MOGADISHU – Somalia’s government said on Friday that security forces had re-established control in two districts of the capital following a day of gunfire between state troops and militias aligned with opposition politicians, clashes that sent some residents fleeing. The unrest erupted this week as tensions rose over planned demonstrations against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to stay in office after his term expired last month. Those protests never materialized. In March, parliament approved constitutional…

By Hussein Mohamed and Matthew Mpoke BiggHussein Mohamed reported from Mogadishu, Somalia, and Matthew Mpoke Bigg from Nairobi, Kenya.Friday June 5, 2026 Smoke drifted above Mogadishu on Thursday as heavy fighting engulfed parts of the Somali capital, where residents said the violence was the most intense in years. The U.S. Embassy called the clashes reckless and appealed for calm. Credit...Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Gunfire and explosions shook Somalia’s capital on Thursday, with residents describing the clashes as…

Thursday June 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — More than 10 hours of intense fighting between Somali government forces and armed groups aligned with the opposition shook Mogadishu on Wednesday, cutting off roads, disrupting airport traffic and sending residents in parts of the capital scrambling for safety. The violence began at Dabka junction, where government forces and security guards linked to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire each blamed the other for triggering the confrontation. Police said masked gunmen opened fire on…

Sunday May 31, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Southwest State’s newly elected House of Representatives members were sworn in on Saturday in Baidoa, a ceremony that unfolded against the backdrop of intense fighting between federal government forces and troops loyal to former regional President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. Southwest State’s interim leader, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, attended the event alongside federal government officials, traditional elders and other dignitaries. The new lawmakers formally took the oath of office,…

Saturday May 30, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Intense fighting erupted early Saturday on the outskirts of Baidoa, where federal government troops clashed with fighters aligned with former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, officials said. The confrontation took place near Baidoa, the interim capital of Southwest State. No independent casualty count has been verified, though social media videos appeared to show wounded soldiers. Bay regional police commander Sadiiq Duushisho told local media that the battle…

A fragile opening is taking shape in the conflict between the United States and Iran, with sources and officials saying the two sides are moving toward a limited, temporary accord that would halt the war while postponing the hardest disputes. Rather than a full peace settlement, the plan now taking shape is built around a short-term memorandum, highlighting how far apart Tehran and Washington remain and suggesting that any deal reached for now would serve only as a stopgap. Even the prospect of a partial breakthrough has…

With tensions still simmering in the Middle East, China's top diplomat Wang Yi urged an immediate halt to the fighting on Tuesday and pressed the United States and Iran to restore access through the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as possible" during talks in Beijing with his Iranian counterpart. "China considers that a complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay, that it is even more unacceptable to restart hostilities, and that continuing to negotiate remains essential," he said, according to a statement from…

Oil prices pulled back on Tuesday as traders weighed signs that shipping could resume through the Strait of Hormuz, even as fresh clashes between the United States and Iran kept a floor under the market and underscored the risk of wider disruption. Brent crude futures were down $4.18, or 3.6%, at $110.26 a barrel this evening, after closing 5.8% higher yesterday. US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $4.34, or 4.1%, to $102.08, following a 4.4% rise in the previous session. Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged…

A quarrel over access to a water well has spiraled into deadly interethnic violence in eastern Chad, leaving at least 42 people dead and 10 others injured. Such clashes, often rooted in farmer-herder tensions over scarce resources, are a recurring challenge across the country. Authorities said a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Limane Mahamat was dispatched to the area and that the situation is now under control. Conflicts over water and grazing land have become more frequent in Chad, with extreme weather…

Mali’s ruling junta came under intense strain after Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his home, while army forces battled for a second straight day against jihadist fighters and separatist rebels near Bamako and in other parts of the country. Camara, his second wife and two of his grandchildren were killed in a car bomb attack on his residence in the junta bastion of Kita, outside the capital, according to his family and an official. The coordinated assaults were carried out by Tuareg rebels from the…