discussions

In Kismayo, United Nations envoy James Swan and Jubbaland's head honcho, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), shook hands and dove into Somalia's political big picture. They chewed over state-building, the quagmire with Al-Shabaab, and the prep work for the upcoming National Consultative Council (NCC) hoo-ha.Mogadishu (AX) — On a Sunday powwow, James Swan, the UN's point person, nudged Jubbaland's President Ahmed Madobe back into Somalia's National Consultative Council. They focused their chat on building an effective state and…

Mogadishu (AX) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud jetted off to Asmara, Eritrea, on Wednesday to connect with Eritrea's leader, Isaias Afwerki.This journey is all about bolstering ties and cooperation between Somalia and Eritrea, especially concerning crucial matters influencing the Horn of Africa, according to a report from the Somali National News Agency.President Mohamud's entourage includes Ahmed Macalin Fiqi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with various cabinet members.His visit to Eritrea occurs against…

Garowe (AX) – In a supportive gesture, Northeastern State's Vice President Ilyas Lugatoor backed Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe's call for including Northeastern State in the ongoing National Consultative Council (NCC) gatherings happening in bustling Mogadishu. President Madobe has been vocal against the federal government's ambition to roll out a one-person, one-vote (1PV) electoral system. He raised concerns about the slippery slope of missed election deadlines and stressed that the absence of Northeastern…

Somalia's Political Roadblock: Leadership Gridlocked Over Term Extension During Key Election Reform Deliberations MOGADISHU, Somalia - A hush-hush conclave involving Somalia's President and Prime Minister, alongside Ahmed Madobe from Jubaland, concluded in a standoff on Friday, as noted by Axadle's unimpeachable sources. This stalemate is a serious setback for the Federal Administration's electoral reform strategy, which faces considerable pushback. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud advocates for a sweeping change to the…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia's National Consultative Council (NCC) wraps up its important meeting on Thursday in Mogadishu. This summit is a hotspot where both federal and regional bigwigs are charting a course to tackle Al-Shabaab head-on. There's also some juicy behind-the-scenes drama with Northeastern State that can't be ignored. Gathered over two days, orchestrated by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the assembly zeroes in on boosting efforts against Al-Shabaab, which the Somali leadership brands as "Khawarij,"…

Somali Leaders Hold Secretive Talks Over Ethiopian Troops MOGADISHU, Somalia — Amid swirling tensions around Ethiopian military presence, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in a fragile negotiation with Abdiaziz Laftagareen, the president of Somalia's Southwest State, insiders disclosed Tuesday. The high-stakes meeting, shrouded in secrecy, seeks to tackle the thorny issue of Ethiopian soldiers jostling around Somalia's sovereignty and regional tranquility. This happens against the backdrop of geopolitical plays involving…

Mogadishu (AX) – On Monday, Somali Minister of Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, and his Turkmenistan counterpart, J. Gurbandeldiyev, connected via video call, discussing ways to bolster ties in education, culture, and tech sectors. Fathudin Ali Muhammad, the Somali Ambassador to Turkmenistan residing in Ankara, took part in the session. The main focus was on fostering collaboration and promoting university-level education between the two countries. Turkmenistan's Minister of Education applauded Somalia's enthusiasm…

ANKARA (AX) — Somali Ambassador to Turkey, Fathudin Ospite, joined a gathering of East African envoys in Ankara on Friday. They convened to explore ways to boost economic and trade connections between Turkey and the East African region.Somalia, which recently became a member of the East African regional bloc, was officially welcomed into the fold during this meeting.The ambassadors emphasized the need to intensify their bonds with Turkey, especially focusing on trade and economic cooperation.In recent years, Turkey has been…

New York (AX) – Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, had a pivotal conversation with U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Catherine Molly Phee, during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday.During their discussion, Minister Taye underscored Ethiopia's unwavering devotion to fostering lasting peace and security, spotlighting the nation's significant efforts in battling terrorism, particularly within Somalia.The Minister indicated the necessity for thorough…

Mogadishu (AX) – Monday saw Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the big cheese at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), touch down in Mogadishu for a chinwag with Somali bigwigs, aiming to boost ties between Somalia and IGAD. In a sit-down with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, they chewed over burning regional issues like security hurdles, economic hook-ups, and IGAD's ongoing projects in Somalia. President Hassan doubled down on Somalia's resolve to tighten bonds with IGAD and to play a pivotal role in the…