Families of Pakistani hostages held by Somali pirates for 23 days seek rescue

By Ariba ShahidThursday May 14, 2026 Families of the Pakistani hostage crew members of the Oil Products Tanker the HONOUR 25 that was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, hold placards during a protest, calling the government to take immediate action for the safe return of their loved ones, in Karachi, Pakistan May 13, 2026. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro Purchase Licensing Rights In Karachi on Wednesday, Ambreen Fatima stood with her children and pleaded for the release of her husband, one of 10 Pakistani crew members…

No EU candidate has agreed to run for UN food agency chief

Europe’s bid to reclaim the top job at the United Nations food agency has hit an early obstacle, with the Cyprus presidency of the EU conceding there is still no agreement on a single European contender. Ireland has put forward former EU Commissioner Phil Hogan for the role, but his candidacy is facing determined challenges from both Italy and Spain. The stakes are significant. Europe has not occupied the leading post at the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for five decades, and EU agriculture ministers,…

Gedo Governor Warns Against Unilateral Elections Amid FGS-Jubaland Standoff

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Abdullahi Shimbir, the governor of Somalia’s Gedo region, has cautioned against any election process carried out without legal grounding and wider consultation, saying local authorities have been left out of current voting plans. After talks in Mogadishu with federal government officials, Shimbir said the discussions centered on introducing a "one-person, one-vote" system. He said, however, that the political dispute between the Federal Government of Somalia and Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe continues…

Drought deepens malnutrition and water shortages in Ethiopia’s Somali region

Thursday May 14, 2026 In the town of Afdub, in Ethiopia’s Somali region, residents have gone through multiple missed rainy seasons and now rely on a private water supplier.Ethiopia 2026. ©Roza Bekele/MSF Humanitarian conditions are worsening fast across Ethiopia’s Somali region and nearby border areas, where drought and displacement are combining to drive up malnutrition and deepen water shortages, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned, saying shrinking aid budgets are making a bad situation even harder to manage. MSF said…

Streeting quits UK government, paving way to challenge Starmer

Wes Streeting has resigned as UK Health Secretary, demanding a leadership contest in a move that has thrown Keir Starmer’s premiership into fresh turmoil. In a blunt rebuke, Mr Streeting accused the Government’s leadership of losing its way and told the British Prime Minister it is now “clear” he will not take Labour into the next general election. Though he stopped short of declaring his own candidacy, Mr Streeting urged Mr Starmer to open the race to the “best possible field of candidates” to succeed him in Downing Street,…

Opinion: The End of Somalia’s Predatory State, 2022–2026

OPINION: The end of the Predatory State of Somalia (2022–2026) Somalia is approaching a political reckoning, and the debate over how power has been exercised under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sharpened as the mandate nears its end. To understand the criticism now surrounding the government, it helps to start with the idea of a “predatory state.” In political terms, that describes a system in which rulers use…

US officials face digital lockdown as Trump arrives in China

By Morgan PhillipsThursday May 14, 2026 When President Donald Trump heads to China this week with hundreds of aides, security personnel and officials in tow, many of them will intentionally leave one of the most familiar tools of public life at home: their everyday cellphones. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) As Trump and his delegation prepare for the trip, U.S. officials are once again relying on tightly controlled communications practices meant to reduce the chances of surveillance, hacking or unwanted data collection in a…

Senior Military Commanders Killed Outside Baidoa Amid Somalia Election Dispute

Somalia: Senior Military Commanders Killed Outside Baidoa as Election Row Deepens BAIDOA, Somalia — Two senior officers in the Somali National Army were killed in a deadly roadside ambush outside Baidoa, heightening fears of a wider breakdown in South West State as a fierce dispute over recent regional elections continues to escalate. Col. Yonis Adam, who commanded the 8th Brigade, and Col. Ali Yonis, commander of the 9th Brigade of the 60th Division, were killed when their convoy came under attack outside the city.…

Southwest State election commission says JSP wins majority in results

Thursday May 14, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s electoral commission on Thursday released the outcome of Southwest State’s unified elections, announcing that the Justice and Unity Party secured a majority in the regional House of Representatives. Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chairman of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, said the May 10 vote proceeded peacefully in 13 districts across Southwest State. The elections were held to fill seats in the regional House of Representatives and elect members of…