Somalia

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia has renewed its sharp condemnation of Iran’s recent attacks on Arab countries, voicing unequivocal backing for Gulf and regional governments and urging a united front to safeguard Middle East stability. Deputy Foreign Minister Hasan Mohamed Ali set out Somalia’s position at an extraordinary ministerial session of the League of Arab States, held by videoconference on Tuesday. The meeting focused on a draft resolution put forward by Bahrain over Iran’s actions and its…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State has moved to tighten its grip on the region’s coastline, announcing a sweeping crackdown on illegal fishing and warning that Somali and foreign operators caught violating maritime rules will face firm legal consequences. In a statement released Wednesday, the Puntland State Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources said it would step up patrols and inspections to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a practice officials say is degrading marine…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and China on Wednesday opened a new research center dedicated to Chinese modernization, a move officials say will broaden cooperation between the two countries and deepen the exchange of ideas. The Center for Research on Chinese Modernization was inaugurated at the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation during a ceremony that brought together senior government officials and diplomats. Permanent Secretary Hamza Haadow and China’s…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), working with international partners, says it has killed more than 33 al-Shabab militants in a coordinated series of operations in the Guulane area of Middle Shabelle region. In a statement released Tuesday, the agency said the initial strike hit a house where senior members and fighters were gathered, killing 15 militants. NISA said the site was destroyed and had served as an important location for assembling personnel and…

Somalia’s security situation is shaped by a long-running insurgency led by al-Shabaab and by ongoing tensions within the country’s fragile political system. Even as Somali forces and international partners target the militants, political divisions across federal and regional authorities can affect how quickly security measures are implemented and how reliably resources reach front-line areas. What Happened In recent months, Somalia’s government and security institutions have continued operations against al-Shabaab,…

Barawe, 22 April 2026 – With elections on the horizon, a high-level Somali government delegation visited Barawe today to thank and assess the forces keeping the Lower Shabelle town secure, underscoring stability as a foundation for the political process. The delegation, led by State Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ambassador Ilyaas Sheikh Omar, commended AUSSOM troops and the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) in the Barawe sub-sector for maintaining peace and stability. "Thank you so much for making the…

MOGADISHU, April 22, 2026 – Somalia’s intelligence service said Wednesday that coordinated operations backed by international partners left at least 33 Al-Shabaab fighters dead in the country’s central Middle Shabelle region. The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said the “planned operations” were carried out in the village of Guulane, where militants were reportedly meeting to organize a new round of attacks. In a statement, NISA said the first precision strike hit a house being used by senior commanders and…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State regional forces on Wednesday put on display the bodies of more than 10 suspected Islamic State (ISIS) fighters killed in a U.S. airstrike in the Jaceel Valley area of the Calmiskaad mountain range. Military officials who reached the scene said the dead were linked to cells that had recently mounted attacks on Puntland State security units operating in the area. They said the militants had also struck Puntland State troops overnight, an assault that left one soldier dead.…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is quietly preparing to push elections ahead in three allied regional states before opening broader talks on Somalia’s federal vote, according to sources close to his political circle. During a private meeting earlier this week with three of his main political allies, the president reportedly laid out a plan to first lock in leadership in Galmudug, Hirshabeelle, and Southwest State. Sources said it was the second time in recent weeks that Mohamud has advanced the same…

A new exhibition of African women artists opened in Addis Ababa this week, putting the winners and finalists of the African Women in Art Award (AWAA) 2025 on public display ahead of the World Public Summit Africa. The Golla Gallery in Ethiopia’s capital hosted the show, a collaboration between the World Peoples Assembly, the "Her Voice Foundation", and the I-A Gallery of Contemporary African Art. Works by artists from six countries — Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia — are gathered for the presentation.…