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Wednesday April 8, 2026 IDP mother and her children find shelter in IDP camp/File Photo A fresh wave of fighting in southern Somalia’s Bay region has driven thousands of families — including people already uprooted before — into parched rural communities where food, safe water and shelter are in painfully short supply. Gudey Abdullahi Malin, a mother of eight, told Radio Ergo that she fled her home in Baidoa with her children after violence broke out in her area in late March. She is now living in Buula Gedisoy village,…

Wednesday April 8, 2026 Addis Ababa (AX) — Somalia has secured a place on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for the first time since the body was created in 2003, a diplomatic breakthrough that signals the country’s rising profile on the continent. Somalia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Abdullahi Warfaa, hoisted the Somali flag at the council’s headquarters on Tuesday, marking the start of Somalia’s responsibilities during the 2026–2028 term. Government officials described the moment as a…

Tuesday April 7, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Somalia’s Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission has set April 28 as the date for elections to the Southwest State House of Representatives and 11 district local councils, opening the way for the region to choose a president and lawmakers through a one-person, one-vote system within 45 days. Commission chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan announced the schedule Monday in Baidoa, framing the ballot as a major milestone in widening public participation and strengthening…

By  SEUNG MIN KIM, MATTHEW LEE and SAMY MAGDYMonday April 6, 2026 A high-risk American rescue operation unfolded deep inside Iranian territory after a U.S. fighter jet was shot down, with one aviator pulled to safety first and a second service member recovered only after hiding for hours in rugged mountains as Tehran urged civilians to help capture him. Behind the scenes, the CIA moved to muddy the waters before the second crew member was located, pushing out false information inside the Islamic Republic that the United…

By  STEVE DOUGLASSunday April 5, 2026 Saturday delivered a pair of FA Cup shocks and a statement from Manchester City, as second-tier Southampton knocked out Premier League leaders Arsenal while Erling Haaland powered City past Liverpool with a ruthless 4-0 rout. Arsenal, coming off a League Cup final loss to City before the international break, watched another trophy opportunity vanish in the closing stages when Southampton struck in the 85th minute to secure a 2-1 victory at St. Mary’s Stadium. Southampton entered the…

By Hon. Ali M OmarSunday April 5, 2026 The Federal Government says it will not accept lessons in democracy from critics it accuses of trying to weaken Somalia’s hard-won political progress. A wave of commentary on Somalia, both online and in other forums, has offered what the government sees as a selective and misleading picture of the country’s politics. The debate over South West State, it argues, has similarly obscured the deeper question: whether Somalia’s federal arrangement can be protected and strengthened. That,…

Friday April 3, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia has rolled out a new digital platform aimed at tracking and curbing carbon emissions, marking a notable move in its effort to confront climate change and strengthen environmental protection. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said Thursday that the system, called “Green-Gate,” will monitor and regulate emissions produced by industrial operations, transportation and development projects across the territory. According to the ministry, the…

by Frankline OduorThursday April 2, 2026 Flood-hit streets in Nairobi’s CBD and waterlogged grounds in Parklands are a stark preview of what could lie ahead as Kenya’s long rains gather pace. Kenyans.co.ke Ma3Route Kenya’s ongoing long rains are forecast to persist across most parts of the country through April, with rainfall expected to start off slightly lighter before strengthening later in the month and raising the risk of flooding, the latest Kenya Met outlook shows. People living in Rift Valley counties, the Lake…

By Omar M. ElmiWednesday April 1, 2026 A war far from Ethiopia’s borders is already sending tremors through the country’s economy. The fighting in the Middle East is inflicting heavy human and material losses, but its reach is extending well beyond the battlefield, with disruptions that could hit trade, fuel supplies and food production in countries thousands of kilometers away. Ethiopia, landlocked and home to more than 120 million people, sits squarely in that danger zone. The risk is rooted in a basic structural…

Monday March 30, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Monday held talks with ambassadors and representatives of international organizations at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu. According to the presidency, the discussions centered on the government’s record in security, counterterrorism operations, preparations for direct elections, response to drought conditions and efforts to bolster national unity. President Mohamud updated the diplomats on gains made through cooperation between the…