Somali President Warns Neighbors Over North Western State of Somalia Recognition, Declares Unity Non-Negotiable

Saturday, February 14, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused unnamed neighboring states of trying to leverage Israel’s December recognition of North Western State of Somalia for “short-term interests,” warning that Somalia’s territorial integrity is a nonnegotiable red line. In an interview with the London-based Arabic daily Asharq al-Awsat, Hassan Sheikh said the fallout from Israel’s move had tempted some regional actors to test Somalia’s unity and the wider region’s stability. “Some countries in…

UK commits £6m in humanitarian drought relief funding for Somalia

MOGADISHU — The United Kingdom has announced £6 million in additional humanitarian funding to help drought-affected communities in Somalia, as escalating climate pressures deepen food insecurity across the country. The pledge came during the first official visit to Somalia by the UK Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Jenny Chapman. Chapman held high-level talks in Mogadishu with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and senior officials, and met humanitarian and security partners. She outlined the UK’s…

Turkey Dispatches Main Battle Tanks to Somalia to Secure Strategic Aerospace Hubs

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has deployed M48 and M60 Patton main battle tanks to Somalia, with a shipment arriving at Mogadishu’s port this week in a move that signals a sharp expansion of Ankara’s military footprint in the Horn of Africa. Footage obtained by Axadle and corroborated by eyewitnesses showed the armored vehicles being offloaded and moving in a heavily guarded convoy through the capital. The deployment is aimed at securing high-stakes aerospace and satellite infrastructure under development in Somalia, according…

President Mohamud Urges African Union to Reject Foreign Interference After Israel Recognizes North Western State of Somalia

Somalia’s president condemns Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urges AU to reject external interference ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday urged African Union member states to “firmly reject” external meddling in the continent’s affairs, denouncing Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and international law during the second Italy-Africa Summit in Addis Ababa. Hassan Sheikh said Africa’s progress must be…

Somalia Secures African Union Peace and Security Council Seat, 2026–2028

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Somalia was elected Wednesday to the African Union Peace and Security Council for the 2026–2028 term, a diplomatic milestone that positions the Horn of Africa nation at the center of decision-making on the continent’s most urgent security challenges. In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vote reflects renewed confidence in Somalia’s role and its growing contribution to Africa’s peace and security agenda. The government thanked AU member states for their support, with…

Culleton case heightens fears for undocumented Irish living in the U.S.

Undocumented Irish on edge as ICE crackdown tests a Boston man’s American dream The detention of Kilkenny native Seamus Culleton in a Texas immigration facility has become a flash point in the United States’ latest enforcement sweep, unsettling thousands of undocumented Irish and their families on both sides of the Atlantic. His case — a visa overstay turned protracted custody fight — captures how a harder-edged U.S. immigration regime is reshaping lives far from the border. Culleton entered the United States in March 2009…

Somalia Chairs A3 Ministerial to Amplify Africa’s Voice at UN Security Council

ADDIS ABABA — Somalia’s foreign minister, Abdisalam Ali, on Friday chaired the sixth A3 high-level ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Assembly, as African leaders moved to tighten coordination at the United Nations Security Council. Somalia currently serves as coordinator of the A3 — the three African non-permanent members of the Security Council: Somalia, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — a role that places Mogadishu at the center of efforts to advance Africa’s priorities in New…

Europe’s Economy Stuck in Neutral: The Struggle to Kickstart Growth

Europe’s race for economic self-defense has moved from white paper to red alert. Mario Draghi warned in 2024 that, “for the first time since the Cold War, we must genuinely fear for our self-preservation.” A year later, with Donald Trump’s 15% tariffs on EU goods in force and a deteriorating global backdrop, Brussels is scrambling to convert a decade of stalled ideas into hard law and money. The stakes are stark. Global trade is slowing. Cheap Russian energy is gone. The EU, Draghi argued, needs to mobilize up to €800…

Tragic Nile Boat Accident Results in Over 21 Fatalities

Nile River Boat Tragedy in Northern Sudan A tragic accident on the Nile River claimed the lives of at least 21 people when a boat sank between two villages in northern Sudan. The local government and eyewitnesses have provided details, highlighting the dire state of river transportation in the region. 21 bodies have been recovered according to River Nile State's report. The boat was traveling between Tayba al-Khawad and Deim al-Qarai. A total of 30 people were on board when the accident occurred. Search and…

Turkish Ambassador Highlights Close Cooperation with Nigeria

Türkiye and Nigeria: A Strategic Partnership in Africa The collaboration between Türkiye and Nigeria is centered on shared visions in counterterrorism and regional stability. This partnership highlights the strategic roles both nations play in their respective regions. Türkiye supports Nigeria in battling terrorist groups like Boko Haram. The partnership includes combating the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ). Nigeria is crucial to West Africa's stability and the continent as a whole. Strengthening Security and…