Friday June 5, 2026 This handout photograph taken on January 30, 2024 and released by the Indian Navy shows an Iranian fishing vessel after it has been freed by the Indian Navy from Somali pirates, off the Somali coast, some 850 nautical miles (1,574 kilometres) west of the Indian city of Kochi. (AFP/ file) ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday that efforts were still under way to win the release of ten Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates since April, while warning that the vessel’s highly explosive cargo had narrowed…

Friday June 5, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — A protest in Sheikh district in North Western State of Somalia’s Sahil region turned deadly on Thursday, leaving one person dead and another injured, according to residents and witnesses. The unrest followed the recent arrest of Sultan Qabile in Mandera district. Residents said anger over the detention quickly spilled into the streets of Sheikh, where crowds gathered before confrontations erupted between demonstrators and security forces. The woman killed was identified by residents as…

Friday June 5, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Southwest State’s lawmakers on Thursday chose Mahad Mohamed Sheikh Hassan as speaker of the regional House of Representatives, marking a major step in completing the new parliamentary leadership. In a vote held at the regional parliament hall in Baidoa, Mahad secured 70 votes. His rival, Abdihakim Fiqi, won 25. Lawmakers also elected Aden Hassan Mohamed Osama as first deputy speaker. He secured 82 votes, defeating Abdirisaq Hussein Aden, who received 12. Shamso Mohamed Yarow was elected…

Sub-Saharan Africa, recognized for its rapidly expanding population, tragically accounts for 70% of the global maternal death toll. Annually, the continent witnesses about 180,000 women succumbing to pregnancy-related conditions, accompanied by nearly 1 million newborn fatalities. The situation is particularly dire in war-torn regions like the Central African Republic, where conflict, displacement, and dwindling aid transform childbirth into a perilous endeavor. Maude Ahmad Fadala experienced this grim reality after…

Amid escalating tensions, violent clashes erupted between opposition supporters and state security forces in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, sparking ongoing confrontations as of Thursday. The unrest followed a turbulent night of violence amidst plans for an "anti-government" demonstration. While authorities have yet to release official casualty numbers, international voices including the U.N. and the U.S. have issued urgent calls for restraint, with both the Somali government and opposition trading accusations over the…

Mohamed DhaysaneWednesday June 3, 2026 Somali forces, working with international partners, killed 28 al-Shabaab militants in coordinated operations in the Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions, according to an official statement released Tuesday. Among those killed in the airstrikes was Abdirahman Abdi Mudallib, identified as a senior terrorist figure in Hiran, along with five other militants. The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency said Mudallib had played a direct role in organizing and plotting attacks in the…

AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State on Thursday mounted a sharp attack on Somalia’s federal leadership, accusing it of creating a "constitutional vacuum" and blaming President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for armed raids carried out against former state leaders in Mogadishu. The rebuke came after a cabinet session in Garowe led by Puntland State’s Acting President and Vice President, Ilyaas Lugatoor. In a strongly framed statement, the cabinet denounced "armed confrontations targeting civilians and former senior leaders" in the…

Thursday June 4, 2026 Smoke billowed above Mogadishu’s Howl Wadaag neighbourhood on Thursday after reports of mortar fire, as the Somali capital endured some of its most intense fighting in years. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Government troops and opposition-aligned militias have clashed violently in Somalia’s capital, leaving property damaged and forcing some residents to abandon their homes. As the confrontation gathered pace from Wednesday afternoon, opposition figures who had joined with militias were reported to have…

June 4, 2026 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti) — As political tensions escalate in Somalia, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) warned Friday that recent violence in Mogadishu threatens the country’s fragile progress and urged swift steps to prevent further bloodshed. IGAD condemned all acts of violence and urged every party involved to show maximum restraint, work to reduce tensions, and seek resolution through peaceful, inclusive, and constructive dialogue. "At this critical moment, preserving peace, stability,…

ADDIS ABABA — The African Union Commission said Thursday it was deeply alarmed by the latest security developments in Mogadishu, where armed clashes have broken out in civilian neighborhoods, and it called on political actors to end the violence at once. In a statement released from its headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Commission urged "all parties to immediately stop the fighting and exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions." The warning comes amid…