MOGADISHU, Somalia — Abdullahi Shimbir, the governor of Somalia’s Gedo region, has cautioned against any election process carried out without legal grounding and wider consultation, saying local authorities have been left out of current voting plans. After talks in Mogadishu with federal government officials, Shimbir said the discussions centered on introducing a "one-person, one-vote" system. He said, however, that the political dispute between the Federal Government of Somalia and Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe continues…

LUUQ, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has sent Turkish-trained elite Gorgor, or “Eagle,” commandos to the strategic district of Luuq in the Gedo region, a move that underscores a sharper military push in an area long marked by security concerns and political disputes. Security officials said the first plane carrying the specialized troops touched down in Luuq early Sunday, with more flights expected in the coming days to increase the number of forces on the ground. The deployment comes on the heels of the arrival of…

Somalia’s government swats down ‘New Jubaland’ talk — but the rumor reveals deeper strains Somalia’s federal government has moved to tamp down rising chatter about a breakaway “New Jubaland” in the country’s southwest, a rumor that ricocheted through community meetings and WhatsApp groups long before officials stepped in. The denial is clear. The politics behind it are anything but. What the deputy minister said In an interview with the Somali outlet Arlaadi Media, Deputy Interior Minister Sadad Aliyow dismissed claims…

Somalia’s Fragile Federal Compact Tested Again as Jubaland Rift Deepens When Cabdirashiid Janan, once Jubaland’s security minister and now describing himself as the intelligence chief for Gedo, stood before supporters in Beled-Hawo this week and declared that the federal government had been “defeated” in Lower Juba, he did more than score a rhetorical point. He crystallised a slow-burning crisis at the heart of Somalia’s experiment with federalism — a contest over territory, revenue and the meaning of sovereignty that is…

In Mogadishu (AX), a minimum of six individuals met their demise, and a host of others sustained injuries due to a flare-up of inter-clan skirmishes within Luuq district, nestled in the Gedo region, as shared by folks on the ground.On Wednesday, rival clan factions, armed to the teeth with a variety of weapons, clashed fiercely on the eastern fringes of Luuq. These feuds have flared sporadically in recent months, rekindling age-old disputes.An attempt at reconciliation held earlier this month in Kismayo hit a wall, plunging…

The decision is poised to further strain relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, which have already become tense following a controversial accord between the Ethiopian government and North Western of Somaliaa uthorities for Red Sea access. Adding more fuel to the fire, Somalia signed a defense pact with Egypt, leading to the imminent deployment of five Egyptian soldiers as part of the African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This new mission will replace the older African Union Transition Mission…

Ethiopian Forces Seize Key Somali Airports Amid Soaring Tensions Mogadishu (AX)— Ethiopian troops have reportedly taken control of crucial airports in Somalia's Gedo region, such as those in Luuq, Dolow, and Bardhere. This move follows rumors that the Somali federal government plans to station Egyptian forces near the Ethiopian border. The entry of Ethiopian forces has alarmed local militias, who are reportedly mobilizing in response. This escalation is occurring against a backdrop where Ethiopian troops are slated to exit…

Somali spy agency linked to harassment of women in Gedo MOGADISHU, Somalia - The spy agency; National Intelligence and Security Agency found itself in uncharted territory again, following complaints from residents of Gedo, Jubaland, who raised alarm bells about gender-based violence allegedly perpetrated by some officers. For months now, NISA agents have pitched a tent in Dolow in Gedo, they…

Somali PM sacks top intelligence officials in thrill move that has upset Farmajo MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble on Friday sacked two senior intelligence officials in an unexpected move that allegedly angered incumbent President Farmajo. In a statement, the prime minister's office announced that NISA's director of human resources, Abdullahi Kulane, and the head…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The National Intelligence and Security Agency , police and immigration were put together by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, following a litany of complaints involving them in a series of incidents targeting politicians across the country. The spy agency , has often been criticized for targeting opposition politicians in a crackdown reportedly sanctioned by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who has had problems with a number of his critics. More often than not, opposition leaders have…