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In an interview with Reuters, Khaled Meshaal, a prominent figure from Hamas living abroad, expressed that despite significant setbacks in over a year of conflict with Israel, the Palestinian faction aims to regenerate its forces and continue weapon production. Reflecting on the strife that began a year after an assault by Hamas, Meshaal contextualized the battle with Israel as a chapter in a much longer saga dating back 76 years to the "Nakba" or "catastrophe," a term Palestinians use for the 1948 events that led to their…

Kismayo (AX) – In an unexpected twist, Jubaland's head honcho, Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, rolled back into Kismayo Monday. This move came after hitting a stalemate at the happening National Consultative Council (NCC) gathering in Mogadishu.Word on the street is that Madobe bounced from the talks because he put his foot down about not wanting to move forward without roping in Northeastern State and Khatumo. His stance? Their no-show would basically toss credibility for future nationwide elections right out the…

Jubaland Leader Creates Buzz by Exiting NCC Gathering in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Somalia – The National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting held in Mogadishu hit a snag as Jubaland's chief, Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, vigorously opposed the act of simply approving term extensions without scrutiny. He urged the leadership to uphold ethical standards and transparency. On the NCC's concluding day, Madobe was spotted at Aden Adde International Airport, making his way to Kismayo after denouncing the controversial extension proposed…

In an iconic moment, the new Somali Police Chief Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyaano (far right) accepted command from the outgoing Chief Major General Sulub Ahmed Firin (far left) amidst a formal handover at the Somali Police Headquarters in Mogadishu. Overseeing this baton-passing spectacle was Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag (center). Mogadishu (AX) — It's a fresh era for the Somali Police Force! Tuesday's ceremony saw Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyaano grip the reins as the new leader at the police…

Mogadishu (AX) – Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, head of Jubaland, touched down in Mogadishu on Wednesday to join the imminent National Consultative Council (NCC) powwow. The onlookers at Aden Adde International Airport brought the heat, greeting federal lawmakers, ministers, and other bigwig politicos, making it the second such welcome of the day for a regional honcho. Earlier, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen from Southwest arrived in the bustling city for the eagerly awaited NCC gathering. In just a few days, the NCC…

Mogadishu (AX) – On Wednesday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud kicked off the National Consultative Council (NCC) gathering in Mogadishu, aiming squarely at tackling key political and security concerns. Over the course of two days, this meeting pulls together heavyweights from four regional states - Jubaland, Hirshabelle, Southwest, and Galmudug. The mayor of Mogadishu, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and his deputy are also in attendance. Per the federal government's insights, the agenda is crammed with…

FILE - U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, at the helm of U.S. Africa Command, partakes in a military drill in Agadir, Morocco, May 30, 2024. The Islamic State in Somalia has doubled its strength in the past year, reveals the head of U.S. Africa Command in a chat with VOA. “Northern Somalia is on my radar due to the uptick in ISIS numbers,” AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley mentioned in a candid interview, using the acronym for the terrorist group. Langley refrained from disclosing the U.S.'s exact figures on…

Mark Rutte, the incoming Secretary General of NATO, expressed confidence in his ability to collaborate with whichever candidate emerges victorious in the forthcoming U.S. presidential election. He stated that he isn't particularly concerned about how the results might affect the alliance's cohesion. Rutte, a steadfast advocate for Ukraine, pointed out his previous work with former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, who has expressed doubts regarding financial support for Ukraine. "I’m not anxious about the…

Mogadishu (AX) — A weary Al-Shabaab leader, turned off by endless infighting within the faction, surrendered to Somali authorities. This surrender aligns with an uptick in militants abandoning the group lately. Qaasim Ahmed Duhul, known in the group as Suulal Ceyn, cited the government's pardon and reintegration efforts as his motivation. For eight arduous years, Duhul was embedded in Al-Shabaab's ranks. With the help of clan elders in Masagawaa, he gave himself up to the 28th battalion of the 21st division. Speaking to…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has issued a stern warning to enterprising traders trying to dodge the newly imposed sales tax by fiddling with their merchant numbers. During his speech in Mogadishu on Thursday, President Mohamud put his foot down, stressing the gravity of such antics. "Dodging taxes is tantamount to fraud," President Mohamud declared emphatically. "Skirting taxes equates to theft and crime, and there will be consequences. It's unacceptable to alter merchant numbers to sidestep…