Somalia

Tuesday May 5, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Tuesday flatly denied reports that it had expelled the United Arab Emirates ambassador, calling the claims false and misleading. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it was alarmed by the spread of what it described as baseless allegations across several media outlets and social media platforms. “The Ministry firmly rejects these claims and urges all media institutions and social media users to exercise accuracy, professionalism,…

Tuesday May 5, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council has cast doubt on a consultation meeting proposed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, saying it has not yet settled on whether to attend. Speaking for the opposition bloc, former MP Abdirahman Dheere said the group is still weighing the invitation and has yet to arrive at a final stance. “Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent an invitation, and we are still considering how to respond. We believe he is not sincere and may have other intentions, but we have not yet made a…

By Margaret KalekyeTuesday May 5, 2026 Investigators are following fresh leads after security officers intercepted a bus carrying a concealed stockpile of ammunition and military-style items along the Thika–Garissa Highway in Kanyonyoo. The vehicle, registration number KCW 208A, operated by Buscar Sacco, had left Lamu for Nairobi when a multi-agency security team stopped it on Sunday for what was meant to be a routine inspection, instead uncovering what could have developed into a major security breach. A search of…

Khartoum International Airport became the focal point of conflict on Monday as Sudanese air defenses intercepted drones, according to reports from military and local sources. This incident marks an escalation in the ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A military source told AFP, "Our air defenses successfully downed drones that were targeting Khartoum airport," asserting that the situation remained under control. Loud explosions and anti-aircraft fire were reported…

By Pranav Baskar and Matthew Mpoke BiggMonday May 4, 2026 A brazen seizure off Yemen has renewed fears that Somali pirates are regaining their footing — and raised fresh suspicions that they may be operating alongside Iran-backed Houthi rebels amid upheaval across the Middle East. Maritime police forces from the Puntland State region of Somalia patrolling the Gulf of Aden last year.Credit...Feisal Omar/Reuters Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker off Yemen’s coast on Saturday and steered it into Somali waters, authorities…

By Khadar M LeyliMonday May 4, 2026 Symbiotic Antagonists  A familiar political pattern is unfolding around Somali Regional State President Mustafa Omer: longtime rivals are setting aside their own enmities for one purpose only — to attack him. What brings together this uneasy alliance is not a common blueprint for Ethiopia or for the Somali Region, but a shared determination to tarnish a leader they regard as an obstacle to their ambitions.  This coalition of symbiotic antagonists — TPLF loyalists still bitter over their…

Monday May 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Police Force Commander General Asad Osman Abdullahi on Monday hosted a senior Turkish delegation in Mogadishu, in a meeting centered on expanding security cooperation between the two countries. Officials said the talks were aimed at deepening bilateral ties in the security field, with a particular focus on training initiatives and efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Somali Police Force, including its elite Haramcad unit. The meeting comes amid continuing efforts…

Somalia’s politics is shaped by clan history, security conditions and an election process that has often relied on indirect voting. As the country moves through the 2026 electoral cycle, young people—now a large share of the population—are seeking more voice through civic groups, political parties, and candidate engagement, while facing barriers linked to money, access and institutional design.Analysts and election-focused organisations say youth participation is increasingly visible in public forums and voter-related…

By: Abdifatah Abdinur Monday May 4, 2026 Tan iyo markii Madaxweynaha Dowladda Puntland State uu si rasmi ah u shaaciyey dagaalka ka dhanka ah argagixisada ISIS, isla markaana uu faray in dhammaan deegaannada Puntland State si buuxda looga sifeeyo, waxaa muuqday isbeddel amni oo xooggan oo beddelay xaaladdii hore. Hawlgalkii “Hilaac,” oo ay si hufan oo geesinimo leh u fuliyeen Ciidamada Difaaca Puntland State, ayaa noqday mid horseeday guul taariikhi ah kadib markii lagu jebiyey firxadkii ISIS ee ku dhuumaaleysanayey buuraha…

Somali opposition leaders meet in Mogadishu to discuss alternative electoral model MOGADISHU — Somali opposition leaders have convened in Mogadishu to weigh a proposed indirect voting system, a move that would steer the country away from both the 2022 electoral arrangement and the “one person, one vote” model championed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. People familiar with the talks said the opposition is working to shape a compromise electoral formula that could later be put before international mediators involved in…