explainer

Saturday May 9, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s opposition-backed Somali Future Council said Saturday that it will move ahead with Sunday’s demonstrations over forced evictions and demolitions in Mogadishu, brushing aside government demands that the protest be confined to one official venue. The council said the rallies would remain peaceful and would unfold across districts in the Banadir region. It accused the federal government of pushing residents out of homes and businesses without proper legal procedure, compensation,…

Saturday April 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal takeover of Baidoa and the swift naming of an interim administration in Southwest State have ignited a bitter constitutional showdown, with supporters of the move pointing to newly amended provisions and critics insisting the action breaches both federal and regional law. Federal government forces, working alongside fighters aligned with Southwest opposition groups, seized Baidoa after intense clashes with regional troops. Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed…

Australia will become the first country to implement a nationwide social media ban for children under 16 when new rules take effect on Dec. 10, the government said, aiming to shield young people from the negative effects of online platforms. The Australian government announced the move as part of a wider child-safety push. Officials said the measure is intended to reduce young people’s exposure to harmful material and the mental-health risks associated with heavy social media use. Earlier this year Canberra…