Jubaland

BELED-HAWO, Somalia - Jubalan's state Security Minister Abdirashid Janan has surrendered to the government following secret talks with NISA leader Fahad Yasin. His surrender took place in the border town of Beled-Hawo in the presence of two Somali government ministers and Fahad Yassin. Janan dropped out of a large number of regional troops shortly after he was fired as Jubaland security minister due to his contact with Mogadishu. Amnesty International has called on the government to bring Janan to justice for human…

KISMAYO, Somalia | The incumbent Jubaland security minister Abdirashid Janaan has been formally fired after switching allegiance to the Mogadishu administration, despite working closely with the regional government under President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe. Several sources had suggested to Axadlethat Janan, who hails from the Gedo region, was planning to formally move his loyalty to outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, with whom he had disagreed. And Jubaland, who apparently had intelligence reports, fired…

KISMAYO, Somalia - The UN's top aid worker in Somalia has called for swift action to prevent a disaster in Somalia in the midst of an impending drought. Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary-General and UN-Residential and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said about 3.4 million people are expected to be affected by the drought in the country. Extreme dry conditions and water scarcity are reported in 34 districts; the hardest hit areas are Somaliland, Northeastern State, Galmudug,…

Somali opposition is teaming up with federal states to form a national salvation council MOGADISHU, Somalia - Opposition candidates in Somalia are working with some federal Member States to declare the formation of a National Salvation Council on Thursday. The NSC elected a board of directors consisting of Senate Speaker Abdi Hashi, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the…

Talks between FMS leaders and opposition underway in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Council of Presidential Candidates, chaired by former Presidents Hassan Sheikh and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, will hold a meeting with Northeastern State and Jubaland leaders in Mogadishu on Sunday morning. Negotiations come amid stalemate over the country's election process, which led to the delay in…

Jubaland president meets with US ambassador to Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Somalia - Firebrand Jubaland's President Ahmed Madobe held a closed door meeting on Wednesday with US Ambassador Donald Yamamoto in the Halane connection in Mogadishu on Thursday. "We discussed the political dead end and found a way to address some of the challenges facing the electoral process," Madobe said after…

Northeastern State's president suspends Bososa's mayor days after al-Shabaab's prison raid BOSSASO, Northeastern State - Northeastern State President Said Abdullahi Deni has sent Bosaso Mayor Abdisalan Bashir home over what the State House describes as "economically inappropriate" in the latest measure seen as a strategy to improve revenue collection in the coastal city of the state.…

Madobe meets with UN envoy hours after al-Shabaab attack on Halane MOGADISHU, Somalia - Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday ahead of the election conference to be convened with the federal government of Somalia's leaders and those from member states as the country strives to unlock the stalemate. Madobe, who has been critical of outgoing President Mohamed…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Authorities in the troubled Gedo region have reported two starvation-related deaths, mainly caused by al-Shabaab blockades, making it impossible for humanitarian groups as most supply routes remain closed. Those who died of hunger and thirst are mainly children, and there is the possibility of more losses in the coming weeks if residents do not get quick help from benevolent people, authorities said in a statement coming amid political chaos. Al-Shabaab, local authorities said, has used the current…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Tensions have continued to build at the Kenya-Somalia border near the fragile Gedo region following a diplomatic spit between the two countries, which was constructed by Jubaland's decision to refuse to hold national elections until the Somali National Army soldiers have been completely withdrawn, Voice of America reports despite ceasefire calls. The Somali federal government has already sent troops to the border town of Beled-Hawo, while forces from Somalia's Jubaland region, which has good…