Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia is bracing for tighter finances after the United States reduced foreign aid, a move officials say is already disrupting assistance and development services across the country. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Ali, known as Ali Balcad, said the government has “recognized this change and is trying to adapt,” framing the shift as part of a broader recalibration of U.S. foreign assistance rather than a Somalia-specific decision. He added that Washington still maintains strategic interests…

Saudi Arabia is knitting together an ambitious web of defense partnerships stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, a bid to harden regional security as faith in Washington’s umbrella frays and rival Gulf capitals jostle for influence. From talks with Egypt and a potential pact with Somalia to deepening ties with Pakistan and possible alignment with Turkey, the moves revisit a familiar idea with new urgency: an “Islamic NATO.” The latest stitch came in Davos, where Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal…

Somalia resolves rare public spat between embassies in Kenya and Tanzania MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government says it has resolved a rare and public dispute between its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, closing ranks after an internal review and new guidance meant to prevent a repeat. The rift surfaced in September after Somalia’s embassy in Tanzania criticized a visit by the Somali ambassador to Kenya to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement at the time, the Tanzanian mission said the…

Videos contradict federal account in fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti; judge orders evidence preserved MINNEAPOLIS — Senior Trump administration officials on Sunday defended the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, even as bystander videos reviewed by Reuters appeared to undercut their account and deepen tensions with local authorities. Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse who had a license to carry a firearm, was shot and killed Saturday during a federal operation that drew…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal government says it has resolved a rare public dispute between its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, closing a rift that raised concerns about internal coordination across the country’s diplomatic network. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Balcad said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded an internal review and implemented recommendations to prevent a repeat of the episode, which centered on overlapping roles and communication lapses among missions in East Africa. The dispute…

LAS ANOD, Somalia — Authorities in Somalia’s Northeastern State have dismissed as fabricated a video circulating on social media that purports to show Al-Shabab militants operating near Las Anod, calling it an artificial-intelligence–manipulated attempt to spread fear and misinformation. In a statement issued Saturday, the Northeastern Somali Police Force labeled the footage “fake,” saying it was crudely assembled from unrelated online clips and altered with AI tools. Police rejected claims that any portion was filmed in…

Somalia says 250 al-Shabab fighters killed in foiled assault on Kudhaa Island Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somali officials said Sunday that about 250 al-Shabab militants were killed in a failed bid to overrun Kudhaa, a coastal town on an island in the Lower Juba region, in one of the deadliest reported setbacks for the group in recent months. Hassan Nur Abdi, the governor of Badhaadhe district, which includes Kudhaa Island, said government and allied forces repelled a coordinated assault and launched pursuit operations…

Arab Parliament Affirms Support for Somalia and Yemen The Arab Parliament has committed to advocating for the stability and sovereignty of Somalia and Yemen while strongly opposing foreign interference. This announcement underscores the organization's dedication to regional integrity and collaborative efforts to address ongoing crises. Commitment to security and territorial integrity of Somalia and Yemen Rejection of foreign interference Call for solidarity among Arab nations Official Statement at the General…

CAIRO — The Arab Parliament said it will pursue regional and international political measures to support the security, stability and sovereignty of Somalia and Yemen, and rejected any foreign interference in their internal affairs, in a statement issued Saturday at the opening of its second general assembly session of the second cycle at the Arab League’s headquarters. Framing respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity as a cornerstone of international relations, the body called for peaceful solutions to ongoing…

Israel’s late-December decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia has collided with entrenched Arab and African interests in the Horn of Africa—and is unlikely to translate into lasting influence in Somalia, according to a prominent regional affairs scholar. Ali Bakr, professor of international affairs, security and defense at Qatar University, said Israel has sought to expand its presence in the Horn since 2023. He told the Novosti news agency that the recognition of North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared…