Somalia

Somalia’s Parliament Approves $1.38 Billion 2026 Budget Amid Chaos MOGADISHU, Somalia — In a raucous joint sitting, Somalia’s federal parliament on Tuesday approved a national budget of $1,386,807,242 for the 2026 fiscal year, pushing the spending plan through despite loud and repeated procedural disruptions on the floor. Parliamentary officials said 174 lawmakers voted in favor, four opposed it and one abstained. The vote capped a session in which interruptions and objections forced pauses but did not derail the tally. The…

MOGADISHU — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo warned that Somalia is sliding into a deeper crisis, citing deteriorating security, political, economic and social conditions, and urging national dialogue and unity to avert further instability. In a statement issued Monday, Farmaajo said the country faces “serious security challenges,” accusing the current government of failing to adequately counter the threat posed by terrorist groups. He warned that fragmentation within the national army has weakened the…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Kenyan doctor who says he was working on a United Nations medical evacuation team in Somalia has appeared in a video appealing to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Kenyan President William Ruto, saying he and colleagues have been held by al-Shabab for more than a year and a half following a helicopter crash. The man, identifying himself as Dr. Ambrose Kimiti, says the aircraft carrying the medical team crash-landed on Jan. 10, 2024, in territory controlled by al-Shabab while on an official…

Somalia Among Countries Affected as Trump Administration Recalls Nearly 50 U.S. Ambassadors WASHINGTON — Nearly 50 U.S. ambassadors and senior diplomatic officials are being recalled worldwide under President Donald Trump’s administration, leaving key posts vacant in countries including Somalia, according to officials familiar with the move. The changes, expected to take effect by January, are part of Trump’s effort to reshape U.S. foreign service leadership and align diplomatic posts with his “America First” agenda. The…

Turkey’s Expanding Influence in Somalia Draws Sharp Criticism AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State’s State Minister of Information, Mohamud Aided Dirir, has sharply criticized Turkey’s growing footprint in Somalia, alleging the engagement is driven by self-interest, corruption and exploitation rather than the country’s long-term stability, security or good governance. Dirir said Ankara’s presence undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and misappropriates local resources, arguing that foreign assistance should reinforce Somali…

MOGADISHU — The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts worldwide in a sweeping reshuffle aimed at aligning U.S. diplomacy with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, according to two State Department officials. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters, said chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were notified last week that their tenures will end in January. All of the recalled diplomats were…

Raphinha, Yamal fire Barcelona four points clear with 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal VILA-REAL, Spain — Barcelona’s wide men did the damage and a late defensive wobble never came, as Raphinha and Lamine Yamal scored in a 2-0 victory over 10-man Villarreal that pushed the Catalans four points clear at the top of La Liga. The Brazil international won and converted a penalty inside the opening quarter-hour on Sunday, and Villarreal’s Renato Veiga was dismissed before halftime for a reckless lunge on Yamal. The 18-year-old winger…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia opened its Third National Cybersecurity Forum on Monday, bringing together government, industry and academia in Mogadishu to strengthen digital defenses and coordinate responses to rising cyber risks targeting the country’s essential services and Digital Public Infrastructure. The two-day meeting, themed “Promoting Digital Security in Somalia,” is jointly organized by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and Mogadishu University. Senior government officials, policymakers, cybersecurity…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s civil aviation regulator will shut Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport for a full day on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, as the capital holds local council elections, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority said Monday. The SCAA said no flights will arrive or depart during the one-day closure, describing the suspension as a security and technical measure designed to safeguard the public and ensure the vote proceeds smoothly. Airlines, passengers and travel agencies were advised to adjust plans and…

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger form NATO-style military alliance to fight Sahel insurgents BAMAKO, Mali — Dec. 22 — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced a NATO-style military alliance on Friday and unveiled a 5,000-strong joint force to combat Islamist insurgents that have destabilized large swaths of the Sahel. Officials from the three countries said the alliance is designed to strengthen security cooperation, safeguard porous borders and enhance collective military capabilities as al-Qaida and Islamic State affiliates step…