Deputy

Somalia’s Quiet Test of Federalism: A New State’s Speaker Knocks on Mogadishu’s Door In the thick summer heat of Mogadishu, a meeting that might have gone unnoticed told a larger story about where Somalia’s fragile federal experiment may be heading. On Tuesday, Abdullahi Ali Hirsi Timacadde, the Second Deputy Speaker of Somalia’s Upper House, hosted Dr. Adan Abdullahi Aw-Hassan, the Speaker of the North Eastern State Parliament, for talks that were part ceremony, part signal, and all politics. The official readout was…

Somalia’s Deputy Foreign Minister meets Sen. Ted Cruz as North Western State of Somalia recognition debate intensifies On a quiet Saturday in Washington, a meeting that might have passed as routine diplomacy was anything but. Somalia’s deputy foreign minister, Ali Omar Ali—widely known by his nickname, Balcad—sat down with Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and has emerged as one of the most vocal advocates in Washington for recognizing North Western State of…

Rayner’s resignation shakes Starmer’s reset — and hands David Lammy a testing new brief Angela Rayner’s abrupt resignation on Thursday over a stamp duty dispute has reopened a raw political wound for Britain’s Labour government — one that Keir Starmer had hoped was healing as he sought to rebrand his premiership as steady, sober and scandal-free. The immediate, consequential result was the promotion of David Lammy to deputy prime minister and justice secretary, and a reshuffle that put veteran Yvette Cooper back in charge…

North Western State of Somalia's Upcoming Election: Muse Bihi Grapples with Defections and Sovereignty Struggle HARGEISA, Somalia - Muse Bihi Abdi, the leader of North Western State of Somalia, faces considerable challenges in the upcoming election as over a million voters prepare to choose their new leader. This vote is poised to be a pivotal moment for the self-declared autonomous region, which is pushing hard for global recognition. Bihi, who once piloted jets in the Air Force, now witnesses the departure of his deputy,…

In a surprising twist in North Western State of Somalia's political scene, Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Saylici threw his weight behind the Waddani Party, a move that could stir up quite the ripple in the upcoming elections slated for November 13. After being in the vice-presidential saddle for what feels like a solid 14 years, Saylici stepped into the limelight in Hargeisa, where he took a shot at President Muse Bihi's regime during a news conference with Waddani's president wannabe, Abdirahman Mohamed…

In a recent encounter that brought together minds from opposite ends of the global spectrum, Somalia's Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, sat down with Mathieu Briens, the European Union's Deputy Managing Director for Africa. This wasn't just a meeting of suits and ties but a convergence of ideas and aspirations aimed at putting Somalia on a robust path to a brighter future. The Somali national news agency, SONNA, was right on the scene, painting a picture of diplomatic engagement. Amidst the backdrop of this high-profile…

Hamza Abdi Barre, the Prime Minister of Somalia, recently welcomed Tanja Fajon, Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister, for an important dialogue. During their meeting, they delved into strengthening ties between Somalia and Slovenia, with a keen focus on pivotal issues such as climate change, social welfare, security, and human rights. This dialogue gains significance as Somalia embarks on its new role within the UN Security Council, as highlighted by the Somali National News Agency (SONNA). Prime Minister Hamza took the…

On November 1, 2024, in a ceremonial event brimming with significance, President William Ruto entrusted the Kenyan constitution to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki following Kindiki's oath of office. Nairobi — Kithure Kindiki stepped into his role as Kenya’s deputy president on a Friday, mere hours after a judicial verdict lifted restrictions that had been preventing his nomination. He was chosen to succeed the impeached Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, who is currently pursuing legal avenues to reclaim his former…

Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Lands in Mogadishu: Special Reception for Oil Research Ship MOGADISHU - With a watchful eye on new horizons, Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Musa Heybet touched down in the buzzing hub of Somalia's capital. His arrival heralds the imminent docking of an oil exploration vessel, primed to set sail into the depths of the Indian Ocean for seismic surveys. This vessel, recently launched from Turkey under the watchful command of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is on a dual mission: to map…

Kenya's Displaced Deputy Accuses NIS of Plotting His Demise NAIROBI, Kenya - Ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asserts there were schemes to eliminate him even before the parliament sparked off his impeachment process, potentially steering Kenya towards a constitutional rift. Gachagua, appearing notably weary post-discharge from Karen Hospital where he was admitted last Thursday, recalled two unsettling episodes with alleged attempts on his life orchestrated by National Intelligence Service (NIS) personnel during…