international

 The Somali administration has greenlit a federal budget of $1.34 billion for 2025. This represents a hefty 24.4% uptick from last year’s allocation of $1.079 billion. This financial boost stems from an uptick in local earnings and the need to tackle ongoing expenses, with homegrown revenue expected to hit $429.4 million, up 24% from $346.2 million in 2024.Taking a gander at the 2025 budgets of East African Community (EAC) nations:Kenya: $31.9 billion (up by 3.1% from 2024/25) Uganda: $19.61 billion (a whopping 36% increase)…

MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a global force combating piracy, has expressed the ongoing necessity for alertness. Even with the notable downturn in piracy incidents along the Somali coast during 2024's initial nine months, vigilance remains key. As per the latest dossier shared with Xinhua, the IMB recounted that three ships ended up hijacked, two were commandeered or shot at, and there was an attempt to accost another vessel around the Somali waters and the Gulf of Aden during this period.…

Somalia at a Crossroads: Choosing Its Own Path Amidst Global Power Plays EDITORIAL | As Somalia makes strides towards emerging from the dark days of state failure, we are reminded of an age-old wisdom—not to get entangled in alliances that could bind us to the ambitions of others. The Horn of Africa, with its deep historical roots and strategic value, has become a playing field for both regional and global powers each eager to further their interests through a complex dance of diplomacy. At the center of this storm is…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — According to the Somali Ministry of Information, joint operations by Somali forces, local militias, and international military allies have reportedly taken down 59 Al-Shabaab insurgents in the eastern Galgaduud and Middle Shabelle regions. These endeavors, targeting the dismantling of Al-Shabaab bastions, are closely aligned with a larger strategy to tackle terrorism within Somalia. An intense clash near Cowsweyne in Galgaduud saw 32 Al-Shabaab operatives, among them high-ranking leaders, neutralized.…

The United Nations said the detonation of hand-held communication devices in Lebanon could constitute a war crime as Beirut's top diplomat accused Israel of orchestrating what he called a "terror" attack. The blasts that killed at least 37 people and wounded nearly 3,000 on Tuesday and Wednesday targeted communication devices used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Pagers and walkie-talkies exploded as their users were shopping in supermarkets, walking on streets and attending funerals, plunging the country into…

On Thursday, a military helicopter transporting international peacekeepers experienced a mishap near the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Remarkably, several military personnel aboard, including three Ugandan soldiers part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), survived the crash, as per security sources.Fortunately, the incident led to no fatalities, a military official disclosed to Anadolu via a phone call. They asked to stay anonymous due to lack of media authorization.At this point, neither the Somali…

In a pivotal move, Somalia officially joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday during the General Conference held in Vienna. The Somali government heralded this membership as a remarkable achievement, underscoring the nation's commitment to fostering the peaceful application of nuclear technology. "This is a watershed moment for our nation, showcasing our unwavering dedication to peaceful nuclear interactions and sustainable progress," the Somali prime minister's office commented in a poignant…

Somali UN Envoy Implores AU Troops to Respect International Norms and Somalia's Borders UNITED NATIONS (AX) — Somalia's voice at the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, urged African Union troop-contributing nations to rigorously adhere to global laws and honor Somalia’s borders. Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Osman underscored the importance of aligning foreign military actions with regional agreements to maintain stability. "Failing to respect Somalia's borders can be perceived as aggression," Osman…

Amnesty International calls on Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed to lift arbitrary travel bans. The organization has identified about fifty travel bans in one week. Amnesty International also condemns "illegal" measures. Most of the people concerned wanted to travel to Turkey and a Member of Parliament was going to France. The…

During the first seven months of the year, the International Organization for Migration registers an increase in wiretapping of migrants from the Libyan Coast Guard in the Mediterranean. Figures difficult to analyze for the International Organization for Migration. A total of 20,257 people were intercepted between January and…