Administration

Puntland State backs federal-led local council elections, warns against interference MOGADISHU, Somalia — Puntland State’s Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation on Tuesday said local council elections in Somalia’s northeastern state will proceed under the leadership of the Federal Electoral and Boundaries Commission, signaling a renewed push for direct polls despite fraught federal–state relations. In a statement, the ministry said it fully supports implementation of the vote in line with Articles 104 and…

Somalia moves to form federal-aligned administration in Awdal, escalating rift with North Western State of Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government is advancing plans to establish a new administration in the northwestern Awdal region under direct central authority, a step that has sharpened political tensions with North Western State of Somalia and stirred concern among regional leaders. Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said the proposal remains in development and is being shaped through consultations…

Trump administration freezes $185 million in Minnesota childcare funds, orders audits of Somali American immigration cases MINNEAPOLIS — The administration of President Donald Trump has suspended federal childcare funding to Minnesota and ordered audits of immigration cases involving Somali Americans, escalating a fraud crackdown that critics say disproportionately targets immigrant communities in the state with the nation’s largest Somali population. The Department of Health and Human Services froze $185 million in…

Trump administration freezes Minnesota childcare funds, orders Somali citizenship audits MINNEAPOLIS — The Trump administration has frozen $185 million in federal childcare funding to Minnesota and ordered audits of immigration cases involving Somali Americans, escalating a fraud crackdown that state leaders and advocates say risks unfairly targeting a single immigrant community. The Department of Health and Human Services announced the funding freeze Tuesday, citing viral allegations by conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley…

Somalia Among Countries Affected as Trump Administration Recalls Nearly 50 U.S. Ambassadors WASHINGTON — Nearly 50 U.S. ambassadors and senior diplomatic officials are being recalled worldwide under President Donald Trump’s administration, leaving key posts vacant in countries including Somalia, according to officials familiar with the move. The changes, expected to take effect by January, are part of Trump’s effort to reshape U.S. foreign service leadership and align diplomatic posts with his “America First” agenda. The…

MOGADISHU — The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts worldwide in a sweeping reshuffle aimed at aligning U.S. diplomacy with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, according to two State Department officials. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters, said chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were notified last week that their tenures will end in January. All of the recalled diplomats were…

Justice Department denies shielding Trump as fury grows over redacted Epstein files The U.S. Justice Department denied it redacted Jeffrey Epstein files to protect President Donald Trump as criticism mounted over a partial, heavily censored release of documents that has angered victims and prompted bipartisan demands for full disclosure. Victims of the late sex offender said the newly released cache — with many pages blacked out and images blurred — fell far short of what Congress ordered under a law compelling publication…

Somalia’s Southwest state executes police officer over $2 extortion killing in Baidoa BAIDOA, Somalia — The Southwest Somali administration on Saturday executed a member of its special police force after a military court convicted him of killing a civilian during a dispute over a $2 extortion demand, authorities said. The soldier, identified as Abdisamad Hassan Madnuur, was sentenced to death by the 60th Division Military Court for fatally shooting a traveler in late November in Berdale district of the Bay region, according…

South West State executes police officer over $2 extortion killing in Baidoa BAIDOA, Somalia — The South West State administration on Saturday executed a member of its special police force who was convicted of fatally shooting a civilian during a $2 extortion dispute, according to officials and court records. The soldier, identified as Abdisamad Hassan Madnuur, was sentenced to death by the 60th Division Military Court for killing a traveler in late November in Berdale district of the Bay region. Court documents state the…

Trump administration orders sweeping re-review of Biden-era refugee admissions, freezes green-card processing WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ordered a comprehensive review and re-interview of refugees admitted to the United States under former President Joe Biden, an unprecedented step that could reopen cases for roughly 233,000 people and halt their path to permanent residence, according to an internal government memo seen by Reuters. The memo, dated Nov. 21 and signed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services…