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Wednesday April 22, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State regional forces on Wednesday put on display the bodies of more than 10 suspected Islamic State (ISIS) fighters killed in a U.S. airstrike in the Jaceel Valley area of the Calmiskaad mountain range. Military officials who reached the scene said the dead were linked to cells that had recently mounted attacks on Puntland State security units operating in the area. They said the militants had also struck Puntland State troops overnight, an assault that left one soldier dead.…

By Caolán MageeWednesday April 22, 2026 Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, off the UAE coast Iran has seized two foreign commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and taken them to its coastline, sharpening tensions in a region already on edge just hours after United States President Donald Trump said he would prolong a ceasefire with Tehran. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the ships had breached maritime rules and entered the vital passage without coordination, according to Iranian…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — In a move aimed at reinforcing security after recent political shifts in Southwest state, authorities in Baidoa have prohibited the carrying of heavy weapons inside the city. Bay Regional Police Commander Sadiiq Doodishe announced the restriction on Tuesday, saying machine guns and other heavy weapons would no longer be allowed within Baidoa’s limits. He said the order covers everyone, including government officials. “No one is allowed to carry or use heavy weapons in Baidoa,” Doodishe…

Friday April 17, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State’s Cabinet has called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to work toward a broad political settlement on Somalia’s elections, warning that a prolonged standoff could deepen the country’s instability. The appeal came after a Cabinet session chaired by Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni, during which ministers examined the national political climate following the official expiration of the federal parliament’s four-year mandate on April 14, 2026. “The Council calls on…

Thursday April 16, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — Israel has taken a significant new step in its outreach to North Western State of Somalia, naming its first ambassador to the self-governing territory after formally recognizing it as an independent state earlier this year. Israel’s public broadcaster reported Wednesday that Michael Lotem, an experienced diplomat who previously served as ambassador to Kenya, will represent Israel in North Western State of Somalia. His appointment comes after Israel’s December decision to recognize…

Wednesday April 15, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s opposition Himilo Qaran party on Tuesday raised alarm over the country’s political and constitutional direction after the federal parliament’s term expired. In a statement, the party said the House of the People’s mandate officially ended on April 14, 2026, in line with Article 60 of the Provisional Constitution, describing the date as a defining test for governance and respect for the rule of law. “Protecting the term limits of government institutions is the most…

Monday April 13, 2026 A ship at the Strait of Hormuz Oil markets surged back above $100 a barrel on Monday as trading resumed in Asia, after US-Iran talks collapsed without a fresh agreement and President Donald Trump said he would blockade Iranian ports. Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed 7.3% to $102.30 (£76.32), while US West Texas Intermediate rose 8.7% to $104.94. The breakdown in weekend negotiations has deepened fears that the worldwide energy crunch could worsen. Crude had fallen sharply below $100 last…

Friday April 10, 2026 Djibouti heads to the polls on Friday in a presidential vote that is widely expected to hand incumbent Ismael Omar Guelleh another term, after lawmakers scrapped the age restrictions that could have blocked the 78-year-old from running again. Though tiny in size and home to fewer than 1 million people, the Horn of Africa nation sits in one of the world’s most strategic locations: the Gulf of Aden, at the mouth of the Red Sea. That positioning has drawn a rare concentration of foreign military…

By Angelo AmanteThursday April 9, 2026 Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the media in Rome, Italy, September 1, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights Italy demanded answers from Israel on Wednesday after shots were fired at an Italian convoy serving with a U.N. mission in Lebanon, summoning the Israeli ambassador and saying the country’s forces had “no authority to touch” Rome’s troops. The convoy was part of UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force deployed…

Tuesday April 7, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Monday night convened a high-level security meeting in Baidoa, just days after mortar fire hit the city’s airport soon after his arrival. The session brought together senior military and security officials and centered on efforts to calm the Southwest region after a period of political turbulence and mounting security risks. According to officials, the president was briefed in detail on plans to step up operations against al-Shabab, improve…