MOGADISHU – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned Israel’s decision to recognise North Western State of Somalia in December 2025, calling it “one of the darkest days in Somalia’s history” and saying Mogadishu responded by choosing diplomacy over force. The term-ended leader said Somalia faced two possible courses of action in the long-running North Western State of Somalia dispute: military confrontation or negotiations. “We considered both paths, and in the end we chose dialogue and persuasion,” the president…

Saturday June 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation said on Saturday that Banadir Region’s district council commissioners will be elected on July 5, 2026, setting a date for a key step in the capital’s local governance process. The ministry described the upcoming vote as part of the broader rollout of local government elections in Banadir Region, following earlier groundwork for the regional electoral process. In its statement, the ministry said the elections are meant…

Ramallah: The man who leads Palestinian football is still stuck in Mexico City, awaiting entry to the United States as World Cup officials from around the globe gather for the 2026 tournament. Jibril Rajoub attended Thursday’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa, but he remains one of several accredited World Cup guests who have either been denied U.S. visas or are still waiting for them. “I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend,” the…

by Samuel Mwanawanjuguna Saturday June 13, 2026 Special Operations Group, who are part of the border police operations, stand guard in El Wak during the second day of the government’s Jukwaa la Usalama tour of Mandera County on September 23, 2025. Photo Kipchumba Murkomen Three police officers suffered injuries late Friday when suspected Al-Shabaab militants stormed a Special Operations Group (SOG) camp in Fino, Lafey Sub-County, Mandera County, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire before the attackers were driven away.…

Saturday June 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has described Israel’s reported recognition of North Western State of Somalia in December 2025 as “one of the darkest days in the history of Somalia,” accusing Tel Aviv of taking advantage of the decades-old standoff between Mogadishu and Hargeisa. In an interview with Dawan TV last week, Mohamud said Somalia had only two realistic ways to respond to the North Western State of Somalia issue: force or dialogue. “We weighed the two options, and in…

Friday June 12, 2026 Denied entry to the United States, FIFA World Cup referee Omar Artan returned to Somalia to a hero’s welcome, underscoring how quickly a sports setback can turn into a moment of national pride. In the meantime, B.C. Premier David Eby and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow have both said they would like to see Artan officiate matches in Canada.

NAIROBI – Kenyan security forces repelled a suspected Al-Shabaab assault on a military base in Mandera County near the Somalia border, officials said on Thursday, after armed men opened fire on the camp during the night. Security officials said the attack took place on Wednesday evening when a group believed to number about 10 militants targeted a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in Lafey district. The assailants are said to have fired from roughly 600 metres away from the military position. Troops inside the base reacted…

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia on Thursday warned that the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is preparing a major assault on Ethiopian National Defence Force (EDF) bases in the country’s north, a development that has revived fears of another war only years after a brutal conflict ended. The alert came from Ethiopia’s intelligence chief and was reinforced by a former president of Tigray, both of whom said they had information showing TPLF fighters were mobilising for a large-scale attack on federal military positions. Officials…

Friday June 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Thursday that it had intercepted a major haul of explosive chemical materials allegedly destined for al-Shabab during an operation in Lower Shabelle region. NISA said security forces uncovered more than 100 yellow jerrycans packed with volatile chemical precursors that had been buried in the Jilib Marka area. The agency said al-Shabab operatives concealed the materials after realizing that security forces had identified their…

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…