Somalia

Somalia says senior al‑Shabaab commander killed in planned raid in Hiiraan Somalia’s intelligence service says it has killed a senior al‑Shabaab commander in a targeted operation in central Somalia, the latest strike in a grinding campaign to weaken the al‑Qaeda‑linked insurgency as it battles for influence along the Shabelle River valley. In a statement Wednesday, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said its forces, backed by international partners, conducted a planned raid in the Shaw area of Hiiraan…

Somalia's Struggle: A Nation on the Brink Amid Al-Shabaab Resurgence MOGADISHU, Somalia - In the heart of East Africa, Somalia stands at a precarious crossroads, battling the dual specters of insurgency and political strife. As the shadow of Al-Shabaab looms larger over the nation, former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who previously led efforts to vanquish the militant group from Mogadishu, has stepped forward with a dire warning: “The country is on the brink, and Al-Shabaab is taking over, and the army has disintegrated.”…

Egypt’s Somalia Gamble: Peacekeeping, Power Plays, and a Dam That Won’t Go Away On paper, Egypt’s plan to send troops to Somalia is a textbook peacekeeping deployment under an African Union mandate. In practice, it lands squarely on the fault lines of one of Africa’s thorniest rivalries: Cairo versus Addis Ababa, with the Horn of Africa as the stage and the Nile as the subtext. Egypt says its soldiers are going to Somalia to help fight al-Shabaab and stabilize a country clawing its way out of decades of war. Ethiopia hears…

Somalia and Serbia Reach for Old Ties to Shape New Deals In the polished halls of Belgrade’s presidential complex, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre stood beneath a bank of flags and spoke a sentence you now hear in capitals across the Global South: “Somalia offers vast opportunities for investment.” On Tuesday, Barre and Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut signed a health cooperation agreement and pledged to deepen ties in trade, investment, education and security—an agenda that reads less like a single visit than a…

Tragedy in Buuloburde: The Complex Dance of Military Presence and Local Culture In the heart of Buuloburde district, a tragic incident unfolded last Wednesday that has sent shockwaves through the overflowing plates of tea shops and the digital streets of Somali social media. A Djiboutian soldier serving with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) was shot and killed, igniting a hot debate about foreign military conduct and the profound implications it carries for local communities. The…

Arab League cancels 75 percent of Somalia’s arrears, a boost for Mogadishu’s hard-won comeback The Arab League has agreed to cancel 75 percent of Somalia’s unpaid membership dues, a rare step that trims nearly four decades of arrears and signals renewed political backing for a country still rebuilding from conflict and climate shocks. The decision was taken in Cairo during the League’s 164th session of permanent representatives, Somali officials said Tuesday. Somalia’s Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to…

A Tragedy Unveils Darfur’s Hidden Struggles: A Landslide in the Marrah Mountains The serene beauty of Sudan’s Marrah Mountains shattered violently on Sunday when a massive landslide claimed the lives of an estimated 1,000 residents in the village of Tarasin. As the dust settles, a poignant silence reverberates through the valleys—a stark reminder of the region’s fragile state amidst natural and human-made calamities. A Village Buried Following relentless rains, the landslide swept through Tarasin, reducing homes to…

Leadership Under Scrutiny: The Challenges Facing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - Critics are intensifying their scrutiny of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, with voices from Jubaland accusing him of neglecting the fight against militant groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS, potentially putting the nation in a vulnerable position. In a region where security is pivotal, the feeling of discontent seems to resonate widely, as political factions rally against what they characterize as ineffective governance. A…

Prominent elder slain in Somalia’s Gedo region as tensions simmer along border Attack in Beled Hawo A prominent community elder and local council member was shot dead late Monday in Beled Hawo, a hard-to-govern border town in Somalia’s Gedo region where political strain and armed groups have frayed the edges of daily life. Residents identified the victim as Aden Mohamud Buurdhubo, a respected figure known for mediating disputes and pushing for calm in a place that often runs on uneasy truces. Gunmen opened fire under cover…

In the Shadows of Conflict: Somalia's Ongoing Battle Against Terrorism As the sun rises over the arid landscapes of Somalia, a dual battle rages on—one against the unforgiving elements of nature and the other against the relentless tide of terrorism. The struggle to fortify this fragile nation against factions like Al-Shabaab and ISIS has intensified, drawing not just the resolve of local forces but also the strategic intervention of international allies, particularly the United States. Demonstrating Resilience The U.S.…