Friday June 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Banadir Regional Administration has moved to clear cattle from Mogadishu’s streets, announcing a ban on animals being let onto roads and citing public health, traffic safety and environmental concerns. Banadir spokesman Saleh Dheere said Thursday the decision came after consultations with livestock-owning families and repeated complaints from residents who have long objected to cattle roaming through the capital. He said the practice has created multiple problems, including…

Thursday June 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal government on Wednesday voiced strong regret after the United States refused entry to Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been set to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Somali officials had worked through diplomatic channels with U.S. authorities to secure Artan’s travel, but those efforts failed to yield a positive result. “The Government of Somalia remains…

Thursday June 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia took another step toward modernizing its internet infrastructure on Wednesday as the National Communications Authority and the National IPv6 Center launched a national workshop in Mogadishu aimed at advancing the country’s adoption of next-generation internet technology. The National IPv6 Workshop was co-hosted by the NCA and the National IPv6 Center, which operates under Jamhuuriya University of Science and Technology. The event drew internet service providers, universities,…

In a report issued Wednesday, Human Rights Watch alleged that the Rwanda-supported M23 armed group has been forcefully recruiting thousands in Eastern Congo, detaining them under brutal conditions. Since its resurgence in 2021, this anti-government faction has captured significant territories in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region burdened by more than three decades of conflict. After securing control over key cities like Goma and Bukavu, M23 has engaged in extensive forced recruitment and…

PARIS — UEFA has handed Somali referee Omar Adan Artan one of the biggest appointments of his career, naming him to take charge of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, a notable milestone for Somali and African football. The match will be played on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, and will bring together Champions League winners PSG and Aston Villa, who earned their place as Europa League champions. UEFA said the decision came after talks with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which…

Thursday June 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, barred from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has now been handed one of UEFA’s top assignments: the Super Cup in August, the confederation announced. Artan is set to referee the Aug. 12 showdown in Salzburg between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, UEFA said. “Referee announced for 2026 #SuperCup! We’re pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated…

By Dr. Ali Said Faqi Thursday June 11, 2026 Somalia’s politics have a familiar pattern: failure is repackaged, then presented as renewal. That dynamic is again on display with Adan Mohamed Nur “Madobe,” whose installation as the so-called president of Southwest State has been widely denounced in the region as the product of a federal-orchestrated sham election. This account traces the background, political conduct, and legacy that have followed Adan Madobe throughout his long public life. From the outset, his career has…

By  OMAR FARUK and EVELYNE MUSAMBIThursday June 11, 2026 For Omar Artan, the road to soccer’s biggest stage seemed to end in triumph. Instead, the Somali referee who was set to become the first from his country to work a World Cup match was turned away at the U.S. border — then returned home to a rousing welcome and a continental honor that underscored his standing across Africa. Artan, 34, had earned a place on FIFA’s final list of referees for the tournament, a milestone built on years of work in a nation of about 19…

Thursday June 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was blocked from taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has now been handed one of European football’s biggest officiating assignments: the UEFA Super Cup in August, UEFA said. Artan will oversee the Aug. 12 meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, according to the European governing body. “Referee announced for 2026 #SuperCup! We’re pleased to share that Somali referee…

Thursday June 11, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe, newly elected president of Somalia’s Southwest State, formally assumed office on Thursday in a handover ceremony held at the presidential palace in Baidoa. He succeeds Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, who had been serving as interim leader of the regional administration. The ceremony brought together federal and Southwest State officials, representatives of government agencies, politicians, traditional elders and other dignitaries. Jibril transferred official…