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Somalia
Somalia news, politics, security, diplomacy, and public affairs from Axadle, with breaking updates and analysis from Mogadishu and across the country.
Somalia appoints new custodial corps commander amid Federal-Southwest tensions
Wednesday March 25, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s cabinet has named a new head of the Somali Custodial Corps, a leadership change that comes as tensions deepen between the federal government and the Southwest administration.
During its weekly session chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved the appointment of General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud as commander of the Somali Custodial Corps, replacing General Mahad Abdirahman. The Ministry of Justice put forward the…
Somali security forces surround residence of dismissed general
Somalia: Security Forces Surround Residence of Dismissed General
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali federal forces have cordoned off the Mogadishu home of Gen. Mahad Abdirahman Aden, known as “Shub,” after his abrupt ouster as head of the Custodial Corps.
Axadle confirmed that Somali Police Force units took up positions outside the residence shortly after the Council of Ministers announced his dismissal on Wednesday.
The…
JSP secretary general resigns in second high-profile exit in days
Wednesday March 25, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — A senior Somali federal lawmaker has broken ranks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s political camp, stepping down from a top party post in a move that underscores intensifying disputes over governance, constitutional changes and the path to elections.
Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein Odawaa announced on March 25, 2026 that he is resigning as Secretary General of the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) and ending his membership in the party, which is led by President Mohamud. In a…
Top Party Official Resigns as Somali President’s Isolation Deepens
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Abdirahman Odowaa, the Secretary-General of Somalia’s ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), resigned on Wednesday, a move that exposes widening rifts at the top of the country’s leadership.
In a scathing resignation statement, Odowaa faulted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for “obduracy and intransigence,” underscoring a breakdown over the administration’s political and legislative course. The exit is widely seen as a sharp setback for the President’s inner circle amid mounting domestic pressures…
JSP secretary general resigns in second high-profile exit in days
Wednesday March 25, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — A senior Somali lawmaker has broken publicly with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s ruling political camp, resigning from a top party post and warning that disputes over governance, constitutional changes and elections are pushing the country into deeper political strain.
Somali federal MP Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein Odawaa stepped down as Secretary General of the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) and relinquished his membership, according to a statement he published on his official…
Seasoned Leader Assumes Critical Peace Mission Leadership Role
In a move aimed at bolstering security and diplomatic efforts in a volatile corridor of global trade, the African Union has named Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete as its High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, the AU said in a statement.
The appointment was announced by Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who emphasized the need for seasoned leadership to navigate the area's tangled political landscape. Kikwete, a former president of Tanzania, is credited with a measured diplomatic style and a reputation for steady governance.…
US and Iran give conflicting accounts of whether talks are underway
By Abubakr Al-ShamahiWednesday March 25, 2026
As fighting grinds toward its first month, United States President Donald Trump is pressing a claim that “productive” talks with Iran are already paving the way to end the war he launched alongside Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — even as Iran’s senior leadership continues to flatly reject that account.
With wartime messaging and competing propaganda clouding the picture, it remains difficult to determine what is happening behind the scenes. One way to cut through…
Lawsuit says Somali immigrants have been denied fair hearings
By Pooja SalhotraWednesday March 25, 2026
The vast majority of the 80,000 Somalis who live in Minnesota are American citizens or legal permanent residents.Credit...Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times
Somali immigrants in Minnesota are being pushed through immigration court at breakneck speed under a Trump administration practice that shortens timelines and, lawyers say, undercuts the basic protections of due process, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.
In the complaint, two Minnesota legal providers argue…
Somali court sentences al-Shabab member to 10 years for plotting against Ramla Ali
Wednesday March 25, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — A Somali military court has handed down a 10-year prison sentence in a case prosecutors say involved plans to track and potentially target one of the country’s most recognizable athletes, boxer Ramla Ali, during her visit to Mogadishu.
On Tuesday, the court convicted Abdisalaam Mohamed Hassan, widely known as “Aamusane,” of membership in al-Shabab and sentenced him to a decade behind bars. Prosecutors told the court he had been part of the group since 2014 and accused him of…
Somali army denies helicopter crash in Baidoa amid political tensions
Wednesday March 25, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Reports of a Somali National Army (SNA) helicopter going down in Baidoa spread quickly this week, but both federal military leaders and Southwest State officials say the story is baseless.
The SNA command said Tuesday that no helicopter crash had occurred in Baidoa — the interim capital of Southwest State — or in nearby areas, calling the claims false and unverified.
“There is no truth to the reports circulating about a helicopter crash in Baidoa,” the statement said. “We call on…