Saturday May 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali government forces killed six al-Shabab militants on Friday in a planned operation in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, the Ministry of Defense said. According to the ministry, the Somali National Army, working alongside international partners, launched the operation in the Ugunji area after intelligence indicated that al-Shabab fighters were massing there in preparation for an attack. The ministry said six militants were killed and that weapons and other military equipment used…

Turkey to Dispatch Delegation to Somalia Amid Election Row: Sources MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 23 — Türkiye is set to send a senior delegation to Mogadishu after the Eid holidays in an effort to help chart a path through Somalia’s widening electoral dispute between federal leaders, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move comes as Turkish officials step up diplomatic outreach, with tensions rising over the country’s electoral framework and proposed constitutional changes, the sources said. People with knowledge…

Somalia’s diaspora—Somali citizens and families living abroad—has long played a role in the country’s public life. In recent years, that influence has become more visible in discussions about elections, governance, and political debate. From financial support sent home to advocacy in host countries and input through media and civic groups, diaspora ties can shape how political actors communicate, how campaigns mobilize voters, and how communities discuss national issues. This explainer outlines how that influence works,…

Friday May 22, 2026 Ankara (AX) — Somalia and Turkey moved to deepen their partnership on rebuilding roads, expanding housing and strengthening urban development on Thursday, as Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing Minister Ayub Ismail Yusuf held talks in Ankara with Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu. The meeting took place at Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and brought together senior officials, engineers and technical advisers from both countries. The…

Kitty HollandFriday May 22, 2026 Court conducting age inquiry over asylum seeker charged with murder of Vadym Davydenko (17) Dublin District Court is conducting an age inquiry, applied for by Tusla, regarding the Somali national. Photograph: Tusla stock image Disturbing accounts of a young asylum seeker’s route to Ireland were laid before Dublin District Court on Thursday in a case that has gripped attention since the killing of Ukrainian teenager Vadym Davydenko in Tusla accommodation last year. The court is now carrying…

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a tense situation unfolded when protesters set fire to Ebola treatment tents following a dispute over the burial of a suspected victim. The incident highlights the difficulties faced by authorities in managing safe burial practices crucial to preventing the virus's spread. In the Ituri province town of Rwampara, tensions flared as police resorted to firing warning shots and tear gas to disperse a crowd angered by the refusal to release the body of a popular local footballer for…

Ali Al ShoukFriday May 22, 2026 Livestock costs are on the rise at Dubai's Al Qusais market ahead of Eid Al Adha. Chris Whiteoak / The National Dubai’s livestock traders are heading into Eid Al Adha with brisk business — and sharply higher prices — as families prepare for the holiday’s traditional sacrificial feast amid heavy demand and disruption linked to the Iran war. Vendors in Al Qusais said animal prices have climbed by as much as 40 per cent before the festival, a jump they attribute largely to higher shipping costs…

Friday May 22, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Fresh fighting erupted late Thursday on the outskirts of Baidoa, where Southwest State security forces clashed with militias loyal to former regional President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, officials said. The confrontation unfolded in the Idoow Dhagoole area, north of Baidoa, and left casualties, including people killed and wounded, according to reports from the scene. The precise toll was not immediately available. In a statement issued Friday, the Southwest Ministry of Security…

BAIDOA, Somalia — Gunfire broke out on the outskirts of Baidoa on Friday after fighters loyal to the ousted South West State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen moved against positions held by Somali federal government troops, according to security sources and local residents. The violence flared near the southwestern city at a moment of already sharp political strain, deepening concerns over security in a region long shaped by disputes over South West State’s leadership. Residents said the confrontation started when…

Friday May 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s intelligence service says it and international partners have killed 26 al-Shabab fighters in a series of coordinated military operations in the Hiiraan region, striking what officials described as key militant hideouts and support sites. The National Intelligence and Security Agency said Friday that the operations hit al-Shabab positions in Mahaas, Mukayle and Shaw, areas where the group had been assembling fighters, stockpiling weapons and preparing attacks. NISA said the…