forces

WASHINGTON — It was a grim scene over two relentless days of tumult in Somalia’s Northeastern State territory where recent skirmishes claimed the lives of over 20 individuals and left a further ten nursing battle scars. The security forces clashed with Islamic State insurgents in a fierce showdown, as shared by officials on Tuesday. Speaking to VOA’s Somali Service, the steely Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, who orchestrates Northeastern State's security responses, painted a stark picture of the skirmish. He…

BOSASO, Somalia - A New Dawn as Key ISIS Figure Surrenders to Northeastern State Forces It's not every day you hear about militants throwing in the towel, but that's precisely what happened when a senior ISIS leader handed himself over to the Northeastern State Defence Forces this Tuesday. Talk about turning the tables! Senior officials, bursting with pride, lauded the relentless pursuit encompassing the rugged Bari region. For nearly a month, Northeastern State's gallant…

Mogadishu (AX) — In an audacious display of bravery and vigilance, the Somali National Army (SNA) joined hands with the local residents to foil an intricate ploy designed by the notorious Al-Shabaab militant group. What began as a routine patrol escalated into a nail-biting showdown — the drama unfolded dramatically near Beledweyne on a seemingly ordinary Saturday, where the hawk-eyed Somali forces seized a vehicle brimming with a cache of 13 sleek AK-47 rifles. We're talking about heavy artillery, folks. According to the…

A cool evening breeze whispered through the Garsoor neighborhood in the heart of Galkacyo as chaos erupted under a murky sky. In a clash that echoed like a thunderstorm, two local militias squared off, the night breaking open to the sound of gunfire. It was a Saturday night that the residents of this district in the Mudug region’s bustling capital won't soon forget. The predictable hum of city life gave way to a cacophony of fear and uncertainty. Northeastern State and Galmudug, two regional forces not foreign to the…

On a sun-drenched Saturday morning, the streets of Mogadishu buzzed with an unsual energy as Somali security forces scattered themselves across the city, staking their claim on Mogadishu's bustling corners. Their mission? Silencing the city’s signature soundtrack—auto-rickshaw speakers. These speakers, which once belted out catchy tunes and lively broadcasts, now find themselves tangled up in controversy. Just like that quiet guy at a party who suddenly breaks into a dance—unexpectedly! Police…

Mogadishu (AX) — A balmy Wednesday evening in Halaalay quickly turned into a harrowing scene of battle, leaving at least six people dead by the time the dust settled. This tiny village, nestled near Halgan in Somalia's Hiiraan region, became the latest stage in the enduring drama of power struggles between local defense forces and the relentless Al-Shabaab militants. It seems Somalia's battle with the militant group shows no signs of ending, as accusations, skirmishes, and whispers of turmoil continue to echo across…

Mogadishu (AX) – Picture a bustling airport, the hum of anticipation mingling with the clamor of last-minute announcements. Now, swap the airport for the Iraqi border, where the stakes are not about missed flights, but about national security. That’s the scene as a Somali government delegation, led by the thoughtful and determined Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag, touched down in Iraq. Their mission? To tighten the knots of security cooperation between the two nations. Accompanying Minister…

BOSSASO, Somalia - In a story that's proving to be the topic of the day, Operation Lightning continues to cut through the landscape of eastern Northeastern State like a knife through butter. With purpose and precision, the Northeastern State Defense Forces are taking no prisoners—figuratively, of course—as they make substantial headway into territories once dominated by the ominous shadow of IS-Somalia militants. You wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it yourself: this week, the Northeastern State forces clinched a…

In the rapidly whirling world of social media, where even a speck of misinformation can snowball into a frenzy, rumors spun a fantastic yarn about Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Ethiopia. The buzz sprang from claims, running wild across online platforms, that the president was inspecting Ethiopia’s naval forces. But let's pause here and consider, have the metaphorical ships really come in on this? To set the record straight, factual accounts and photographic evidence reveal that President Mohamud was…

Mogadishu (AX) — In the labyrinth of African geopolitics, where the sands of strategy shift almost as swiftly as the dunes of the Sahara, Somalia finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. The nation, energetically charting the course for the African Union's next phase in peacekeeping — dubbed the African Union's Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) — eagerly gestures towards its long-time neighbor, Ethiopia, hoping to draw them into this unfolding tapestry of collaboration. Yet, the path to inclusion is anything but a…