Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s drive to build a 100,000-strong national army gained fresh momentum as a new unit trained in Qatar was deployed across Mogadishu, part of a broader, multinational effort to professionalize the country’s security forces after years of conflict. About 600 Somali soldiers returned from long-term training in Doha and have been placed under the National Intelligence and Security Agency’s Banadir command, according to multiple security sources. Turkey is supplying weapons and gear to the unit as…

Portland police arrest third suspect in 2022 killing of Uber driver and father of eight PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland police have arrested a third suspect in the 2022 shooting death of Shaani Mohamed, a Somali immigrant, Uber driver and father of eight whose killing rattled the city’s Somali community. Police said 41-year-old Shaperryia L. Lambert was taken into custody Wednesday in Northeast Portland and charged with second-degree murder. According to court records, investigators allege Lambert was involved in an attempted…

JAMAME, Somalia — Jubaland regional forces, backed by the Somali National Army’s Danab commandos, have advanced on Jamaame in Lower Jubba, tightening pressure on al-Shabaab and opening corridors for civilians after days of coordinated operations outside Kismayo, according to security officials. Officials and security sources said troops have pushed through a string of settlements surrounding the town — including Araare, Muusa Xaaji, Koban and Bangeeni — establishing safe routes for aid and deploying police and…

Mogadishu — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been named the CAF Best Male Referee for 2025, a landmark honor announced Wednesday evening at a ceremony at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat, Morocco. The award marks a historic breakthrough for Somali football and its match officials, drawing swift congratulations from the nation’s top leadership. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called the accolade “historic” and said Artan’s rise reflects the talent and professionalism of a new generation of Somali officials…

Galgaduud court hands down death sentence in Guricel businessman killing A regional military court in central Somalia sentenced a 20-year-old man to death on Wednesday for the fatal shooting of a well-known businessman in the town of Guricel two days earlier, court officials said. The Galgaduud regional military court found Abdifitaah Ali Hassan Diiriye guilty in the killing of 37-year-old entrepreneur Deeq Abdi Jama. The verdict was announced by the court’s chairman, Lawyer Hassan Abdullahi Ali. The case centers on…

CAF Awards 2025: Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan named Best Male Referee Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was named CAF Best Male Referee for 2025 on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, underscoring a landmark year for officiating in the Horn of Africa. The honor was announced at the CAF Awards ceremony hosted at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. Uganda’s Nabadda was also recognized, taking the CAF Best Female Referee award. The awards spotlight the continent’s top football officiating talent. Artan’s win highlights…

Somalia: Puntland State troops surround last ISIS stronghold Puntland State’s counter-terrorism push, known as Operation Hilaac, is moving into its final phase as forces close in on what they believe is the last major ISIS hideout in northeastern Somalia. Sources say militants have been pushed from several strategic areas and are now boxed into the Baallade Valley in the Cal-Miskaad mountains. Troops have encircled an area assessed as ISIS’s final main stronghold in Baallade Valley. Operation Hilaac has steadily…

Latest developments Somalia’s military said it has seized new ground from Al-Shabaab in coordinated operations across Lower Jubba and Bakool, underscoring a stepped-up campaign in the south and center of the country. In Jamaame, Lower Jubba, security forces reported a significant blow to the militants over the weekend. In Bakool, troops overran an Al-Shabaab camp in the Moora-Gaabeey area, about 37 kilometers from Xuddur. In Jamaame, the army says close to 60 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in an operation backed by…

Somalia’s Upper House approves national human rights commissioners Somalia’s Upper House has approved the appointment of nine commissioners to the National Independent Human Rights Commission, a key step in formalizing the country’s human rights oversight architecture. The commissioners were sworn in immediately after the vote, completing the parliamentary endorsement process. Twenty-eight senators voted in favor during Wednesday’s session; one abstained. The House of the People approved the creation of the Commission on…

North Western State of Somalia declares coordinated internet price hike illegal North Western State of Somalia’s government has ruled that a recent, simultaneous internet price increase by telecommunications companies was unlawful and incompatible with the region’s free‑market system. A ministerial committee said the coordinated move lacked legal basis and was reversed within days after public backlash across major towns and online. Officials said prices must reflect competition and market forces, not joint action by service…