Envoy

Complex Paths: Navigating the North Western State of Somalia Recognition Dilemma Nairobi, Aug. 20, 2025 — In the intricate geopolitical chessboard of the Horn of Africa, former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Larry André, has emerged with a compelling advisory for the international community. His message? Tread carefully on the question of North Western State of Somalia's recognition. The Diplomatic Tightrope André, with a wealth of experience from posts spanning Mogadishu to Nairobi, offers a cautionary note to the U.S.: a…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A heated row has erupted between two prominent Somali ministers, spotlighting corruption allegations swirling around Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre's administration. The conflict hinges on which official should serve as the nation's representative at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalin Fiqi opted for Mohamud Moalim, the current head of Somalia's disaster management agency, to take on WMO envoy duties. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Khadija Makhzoumi backed Guled…

Understanding what's at play, let's take the core message of a Kenyan delegation trying to ease the political friction between Somali leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubbaland's head honcho, Ahmed Madobe, over the looming election. There's some backstory involving some heavy hitters like former bigwigs from IGAD—Mahbub Moalim and Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey. We've even got Wajir County's own Senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan Olow in the mix. Their mission? Play peacemaker and sort out this kerfuffle over inclusion or lack…

Mogadishu (AX) — On Saturday, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi engaged in a pivotal conversation with James Swan, the Acting Special Representative of the United Nations, in Mogadishu. Their discussion revolved around the newly inaugurated United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), which has taken over from UNSOM. This meeting came just a day after UNTMIS’s official debut on November 1. The dialogue centered on Somalia’s evolving role within the UN Security Council, along with critical security…

Mogadishu (AX) — On Monday, Somalia gave the boot to a top Ethiopian envoy, accusing the diplomat of actions that clash with his official duties and breach Somalia's sovereignty. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs broke the news, spotlighting the incident's significance. Ali Mohamed Adan, who held the position of Counselor II at Ethiopia’s embassy in the Somali capital, faced the label of persona non grata. This term demands he exits Somali territory within 72 hours. The move raises the bar in the already bumpy relationship…

Baku (AX) — Anar Najafli, who leads the State Protocol Department at Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, met with Somalia's non-resident ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fathudin Ali Mohamed, earlier this week to officially receive his credentials.Ambassador Fathudin, doubling up as Somalia's representative to Turkey, engaged in discussions with Najafli to explore avenues for boosting ties between the two nations, focusing particularly on trade, education, and development partnerships. Interestingly, Fathudin's journey to Azerbaijan…

Gen Muhoozi happens to be the son of the President. The word on the grapevine from the US embassy is their staff were caught flat-footed, clueless about the CDF's cryptic statements, which demanded immediate action in less than 72 hours. By press time, Mr. Popp had zipped lips on the whole drama, and no peep came from the officials in Kampala either. “We're trying to untangle the mess,” shared a source from the scene. The mission apparently fired a concerned missive to the Foreign Affairs ministry, but as Friday bid…

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…

Washington, D.C. (AX) – U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the Somali Ambassador Dahir Hassan Arab at the White House, where the ambassador presented his diplomatic credentials. This ceremonial act symbolizes a step toward strengthening bonds between Somalia and the United States.In their dialogue, Ambassador Arab and President Biden explored ways to bolster bilateral ties, particularly zooming in on Somalia's developmental strides, as well as the Somali government's initiatives to uplift the quality of life for its…

Somali UN Envoy Implores AU Troops to Respect International Norms and Somalia's Borders UNITED NATIONS (AX) — Somalia's voice at the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, urged African Union troop-contributing nations to rigorously adhere to global laws and honor Somalia’s borders. Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Osman underscored the importance of aligning foreign military actions with regional agreements to maintain stability. "Failing to respect Somalia's borders can be perceived as aggression," Osman…