Monday May 25, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s intelligence service said at least five al-Shabab militants were killed in a carefully planned operation in Hiiraan region, where the group had reportedly gathered to prepare attacks. The National Intelligence and Security Agency said Sunday that the raid took place in the Tardo area, carried out alongside international partners after intelligence showed about 25 al-Shabab members, including fighters and officers, had convened there. NISA said the group was preparing activities…

Friday May 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s intelligence service says it and international partners have killed 26 al-Shabab fighters in a series of coordinated military operations in the Hiiraan region, striking what officials described as key militant hideouts and support sites. The National Intelligence and Security Agency said Friday that the operations hit al-Shabab positions in Mahaas, Mukayle and Shaw, areas where the group had been assembling fighters, stockpiling weapons and preparing attacks. NISA said the…

Saturday May 16, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s intelligence service says an airstrike in the Hiiraan region wounded at least three senior al-Shabab figures and destroyed vehicles and facilities used by the militant group. The National Intelligence and Security Agency said Friday that the operation, conducted with international partners, targeted the Buq Aqable area, where al-Shabab was reportedly gathering new recruits. NISA identified the wounded commanders as Ali Hussein, described as a militia leader behind attacks in…

By Abdiaziz Ali Mohamed Wednesday May 13, 2026 Somali identity has never been fixed, singular or simple. It has taken shape over centuries through three powerful currents: a deeply rooted Islamic worldview, a durable clan-based social order, and newer influences born of diaspora life, state-building projects and global modernity. These forces do not replace one another. They overlap, collide and reinforce each other, creating an identity system that remains central to Somalia’s political and social future. The real question…

By Dr. Ali Said FaqiMonday May 11, 2026 When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud campaigned on the promise of “Somalis at peace with themselves and at peace with the rest of the world,” the line struck a nerve. After years of political turbulence and fragmentation, many Somalis saw in it the outline of a fresh start: reconciliation, rebuilt institutions and a stronger sense of national purpose. Four years on, that optimism has largely given way to frustration. Many Somalis now say the country is more divided than before, its…

By Ali Mohamed Omar Saturday May 9, 2026 A Response to the Heritage Institute’s Assessment of Somalia’s Diplomacy There is a sharp line between rigorous analysis and reflexive cynicism, between constructive criticism and the kind of commentary that weakens the very institutions a country depends on abroad. When that line is crossed, scholarship can become a liability instead of a public service. A recent policy paper has asked Somalis, along with our international partners, to judge what the country has achieved during…

By Mahad CamalTuesday May 5, 2026 Jurist and DirectorBackground in Conflict Studies Somalia’s political reality can be read most clearly when one looks not at slogans, but at how power is actually exercised. That is the lens used here, drawing on remarks made by four Somali traditional leaders during their April 27 meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia. Rather than treating those comments as routine expressions of support or criticism, they offer a useful window into the country’s institutional…

By Ahmed Abdi Hussein Thursday April 30, 2026 Somalia has one of the strongest livestock sectors in the region, yet the country still sells much of that wealth through an outdated system that leaves producers with little power and limited returns. From the country’s wide rangelands come millions of goats and sheep raised under pastoral systems refined over generations. The animals are hardy, naturally grazed, and well matched to global demand. They have long supported livelihoods and played a central role in the…

Tuesday April 28, 2026 A cargo ship is seen in a port in central Mogadishu Suspected pirates have seized a cargo vessel off Somalia, according to officials and maritime security groups, in what appears to be the latest sign that insecurity is returning to waters once notorious for such attacks. The reported hijacking on Monday was the second off Somalia in less than a week. The target was the Sward, a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged ship carrying cement from Suez, Egypt, to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. The incident comes at…

Change is never simple. It comes with pressure, risk, and uncertainty. But for any country seeking real progress, it is often the only way forward. In Somalia, President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has chosen to face that reality head-on. Since returning to office, he has taken a series of bold and, at times, difficult decisions aimed at reshaping the country’s direction. Drawing on his previous experience, he quickly identified key areas that needed urgent attention to deliver visible results. Now, after years of effort,…