deepens

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Abdirahman Odowaa, the Secretary-General of Somalia’s ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), resigned on Wednesday, a move that exposes widening rifts at the top of the country’s leadership. In a scathing resignation statement, Odowaa faulted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for “obduracy and intransigence,” underscoring a breakdown over the administration’s political and legislative course. The exit is widely seen as a sharp setback for the President’s inner circle amid mounting domestic pressures…

Friday March 20, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A deepening rift between Mogadishu and Southwest State burst into public view on Friday as a group of federal cabinet members from the region resigned en masse. The departing officials are State Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr. Mohamed Yusuf Hassan (Waliid); Deputy Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development Mohamed Aden Mohamed; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Isaak Mohamud Mursal; Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate…

Somalia’s Interior Ministry said Wednesday it is monitoring escalating tensions with Southwest State and warned that continued political friction could endanger peace and stability. In a statement, the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation voiced concern about the dispute’s impact and underscored the need to uphold the constitution and the federal system of governance. “The federal government commends the people and administration of the Southwest State for their role in preserving the unity of the…

China donates $2 million in cash and food to Somalia’s drought response as hunger crisis deepens MOGADISHU — China on Sunday donated $2 million in cash and food assistance to drought-affected communities in Somalia, an infusion of humanitarian aid arriving as the country confronts worsening hunger projections and prolonged dry conditions. At a handover ceremony in Mogadishu, Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu presented the package to Mahmoud Moalim Abdulle, commissioner of the Somali National Disaster Management Authority (SoDMA).…

Somalia fuel prices jump 77% in 72 hours as Middle East conflict disrupts supply MOGADISHU, Somalia — Fuel prices in Somalia’s capital have surged about 77% within three days, an abrupt spike tied to the escalating Middle East conflict that is rattling energy markets and shipping lanes through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Market observers in Mogadishu said the retail price of petrol jumped to about $1.15 per liter from roughly $0.65 earlier this week, with the steepest increases posted by Friday evening. The surge…

Sunday, February 22, 2026 MOGADISHU — High-level talks between Somalia’s federal government and the opposition-aligned Somali Future Council resumed Sunday at Villa Somalia, with both sides still divided over the country’s electoral direction as current mandates near expiration. The meeting is part of an ongoing consultative conference launched last week to resolve disputes over elections and constitutional reform. The stakes are rising as political actors face pressure to agree on a roadmap that averts a constitutional…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkish Navy warships docked at Mogadishu’s seaport Tuesday, marking a new phase in Somalia–Turkey security cooperation as the allies expand joint maritime operations alongside deepening energy ties in Somali waters. The vessels were formally welcomed Wednesday by a high-level Somali delegation led by State Minister for Defense Omar Abdi Ali. Somali National Army Commander Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, who also oversees the navy and coast guard, attended alongside senior naval officers and…

AXADLE, Somalia — Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition struck the port of Mukalla in southeastern Yemen after alleging that weapons unloaded there were bound for the United Arab Emirates–backed Southern Transitional Council, according to officials and international media reports. The coalition had urged civilians to evacuate areas around the port ahead of the strikes, warning the facility could become a new flashpoint in Yemen’s widening conflict. Saudi officials have accused the STC of actions that undermine Yemen’s…

Brussels condemned a new round of U.S. visa bans on European figures involved in combating online hate and disinformation, calling the move unjustified and warning the European Union could respond swiftly to defend its regulatory autonomy. France and Germany joined the EU in denouncing the restrictions, which target five Europeans, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, over alleged efforts to curb free speech and impose burdensome regulation on U.S. tech companies. The decision, announced by the administration of…

DOHA, Qatar — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud used the Doha Forum to argue Somalia is moving from crisis response to an assertive phase of state-building, urging partners to align aid and security programs with the country’s plans as Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye signaled fresh commitments. Chairing a roundtable titled “State-Building in Somalia: Coordinated Strategies to Sustain Progress,” Mohamud said Somali institutions are increasingly capable of setting and executing priorities — from national security and…