest press conference held in Mogadishu, the leader of the opposition Salvation Forum vehemently opposed any attempts to extend the current government’s constitutional mandate, stating, “There is still ample time to conduct a credible and inclusive election before May 15,…