civil

Wednesday May 6, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A three-day Somali Civil Society Conference on good governance and political stability wrapped up in Mogadishu on Wednesday, bringing together a wide spectrum of voices in a rare push for political calm and consensus. Held from May 3 to 5, the conference drew scholars, civil society umbrella organizations, women, youth, people with disabilities, media representatives, academics and traditional elders. Over the course of the sessions, participants examined Somalia’s political…

Monday April 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — As tensions persist between Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders, civil society groups are backing a familiar force in Somali politics: traditional elders. At a press conference in Mogadishu on Sunday, Osman Moalim Shatax, chairman of a coalition of non-state actors, said civil society supports appeals from both sides to bring elders into the mediation process. Shatax said the elders are in a strong position to help restore confidence and steer the country toward a…

Monday April 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — As Somalia grapples with a widening political standoff, civil society groups are urging that traditional elders be brought to the forefront of efforts to bridge the divide between the federal government and opposition leaders. At a press conference in Mogadishu on Sunday, Osman Moalim Shatax, chairman of a coalition of non-state actors, said civil society supports recent appeals from both government and opposition figures for elders to take part in mediation. Shatax said the country’s…

A diplomatic row at the heart of government has erupted around Keir Starmer after it emerged that the Foreign Office overrode a security vetting recommendation to approve Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US. The prime minister and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have both lost confidence in Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Olly Robbins over the affair, and he is expected to leave the role, according to reports. Security officials had originally refused to grant Mr Mandelson clearance, before Foreign…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Alarm is growing over a string of social media posts by Somalia’s ports and maritime transport minister, Abdulqadir Mohamed Nur, with critics warning that the messages could deepen political tensions and even help trigger conflict in the Southwest state. Over the past several days, Nur has used Facebook to comment on the movement of national army units, including posts saying when troops would arrive in Baidoa and claiming that some areas had already been secured. The remarks have prompted sharp…

Gerry Adams begins giving evidence in London civil case over IRA bombings Former Sinn Féin leader denies IRA membership as claimants seek £1 damages and ruling on personal liability for 1973 and 1996 attacks Gerry Adams, 77, took the stand at the Royal Courts of Justice after five days of claimant testimony. He strenuously denies allegations that he was directly responsible for injuries from IRA bombings in London and Manchester. LONDON — Gerry Adams began giving evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday,…

Tributes Pour in for Jesse Jackson, Renowned Civil Rights Leader and Anti-Apartheid Advocate Civil rights leader and anti-apartheid struggle flagbearer Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84. Leaders across the continent expressed their condolences and paid tribute to his decades-long fight for equality and justice. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his condolences to the Jackson family, highlighting that Jackson's campaign against apartheid and support for the liberation movement significantly contributed…

Rev. Jesse Jackson, the towering civil rights leader and one of the United States’ most influential Black voices, died peacefully this morning at 84, his family said, prompting an immediate outpouring of tributes from political leaders and activists at home and abroad. President Donald Trump praised Jackson as “a force of nature like few others before him” and credited himself with helping the iconic minister in his efforts to empower Black Americans. Trump posted his remarks on his Truth Social platform. Former Vice…

Jesse Jackson, the U.S. civil rights leader, Baptist minister and two-time Democratic presidential candidate who rose from the segregated South to become a confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., has died at 84, his family said in a statement. “Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said. Jackson, a long-time Chicago figure and an electrifying orator, disclosed in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s…

Jesse Jackson, the Baptist minister and civil rights leader who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and elevated Black political power for more than six decades, died peacefully this morning at 84, his family said in a statement. “Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the family said. “His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he…