Somalia

Mogadishu, 2 April 2026 – In a joint operation that dealt a significant blow to Al-Shabaab’s leadership, African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops alongside Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) captured a senior militant commander in Lower Shabelle. The suspect, identified as Salaad Cusmaan Macalin, also known as "Sahm,” was apprehended on Thursday on the north-western outskirts of Mubarak. Salaad, aged 40, serves as a battalion commander within Al-Shabaab. He is originally from Burhakaba,…

Somalia has officially re-entered the world of ship registration this week, as the Federal Government’s Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport (MPTS) logged the Somali-flagged vessel Guney (IMO No. 8230417) — a move aimed at rebuilding national control over the country’s maritime domain and jump-starting its blue economy. The registration effort is designed to tighten how vessels flying the Somali flag are identified, regulated and managed, and it represents the first such flagging since the central government’s collapse…

Friday April 3, 2026 The African Union (AU) on Friday praised the China-Pakistan five-point initiative aimed at easing the current peace and stability crisis in the Gulf and Middle East. In a statement, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the plan “constitutes a timely and constructive contribution to ongoing international efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance a political and diplomatic pathway.” He said the initiative’s “emphasis on an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians,…

Friday April 3, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud landed in Baidoa on Friday for his first trip to the Southwest regional capital since the installation of an interim administration and the latest political turmoil in the state. In a statement, Villa Somalia said the visit is intended to speed up the delivery of social services, push forward peace and reconciliation efforts, reinforce governance and support preparations for Somalia’s planned one-person, one-vote elections. The president is expected…

Friday April 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council on Thursday came out forcefully against the federal government’s decision to name an interim leader for Southwest State, describing the move as unconstitutional and a direct challenge to Somalia’s federal arrangement. In a statement, the opposition-aligned council said the appointment runs counter to constitutional rules that govern transitions in federal member states, including the procedures that must be followed when a presidency becomes vacant and when…

EUCAP Somalia’s Environmental Adviser took an active role in shaping a shift toward prevention at the Country Humanitarian Forum in Mogadishu. The Somali Disaster Management Agency convened the gathering, which drew government officials, UN agencies, donors, NGOs and private-sector representatives to chart a course away from ad hoc aid and toward planned disaster risk management across the country. Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama, chaired the forum, which carried the theme “From Response to…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United States has stepped up its air campaign in Somalia at a striking pace, carrying out nearly 50 strikes in just the first three months of 2026, according to U.S. Africa Command, a sign of expanding pressure on militant groups in the Horn of Africa. In its latest statement, AFRICOM said the most recent strike hit Al-Shabaab fighters roughly 80 miles northwest of Kismayo, pushing the year’s total to 49 airstrikes. The command said the operations were carried out in close coordination with the…

Friday April 3, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia has rolled out a new digital platform aimed at tracking and curbing carbon emissions, marking a notable move in its effort to confront climate change and strengthen environmental protection. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said Thursday that the system, called “Green-Gate,” will monitor and regulate emissions produced by industrial operations, transportation and development projects across the territory. According to the ministry, the…

Dhobley, 1 April 2026 – Eighteen local and partner-force trainees marked a major step toward stronger regional healthcare today as Kenya’s AUSSOM contingent in Dhobley celebrated the fourth graduation of its Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Medical Mentorship Programme. This year’s programme had 18 trainees graduate after completing training and guidance from AUSSOM-Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) medical experts. The CIMIC Medical Mentorship Programme is an annual project that provides trainees from the local community and…

By Idrees Ali and Phil StewartFriday April 3, 2026 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday ousted U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George, three U.S. defense officials told Reuters, marking the latest shake-up in a Pentagon purge that has reached the military’s highest ranks. Hegseth, the former Fox News host moving rapidly to remake the department, has been cutting through senior leadership with unusual speed. Removing a four-star general in wartime, however, is almost unheard of. The Pentagon later confirmed that George,…