government

Thursday March 26, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Tensions flared at Mogadishu’s Bakaara Market on Wednesday as hundreds of traders poured into the streets, accusing Somalia’s federal government of preparing to sell part of the market’s land to wealthy businessmen they say have close ties to those in power. The demonstrators blocked major roads leading into the sprawling market, denouncing what they described as an impending eviction that could wipe out their livelihoods. Many traders said the plan amounts to transferring public…

Somalia: Southwest State Accuses Federal Government of Waging “Direct War” MOGADISHU, Somalia — South West State officials accused the Federal Government of Somalia of effectively launching a “direct military war” against the regional authority, warning the standoff could ignite fresh nationwide conflict. In a blunt statement, the regional presidency said conditions had “significantly deteriorated,” alleging that federal leaders had recast the Somali National Army into a force acting on clan lines. “Local communities…

Thursday March 26, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A sweeping protest gripped Mogadishu’s Bakaara Market on Wednesday as hundreds of traders flooded the streets, accusing Somalia’s federal government of moving to shut down the country’s largest commercial hub so the land can be transferred to wealthy businessmen with connections to officials. Demonstrators cut off major routes leading into the market, denouncing what they said was an impending eviction that would wipe out livelihoods built over years. Traders alleged the authorities…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A former NISA chief has urged the government to lift travel restrictions on lawmakers seeking to reach Baidoa, adding another layer of controversy to the political crisis in South West State. The appeal also carries implications for members of the House of the People, whose access to the region now intersects with wider questions about security power, parliamentary oversight, and political legitimacy. Sanbaloolshe called on the government to lift restrictions affecting federal lawmakers, naming MP…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Southwest State is spilling into the security arena, with regional authorities warning that fresh troop deployments could ignite wider conflict and compound an already precarious humanitarian situation. In a statement released Monday from Baidoa, Southwest State officials said the arrival of Somali National Army forces in the region amounts to a military escalation rooted in political disagreements—issues they argued should be…

Monday March 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s next elections are now being pitched as a pivotal test of inclusion and public confidence, with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation saying Sunday that the country is moving into an “inclusive electoral phase” and that the federal government intends to press ahead under national law. In a press statement, the ministry described voting as a constitutional right for every Somali citizen and cast the election process as central to bolstering trust in…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A fresh accusation from Baidoa is intensifying a growing rift with Mogadishu, as the speaker of Southwest State’s parliament claims the federal government is diverting Egyptian-supplied weapons—intended for national defense—into a volatile local power struggle in the Southwest region. In a post on X dated March 21, 2026, Dr. Ali Said Fiqi alleged that rifles provided by Egypt to help Somalia battle al-Shabab are instead being distributed to militias in the Burhakaba district. “These…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A fresh rupture in Somalia’s fragile federal balance erupted in Bakool on Monday after Southwest State’s interior minister abruptly dissolved the Hudur district administration, sharpening an already tense standoff between Baidoa and Mogadishu over who holds legitimate authority at the local level and how elections should be managed. Southwest State’s Minister of Interior, Local Government and Reconciliation, Mohamed Isaq Osman Fanah, announced the dissolution in a letter dated March 21,…

Somalia: Federal Government Declares Mandate of Southwest State President Expired Somalia: Federal Government Declares Mandate of Southwest State President Expired MOGADISHU, Somalia — The federal government on Sunday intensified a simmering dispute with Southwest State, announcing that the regional leadership’s tenure has lapsed and that a handover process will begin immediately. In a formal…

Sunday March 22, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new escalation in Somalia’s federal-regional tensions unfolded in Baidoa on Saturday, when Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen accused the federal government of what he called a “blatant invasion” of territories under his administration. Speaking to newly trained Southwest troops, Laftagareen said the central government is moving special forces into Southwest regions and using aircraft to transport militias and additional troops, a claim he framed as a…