Somalia

In Cairo’s June 30 Stadium, under the bright floodlights and the pressure of a continent watching, Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan took command of the CAF Champions League final between Egypt’s Pyramids FC and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The match, which Sundowns edged 2–1, had all the urgency the occasion demands. Yet the deeper story was not the scoreline. It was the whistle in Artan’s hand — the first time a Somali official had been entrusted with African club football’s ultimate stage. For Somali sport, long…

Egypt warns Israeli Red Sea access, North Western State of Somalia recognition pose major security threat CAIRO — Egypt has warned that any move by Israel to gain access to the Red Sea or to recognize North Western State of Somalia would constitute a grave threat to regional stability and to Egyptian national security, according to officials familiar with recent high-level discussions. The position was set during talks a day earlier between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi,…

Analysis: Africa’s colonial borders still bleed — and Somalia won’t legitimize the 1964 line Africa’s map was drawn with a ruler, not with consent. The straight-edged boundaries carved at the Berlin Conference and cemented by departing European empires didn’t reflect language, culture, kinship or history. In 1964, seeking to stem a cascade of territorial wars, the Organization of African Unity adopted a doctrine of border sanctity rooted in uti possidetis juris: honor the frontiers inherited at independence. It stabilized…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s leading journalists’ union on Monday accused parliamentary leaders of suppressing press freedom during high-stakes constitutional debates, alleging reporters were blocked from the legislature and that audio from raucous sessions was digitally scrubbed to mute dissenting noise. In a statement, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) called the actions a serious attack on transparency and democratic accountability, saying reporters were denied access, removed from the building and…

Saudi Arabia and Somalia Forge Defense Pact to Strengthen Regional Security This article explores the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Saudi Arabia and Somalia, aimed at enhancing defense and military cooperation. This agreement signifies a strategic move to bolster security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. Highlights the agreement's implications for regional security. Explores the context surrounding the MoU and its significance for Somalia. Examines potential impacts on…

Monday February 9, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Saudi Arabia and Somalia have signed a new military cooperation agreement to strengthen defense ties, expanding counterterrorism efforts and enhancing maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, officials from both countries said. The memorandum of understanding was announced by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, marking a significant step in deepening the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Mogadishu. Under…

Somali Journalists Face Restrictions Amid Constitutional Debates This article examines the ongoing challenges faced by Somali journalists as they encounter increased restrictions in accessing parliamentary proceedings. The situation raises critical concerns regarding media freedom and governmental transparency during a pivotal political period in Somalia. Repeated denials of access to parliament for journalists. Concerns over media freedom amidst proposed constitutional amendments. Impact of restrictions on…

Somali Parliament wraps Chapter Four debate, opens divisive Chapter Five in constitutional review Monday, February 9, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal parliament on Monday closed debate on Chapter Four of the Provisional Constitution and formally opened deliberations on Chapter Five, pressing ahead with a high-stakes constitutional review that has laid bare deep political rifts between federal leaders, opposition lawmakers and member states. Lawmakers concluded discussions on Articles 49, 50 and 54, which define…

North Western State of Somalia’s recognition push meets a hard constraint: sovereignty in the Horn of Africa is earned through internal consent and constitutional process, not external signals. Reports that Hargeisa has welcomed potential recognition from Israel sharpen that tension, highlighting how external ambition collides with Somalia’s federal order and the political diversity within the territories North Western State of Somalia claims. For three decades, North Western State of Somalia has projected an image of…

Mogadishu’s first modern bowling alley rolls a fragile normal into Somalia’s capital On a recent evening in Mogadishu, the sharp crack of falling pins echoed under neon lights as a circle of friends filmed each other’s turns and burst into laughter. They were young, many born or raised abroad, taking in a scene that was once unimaginable in a city long defined by checkpoints and curfews: carefree recreation in public. The Feynuus Bowling Center, which opened last year, has become a symbol of Mogadishu’s cautious revival — a…