Somalia

Thursday April 2, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — In a swift move aimed at steadying the Southwest regional state after weeks of political turbulence in Baidoa, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has named Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid as interim leader. A decree released Wednesday by the Office of the Prime Minister said the temporary administration will keep core government operations running, hasten consultations on Somalia’s planned one-person, one-vote electoral process and lay the constitutional groundwork…

MOGADISHU - Member of the Federal Parliament Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has sharply denounced the Federal Government's decision to install an administration for South West State, calling the move an unlawful breach of both the federal and state constitutions. He said the central government has no constitutional authority to appoint an administration for a federal member state that already has its own institutions in place. Abdishakur pointed to the South West State Constitution, which requires a presidential election…

Thursday April 2, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia has taken a symbolic and practical leap in rebuilding its maritime future, officially registering its first vessel to sail under the national flag since the collapse of the central government in 1991, a development officials say restores a measure of the country’s long-dormant maritime sovereignty. The vessel, Guney (IMO 8230417), was entered into the Somali register on Wednesday after completing the legal and regulatory steps needed for flag state recognition, the Ministry of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has moved to steady the political situation in Southwest state, with Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre signing a decree that installs a caretaker leader as tensions continue to unfold, officials said.  According to the order, Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi will take charge for an unspecified period until a former president is elected. His responsibilities include pushing forward preparations for one-person, one-vote elections in the regional state. …

Thursday April 2, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali opposition figure and federal lawmaker Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has sharply denounced the federal government’s move to install an interim leader in Southwest State, calling it unconstitutional and a direct danger to Somalia’s already fragile federal arrangement. In a statement released Thursday, Warsame, who leads the Wadajir Party, said the decision to name Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid as interim head of the Southwest administration runs counter to both…

Wednesday April 1, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia moved on Wednesday to tighten the reins on its agriculture efforts, unveiling a national coordination platform in Mogadishu designed to bring greater order to the sector and bolster food security nationwide. The new initiative is intended to align agricultural programs, improve cooperation among government bodies, international partners and development agencies, and help Somali farmers raise output as drought and climate pressures continue to bite. The launch ceremony drew…

Wednesday April 1, 2026 Somalia has been stepping up its push for a larger role on the world stage in recent years. / Others Somalia has moved a significant notch closer to putting its flag on ships sailing abroad after signing an agreement to establish the Somali Ship Registry system. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Mogadishu on Sunday between Somalia’s Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport and Somali Ship Register Limited, a privately owned company. In a statement, the ministry said the partnership is…

By Ali Mohamed AliWednesday April 1, 2026 Illustrative photo  Somalia’s push to open its offshore waters to Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) could come at a steep environmental cost unless the country insists on a rigorous Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) carried out by an independent, technically qualified firm. Context: Planned Drilling by TPAO Somalia has already awarded TPAO exclusive rights to multiple offshore and onshore oil and gas blocks after the company completed extensive 2D and 3D seismic…

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has focused his government on rebuilding state capacity, tightening public management, and pushing major legal and economic reforms. The agenda—carried out through new appointments, governance reviews, and wider fiscal measures—aims to improve how the federal government runs ministries, collects revenue, and prepares for political milestones. This explainer outlines what Barre has pursued since taking office, what was announced publicly, and the main areas that observers track.…

In 2026, Somalia's political debate is increasingly focused on how President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is managing three linked challenges: a major constitutional transition, preparations for elections in the run-up to 2026, and the pressure of fighting al-Shabaab while maintaining governance in Mogadishu. Much of the year's attention has turned to talks between the presidency, opposition figures, and the National Consultative Council, as well as disputes in parliament over proposed constitutional amendments and the timing of…