Monday May 18, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia on Monday marked 35 years since it broke away from Somalia, staging military parades, public festivities and fresh calls for wider international recognition. Tens of thousands turned out in Hargeisa and other major cities, including Burco and Borama, to observe May 18, the date North Western State of Somalia says represents its 1991 declaration of independence after the collapse of Somalia’s central government in Mogadishu. The main ceremony took place in…

By: Abdiwali Sayid Tuesday April 14, 2026 Türkiye’s move to drill for offshore oil in Somalia could mark a turning point with consequences far beyond the energy sector. If the project succeeds, it may help redefine Somalia’s fiscal outlook, sharpen its strategic importance, and alter the way regional and international powers engage with Mogadishu. In the best case, it could move Somalia from chronic fragility toward greater leverage in a fast-changing geopolitical arena. But that outcome is far from assured. Whether the…

by BRIAN ORUTAMonday April 13, 2026 Somalia celebrated the 66th anniversary of the Somali National Army (SNA) on Monday with a prominent ceremony in Mogadishu that projected a message of confidence in the country’s security gains. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joined Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Army Commander Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, and other senior civilian and military officials at the event. A military parade featuring armored vehicles, aircraft, and traditional displays highlighted what officials described as…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia marked a major military milestone on Sunday as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud поздравulated members of the Somali National Army and their families on the force’s 66th anniversary. At a ceremony in Mogadishu, Mohamud highlighted the army’s role in safeguarding the country and protecting civilians, saying its work remains a cornerstone of Somalia’s state-building drive. “Heroes of the Somali National Army have saved 20 million Somalis. They do not only defend with weapons, but…

President Paul Kagame issued a stark warning against genocide denial and the rewriting of history, insisting that the record of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi is incontrovertible and not open to erasure. He dismissed narratives portraying the killings as a spontaneous eruption. Kagame noted that the historical record has been firmly established by international tribunals and Rwanda’s Gacaca court process, which generated millions of case files nationwide. He also underscored that clear warnings were available before…

Easter Sunday will carry unusual weight at the Vatican this year, as Pope Leo XIV prepares to mark the holiest day in the Christian calendar for the first time as pontiff while war in the Middle East darkens the celebration. The US-born pope, who has become one of the conflict’s most prominent critics, is due to celebrate mass in St Peter's Square from 9.30am Irish time before thousands of worshippers. The head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics will then deliver the traditional blessing at 11am Irish time, a moment likely…

Saturday March 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Marking Eid al-Fitr on Friday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud prayed alongside Somali Armed Forces units in Gendershe, the coastal Lower Shabelle town recently wrested back from al-Shabab. He was accompanied by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) director, top cabinet members, the Somali National Army commander and the national police chief, sharing the holiday with frontline soldiers. In remarks after the prayer, Hassan Sheikh said his government will move…

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Scouts marched under a clear blue sky and bagpipes sent familiar carols ricocheting off stone alleys, as Bethlehem stepped out from the shadow of the Gaza war to celebrate its first festive Christmas in more than two years. For two consecutive holiday seasons, the biblical birthplace of Jesus scaled back gatherings amid the war that began after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. This year, with a fragile truce holding in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank city restored the sights and…

Sunday December 21, 2025 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia and China on Tuesday marked the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a ceremony in Mogadishu, pledging to elevate cooperation and pursue shared interests across infrastructure, public services and state-building as both countries reaffirmed long-standing political support. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called the milestone “a testament to enduring friendship” rooted in mutual respect and sovereignty. “We gathered to celebrate a truly historic milestone,…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The National Union of Somali Journalists concluded its participation in the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a slate of trainings, safeguarding measures and a human rights colloquium that union leaders say will strengthen protections for women journalists and raise ethical reporting standards across Somalia. Backed by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, the Nov. 25–Dec. 10 campaign combined practical newsroom interventions with public awareness efforts aimed at confronting…