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Somalia's Strategic Offer to the United States In a significant diplomatic move, Somalia has proposed an offer to the United States, granting it exclusive access to crucial air bases and seaports. This proposition was detailed in a letter from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addressed to President Donald Trump, as confirmed by a regional diplomat privy to the matter. The proposed agreement includes air bases in Balidogle and Berbera, alongside the ports of Berbera and Bosaso. Reuters reported on the…

Countries grappling with intense humanitarian crises, like South Sudan, DR Congo, and Somalia, quickly emerged as areas of concern. Famine, displacement, and mounting distress made them susceptible to further turmoil. Have you found yourself pondering, "How do these regions cope?" The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) highlighted a stark reality. In 2022, approximately 282 million people in Africa found themselves undernourished, which accounts for nearly 20% of the continent's population. This number was…

Embrace Innovation and Tranquility at Conference Quay Imagine waking up to a soft breeze carrying the scent of the ocean, waves gently lapping at the shore just outside your window. Welcome to Conference Quay. Specifically crafted for business travellers and corporate dreamers alike, this unique venue offers an inspiring environment where productivity thrives alongside serenity. Nestled on the breathtaking edge of a beach resort, it's a place where professionals come to blend strategy with…

Recently, while seated in a sun-dappled room in Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia spoke with a quiet intensity that comes from years spent grappling with the formidable al-Shabab insurgency. At 69, Mohamud stands at the helm during a turbulent period, his tenure marked by a relentless fight against one of the world's most dangerous terror groups. The question on everyone's mind: how can the United States, a distant though powerful ally, continue to play a crucial role in this struggle? Mohamud's…

Somali President on U.S. Commitment in Fight Against al-Shabab Why should the United States maintain its involvement in the complex struggle against al-Shabab? To answer this question requires an understanding of Somalia's geopolitical realities, economic imperatives, and, perhaps, a dose of human empathy. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, a stalwart leader with unmistakable resolve, finds himself at the helm of a nation riddled with challenges. Al-Shabab, an insidious al-Qaeda affiliate, lurks…

Lawmakers Challenge Exclusive Livestock Export Deal In a bold stand, about one hundred members from both chambers of Somalia's Federal Parliament openly criticized a recent government decision favoring Abu-Yasir, a foreign entrepreneur, with exclusive rights to export the country's livestock. In clear-cut words on Monday, the parliamentarians pointed fingers at President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of putting a foreigner's interest over those of local Somali traders. These traders have long been pillars in the…

In an interview with Reuters, Khaled Meshaal, a prominent figure from Hamas living abroad, expressed that despite significant setbacks in over a year of conflict with Israel, the Palestinian faction aims to regenerate its forces and continue weapon production. Reflecting on the strife that began a year after an assault by Hamas, Meshaal contextualized the battle with Israel as a chapter in a much longer saga dating back 76 years to the "Nakba" or "catastrophe," a term Palestinians use for the 1948 events that led to their…

FILE - U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, at the helm of U.S. Africa Command, partakes in a military drill in Agadir, Morocco, May 30, 2024. The Islamic State in Somalia has doubled its strength in the past year, reveals the head of U.S. Africa Command in a chat with VOA. “Northern Somalia is on my radar due to the uptick in ISIS numbers,” AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley mentioned in a candid interview, using the acronym for the terrorist group. Langley refrained from disclosing the U.S.'s exact figures on…

Derek Hough has beamed into millions of American living rooms since 2007 when he made his debut as a professional dancer on Dancing with the stars. He danced for the show until 2016, winning a record six times with his celebrity partners Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Grey, Kellie Pickler, Amber Riley and Bindi Irwin. In 2020, he was back at it, returning to the show as a judge alongside Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Toniolo. We recently had the chance to sit down with Hough, 39, for a video interview about what he…

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA/WASHINGTON — In an exclusive conversation, U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard Riley discussed the ongoing efforts to navigate the diplomatic tensions and security hurdles confronting Somalia, alongside U.S. attempts to mediate the simmering dispute with Ethiopia. Trouble flared up earlier this year between Somalia and Ethiopia when the latter inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region, which Somalia sees as an affront to its sovereignty. This…