government

Mogadishu (AX) – Whispers of ambition echoed through the grand halls of Riyadh as Somali government officials met with delegates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this past Monday. Their agenda? To chart a new course for Somalia’s burgeoning economy, while unlocking the potential of its untapped resources. Leading this quest was Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh, at the helm of a comprehensive team comprising members from crucial sectors: the offices of both the President and Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance,…

KISMAYO, Somalia — In a bid that echoes through the halls of Somali politics like a long-lost melody, the Jubaland state has extended an olive branch, urging a tête-à-tête with the Somali federal government. This gesture, announced on Monday by a regional minister, hints at a possible thaw in the frozen lake of their political standoff. Jubaland, one of Somalia's crucial federal states, has frequently found itself at loggerheads with the seat of power in Mogadishu. The reasons are manifold. Whether it's conflicting…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a remarkable denunciation, Somali lawmaker and opposition figurehead Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has chastised the Somali government. Why? For a glaring oversight—failing to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of Northeastern State in the nation's military campaign against ISIS militants in the windswept, rugged terrain of the northeastern Bari region. Warsame's words weren’t just a casual rebuke; they brimmed with a palpable sense of frustration and urgency. To him, Northeastern State's…

The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), a passionate advocate for human rights, has taken a bold stand, urging President Bola Tinubu to immediately halt the legal proceedings against a group of 11 activists linked to the #EndBadGovernance movement. Among them is Michael Lenin, who finds himself facing grave charges of treason and mutiny—serious allegations that could change lives forever. In a powerful statement, the YRC emphasized that this trial seems more like a heavy-handed maneuver to stifle dissent and quash opposition,…

Beledweyne (AX) — Picture this: a determined army, a patchwork of local militias, the clattering heartbeat of helicopters overhead, and a call to arms led by impassioned generals front and center. This is the scene in the Hiiraan region as the Somali Federal Government embarks on what they’ve boldly trademarked as their "most ambitious" strike on the militant group Al-Shabaab. Gearing up with a veritable smorgasbord of resources, they’re aiming to uproot these long-standing adversaries from their fortified nests. It’s not…

Mogadishu (AX) – Change is afoot in Somalia's livestock sector, and it's not just the grass that's greener. On a bright Thursday morning, the Somali government teamed up with the World Bank under the HoA DRIVE Project to unveil the $10 million Livestock Value Chain Fund (LVCF). This initiative is set to steer the livestock industry onto a lucrative path of transformation. Against the backdrop of the elegant Jazeera Palace in Mogadishu, Gargaara Company Limited hosted this momentous signing ceremony. It was more than just…

In a bold stance against the perils of beauty standards, the government has issued a resounding caution against the rampant use of skin bleaching products both within the nation and beyond its borders. This warning comes despite the glaringly obvious—yet often ignored—dangers associated with these products. During a recent forum aimed at shedding light on this troubling trend, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, expressed his deep concern over the pervasive presence of skin lightening creams,…

Mogadishu (AX) – Imagine a flight that stirs up more buzz than a beehive in springtime. The Somali government recently found itself swatting away reports faster than a short-order cook during breakfast rush. It quashed rumors that its ambassador to Kenya, Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle, had been called back home posthaste because of a kerfuffle involving a plane. This wasn’t just any old plane but a Kenya-registered one, which apparently waltzed into Somali airspace on January 18 without giving so much as a courtesy nod. The alleged…

KISMAYO, Somalia - In a series of moves reminiscent of a political chess game, Jubaland's President, Ahmed Madobe, boarded a private jet to Kenya this past Saturday. It's an eventful debut abroad since his re-election—a victory that Mogadishu's powers-that-be seemingly view through a skeptical lens. Upon touching down in Nairobi, Madobe rolled up his sleeves, ready to mull over political hot potatoes with diplomats from a medley of countries and international bodies. Chalice in one hand, olive branch in…

As the sun sets on yet another tumultuous week, all eyes are on Israel’s security cabinet, which convened to finalize the particulars of a ceasefire in Gaza, a move that has cast a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed optimism, stating that the United States is “confident” that both a truce and a deal for hostage exchanges would kick off this weekend, should the cabinet give the green light. If the thumbs up is given, we could see this ceasefire taking root on Sunday—an…