military

MOGADISHU, Somalia - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has brought General Odowaa Yusuf Rage back to the fore, a youthful officer molded in Turkey. Rage had previously made headlines by cracking down on opposition figures in Mogadishu during the tumultuous 2021-22 elections. This reappointment unfolds against the backdrop of a political storm swirling around Villa Somalia's attempts to tweak certain constitutional passages for timing extensions—moves that might derail the ongoing battle against Al-Shabaab. Rage steps into the…

General Fayyad al-Ruwaili, the chief of staff for Saudi Arabia's armed forces, is set to make a significant trip to Tehran. His mission? To engage in discussions about defense partnerships with his Iranian counterpart. This information was confirmed by the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, according to reports in local media. This diplomatic outreach comes on the heels of Donald Trump’s recent election victory, as he prepares to begin his second term as President of the United States in January. Trump has expressed his…

American Drone Takes a Nosedive in Somali Turf MOGADISHU, Somalia - Earlier this week, a U.S. military drone crashed in southern Somalia, as confirmed by the U.S. Africa Command. This disclosure ended swirling rumors about the machine’s ownership, pivotal in battling the Al-Shabaab insurgency. Initial chatter in the area sparked curiosity, with speculation floating around a possible Turkish drone crash in the Al-Shabaab-occupied town of Farsoley, in Lower Shabelle. This town sits about 130 km southwest of Somalia's…

Residents and volunteers from the Valencia region have issued a heartfelt plea for greater assistance from the military, as well as regional and national governments, to address the extensive damage and devastation left in the wake of catastrophic floods that have inundated numerous towns. On the previous day, a wave of volunteers spontaneously converged upon the area, inadvertently hindering access for trained emergency responders striving to reach certain locations. This prompted local authorities to devise a strategy…

Las Anod (AX) — Tensions flared anew as the SSC Khaatumo administration accused North Western State of Somalia forces on Friday of orchestrating a synchronized assault on its military installations in the Buhodle district. In a vehement declaration, SSC Khaatumo claimed that North Western State of Somalia operatives targeted not only military sites but also local nomadic communities, igniting aggressive confrontations that posed grave risks to both soldiers and civilians in the vicinity. "The SSC Khaatumo leadership…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a bold move, the Somali National Army (SNA) on the frontlines took direct aim at a high-ranking assembly of Al-Shabaab insurgents this Tuesday, according to official sources. Senior military sources reported that the army attacked an Al-Shabaab gathering in Caad village, nestled within Mudug. This strike resulted in the immediate demise of three militants and inflicted severe wounds on two others. The agenda of this meeting remains a mystery. Such high-stakes meetings typically delve into the group’s…

Iran downplayed the recent air assault by Israel on its military assets, asserting that the damage inflicted was minimal. This comes as U.S. President Joe Biden urged for a cessation of hostilities that have escalated tensions in the Middle East into potentially dangerous territory. In the early hours of yesterday, a multitude of Israeli fighter jets executed three separate waves of strikes targeting missile production facilities and other significant sites in the vicinity of Tehran and throughout western Iran, according to…

Gabon is gearing up for a significant referendum on November 16, where citizens will cast their votes concerning a newly proposed constitution. This impending decision has ignited a spectrum of reactions across the political landscape. One noteworthy aspect of the proposed constitution is that it would enable military leader General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to mount a campaign for the presidency. This particular element has raised eyebrows and prompted intense backlash from various opposition factions. The draft…

The accord inked in August between the Somali and Egyptian governments, involving the deployment of ten Egyptian soldiers to Mogadishu, is coming to fruition. Half of these forces will be integrated into joint defense strategies, while the remaining troops will join the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), set to succeed the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) by January 31, 2025. According to the Somali Guardian, Egyptian military advisors have already landed in Somalia to assist…

In the current geopolitical landscape, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, who spearheads Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are the key figures amidst escalating tensions. Hemetti recently accused Egypt of arming Sudanese Armed Forces, an allegation that Cairo has staunchly repudiated. CAIRO, Egypt (AX) — In a firm rebuttal, Egypt dismissed accusations by Sudan's RSF that Cairo is supplying military aid to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), amidst Sudan's intensifying internal…