Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A senior Somali police health official, Abdirizak Afgaduud, survived an apparent assassination attempt Friday morning after an improvised explosive device planted in his vehicle detonated near the headquarters of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Mogadishu. The blast erupted in one of the capital’s most heavily fortified corridors, an area that houses several core security institutions. The explosion, which security agencies said was linked to a specific vehicle, rattled a district…

ANKARA, Türkiye — Türkiye on Thursday denounced Greece’s new agreement with U.S. energy major Chevron to explore for hydrocarbons south of Crete, calling the move unlawful and contrary to good-neighborly relations in the Eastern Mediterranean. “We oppose this unlawful activity, which is being attempted in violation of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Jurisdiction between Libya and our country,” the Turkish Defense Ministry said at its weekly briefing. The ministry added that while the work does not directly…

Somalia and Saudi Arabia on Friday signed a comprehensive maritime transport cooperation agreement in Riyadh, laying out a long-term plan to modernize Somalia’s ports, strengthen shipping services and deepen logistics ties along one of the world’s most strategic sea lanes. The accord was signed by Somalia’s minister of ports and marine transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, and Saudi Arabia’s minister of transport and logistics services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. Officials from both governments described the deal as a…

Friday February 20, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s new army chief met senior African Union leadership in Mogadishu to tighten battlefield coordination and accelerate the country’s Security Transition Plan as Somali forces prepare a renewed push against al-Shabab following Ramadan. Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, commander of the Somali National Army (SNA), hosted a closed-door session at army headquarters with Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, the Special Representative of the African Union and head of the…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of his newly formed “Board of Peace” on Thursday in Washington, bringing together international figures to discuss the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the shape of a possible stabilization mission. The session focused on shoring up the truce and coordinating a reconstruction drive for Gaza. Trump said participating members collectively pledged $7 billion for rebuilding and that the United States would contribute an additional $10 billion, calling the…

U.S. threats against Iran intensified after a second round of indirect nuclear talks ended without a breakthrough, as Tehran and Moscow announced joint naval drills in the Sea of Oman aimed at deterring any “unilateral action” and safeguarding maritime traffic. The twin moves underscored a rapid military buildup around the Strait of Hormuz and raised fears of a wider regional conflict. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that “Iran would be very wise to make a deal” with President Donald Trump,…

Analysis: U.S.-backed airpower reshapes Somalia’s fight with al-Shabab — but can gains hold as peacekeepers depart? Somalia’s government says a combination of U.S.-supported airstrikes and newly expanded ground operations has shifted the momentum in its long war with al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab. Officials tout battlefield gains, especially the retaking of territory long held by the militants and strikes on leadership nodes and bomb-making networks. The turn comes as African Union peacekeepers draw down and Somali forces assume…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The first phase of high-stakes talks between Somalia’s Future Council and the federal government concluded Thursday in Mogadishu, signaling a cautious push toward election consensus as negotiators seek to reduce political uncertainty ahead of the country’s next polls. Held at Villa Somalia, the meeting centered on the structure and scope of upcoming elections — a critical question that has shaped political negotiations for months. Officials said both sides recognized the urgency of striking a…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday rejected Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, warning that the move risks escalating tensions in an already volatile Horn of Africa. “The Horn of Africa should not be the battlefield of foreign forces,” Erdogan said during a joint news conference with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa. “We believe that countries of the region should address their problems by themselves.” North Western State…

Kenya foils major terror plot in Nairobi during Ramadan NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s National Intelligence Service and the elite Special Operations Group have foiled a major attack planned for Nairobi during the holy month of Ramadan, disrupting a network authorities believe is linked to Somalia-based extremist group Al-Shabaab. Officials said Thursday the arrests were made late Tuesday at a Nairobi hideout where suspects were allegedly finalizing plans for a coordinated assault. The raid capped weeks — possibly months — of…