Mogadishu (AX) – Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, head of Jubaland, touched down in Mogadishu on Wednesday to join the imminent National Consultative Council (NCC) powwow. The onlookers at Aden Adde International Airport brought the heat, greeting federal lawmakers, ministers, and other bigwig politicos, making it the second such welcome of the day for a regional honcho. Earlier, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen from Southwest arrived in the bustling city for the eagerly awaited NCC gathering. In just a few days, the NCC…

Somalia Criticizes Strike on UAE Envoy's Residence in Sudan Expressing strong disapproval, Somalia blasted the assault on the home of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador in Khartoum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the act "unfortunate and disrespectful" in their fresh communication. They emphasized that the strike violated diplomatic etiquette and warned that it could rattle ties among Arab League nations, which includes Somalia. The communiqué stressed the need to uphold the Vienna Convention by…

Iraqi Militia Threatens to Halt Oil Exports, Europe's Winter Energy Security at Stake BAGHDAD, Iraq — An influential figure from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) has sounded a grave alert about the ripple effects of potential warfare in the Middle East on global energy resources. Sharing his thoughts over social media, he proclaimed, "If war erupts, not a single barrel of oil or cubic meter of gas will exit the Middle East. Winter looms…

Sudanese Military Rejects Accusations of Bombing UAE Diplomat's Home in Khartoum The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) vehemently dismissed allegations that they bombed the home of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) envoy in Khartoum. Instead, they pointed fingers at the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the destruction. On Monday, the UAE released a strongly-worded statement condemning the attack on their ambassador's residence by what they claimed were Sudanese military jets, branding the incident as 'barbaric and primitive.' The…

Mogadishu (AX) – Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, leader of Southwest regional state, landed in Mogadishu on Wednesday, ready for the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting.On arrival at Aden Adde International Airport, a welcoming committee featuring federal lawmakers, ministers, and notable political figures greeted the delegation with warm reception as they made their way to their accommodations in the bustling capital.Social media pictures highlighted the heavy military support accompanying the group,…

FILE - U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, at the helm of U.S. Africa Command, partakes in a military drill in Agadir, Morocco, May 30, 2024. The Islamic State in Somalia has doubled its strength in the past year, reveals the head of U.S. Africa Command in a chat with VOA. “Northern Somalia is on my radar due to the uptick in ISIS numbers,” AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley mentioned in a candid interview, using the acronym for the terrorist group. Langley refrained from disclosing the U.S.'s exact figures on…

Mogadishu (AX) — The European Union (EU) has committed €9 million to Somalia's Federal Government (FGS) for advancing governance reforms. This funding, part of the EU's Somalia State and Resilience Building Contract (SRBC II), aims to boost public financial management and spearhead economic growth. The allocation will aid Somalia in bolstering domestic revenue collection, fortifying fiscal federalism, and enhancing social services, including public education through initiatives such as the National Teacher's Initiative.…

DUBAI — Saudi Arabia has embarked on a significant surge in executions, hitting a 30-year apex. With three more executions announced on Saturday, the 2024 tally skyrocketed to 198, per AFP's count. The kingdom ranks third globally in executions, trailing only China and Iran, Amnesty International reported for 2023. This latest figure supercedes previous peaks of 196 in 2022 and 192 in 1995, according to the London-based human rights organization, which has been documenting annual data since 1990. The Saudi Press…

--- ## Ethiopia Silent on Djibouti's Proposal for Easing Tensions with Somalia NAIROBI, Kenya - Over a month has trickled by, and Ethiopia has yet to respond to Djibouti's proposal, which aims to ease the strained relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. This initiative, endorsed by multiple international actors, is gaining momentum. Djibouti's Foreign Affairs minister, Mohamoud Ali Youssouf, announced last month that Djibouti is poised to resolve the maritime dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia. He mentioned that…

Mogadishu (AX) – On Monday, Somali Minister of Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, and his Turkmenistan counterpart, J. Gurbandeldiyev, connected via video call, discussing ways to bolster ties in education, culture, and tech sectors. Fathudin Ali Muhammad, the Somali Ambassador to Turkmenistan residing in Ankara, took part in the session. The main focus was on fostering collaboration and promoting university-level education between the two countries. Turkmenistan's Minister of Education applauded Somalia's enthusiasm…