Somalia

Russia's Media Quandary in Africa: A Call for Partnership This article examines the challenges and opportunities faced by Russia in establishing a stronger media presence in Africa, highlighting insights from key figures at the recent Ministerial Conference in Cairo, Egypt. Overview of Lavrov's remarks on media absence Comparison with Chinese media strategies in Africa Calls for improved cooperation between Russian and African media Lavrov's Critique of Media Representation During a plenary session in Cairo,…

Israel on Friday formally recognized North Western State of Somalia as an independent and sovereign state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, in a move that could reshape diplomacy and security dynamics in the Horn of Africa. Netanyahu said Israel and North Western State of Somalia signed a joint declaration formalizing the recognition. “Together with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and the President of the Republic of North Western State of Somalia, we signed a joint and mutual declaration,” he said in a statement.…

Somalia begins counting votes after Mogadishu’s landmark one-person, one-vote poll Mogadishu — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Thursday night said ballot counting is underway after polls closed across the capital for the Banadir Regional Council elections, the city’s first one-person, one-vote ballot in more than five decades. Commission Chairperson Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan told national media that voting ran from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time and proceeded calmly and in an orderly manner…

MOGADISHU — The Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, has welcomed the direct elections for the Banadir Regional Council, calling the vote a historic milestone and the first of its kind in Somalia since 1969. In a statement issued Thursday, Al-Yamahi said the Mogadishu ballot represents a significant step in Somalia’s state-building process, strengthening democratic governance and citizenship while widening public participation in decision-making. He said the direct elections are expected to deliver…

MOGADISHU — Presidents of Galmudug, Hirshabelle, the Northeastern Somali Administration and South West State on Friday hailed the peaceful conduct of the Banadir Regional Council’s direct elections, calling the Mogadishu vote a historic milestone for Somalia’s democracy. In separate statements, the four federal member state leaders — all members of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) — praised the exercise as a major national achievement and a victory for the Somali people, underscoring…

U.N. experts warn that al-Shabab remains the most immediate threat to peace and stability in Somalia and the wider region, especially Kenya, even as the U.N. Security Council unanimously extended the African Union’s support-and-stabilization mission in the country through Dec. 31, 2026. Despite sustained operations by Somali and international forces, the al-Qaida-linked group’s capacity “to carry out complex, asymmetric attacks in Somalia remains undiminished,” according to the panel of experts report released Wednesday. The…

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday it has uncovered more than a million additional documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, delaying a congressionally mandated release of records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act as officials review the material for legally required redactions. In a social media post, the department said the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI informed Justice officials of the trove, prompting DOJ lawyers to “work around the clock”…

UNITED NATIONS — Somalia is set to assume the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council in January 2026, a move widely seen as a significant diplomatic milestone that underscores the country’s growing role in global decision-making. For the monthlong term, Somalia will steer the council’s work: setting agendas, presiding over high-stakes sessions, and guiding debates on international peace and security. The role places Mogadishu at the center of the world’s most powerful diplomatic forum, where the daily…

UNITED NATIONS — Somalia is set to assume the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council at the start of January 2026, a milestone seen by diplomats as a sign of the country’s growing voice in global security debates and multilateral diplomacy. The monthlong presidency will place Somalia at the center of the council’s work. The presiding member sets the program of work, chairs meetings, steers discussions and can convene high-level debates on urgent threats to international peace and security. While the role…

Somali president urges turnout as Mogadishu holds first one-person, one-vote local polls in more than 50 years MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday night urged Mogadishu residents to fully participate in Thursday’s one-person, one-vote local council elections, calling the vote a milestone in the country’s state-building and democratic recovery as polls opened across the capital’s 16 districts. In a nationally televised address, Mohamud framed the elections as a defining moment in the restoration of…