Mogadishu

AFGOYE, Somalia — At least 12 al-Shabaab militants were killed in an overnight operation near Afgoye, a key supply corridor outside the capital, the Somali government said, underscoring stepped-up pressure on the insurgent group across multiple fronts. Security officials said the operation unfolded in the vicinity of Jambalul, close to Afgoye, where forces targeted bunkers the militants were preparing to use. The raid escalated into a fierce firefight. Militants responded with mortar fire that caused civilian casualties,…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, on Tuesday condemned what it called unlawful arrests and forced evictions by federal security forces in the Dab-dhamiiska section of Mogadishu’s Wadajir district, warning the operation reflects a mounting pattern of rights violations tied to government land-reclamation drives across the capital. In a statement, the coalition said it received credible reports that residents were removed from their homes and endured severe hardship during the…

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — North Western State of Somalia authorities on Sunday rejected claims from Somalia’s federal government that talks between the two sides are under way, declaring the long-running dialogue “formally ceased” and accusing Mogadishu of “blatant interference” in its internal affairs. In a statement posted on X, North Western State of Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it wanted to “clarify that there are no ongoing talks with Somalia,” adding that Hargeisa “officially suspended…

Mogadishu — A rare cesarean section complication has been confirmed in Somalia after a 30-year-old woman developed scar endometriosis, a painful condition in which endometrial tissue grows in a surgical incision, according to a new case report by Dr. Abdirahman Omar Moallim of Kaafi Hospital and Dr. Mohamed Ali Kahiye of Sahan Diagnostic Center. The case underscores an emerging risk in Somalia’s maternal health system as cesarean deliveries rise, especially in urban centers. Scar endometriosis is often mistaken for a hernia…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has arrested 11 people accused of plotting terrorist attacks and conducting espionage against the government and civilians, the agency said Thursday, describing a covert cell disrupted in Mogadishu and across parts of Lower and Middle Shabelle. In a statement, NISA said the suspects were allegedly in the advanced stages of planning violence and gathering intelligence to enable attacks. The arrests followed what the agency called a sophisticated,…

MOGADISHU — The commander of the Banadir Regional Police Force, Mahdi Omar Mumin, on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to tighten security across Mogadishu as residents report a surge in mobile phone robberies and attacks by armed bandits, authorities said. Senior police officers briefed Mumin on recent security incidents reported in multiple districts and outlined both ongoing and planned operations aimed at curbing robberies — with an emphasis on mobile phone thefts carried out by armed groups. The session assessed…

Somali Teacher’s Day is a moment to honor lecturers whose reach stretches far beyond classrooms — educators who guide, inspire and shape generations. For me, this year carries a deeply personal weight: it marks 10 years since I first stood at a chalkboard and began the work that would define my voice, my discipline and my purpose. My path into education began as a teenage girl helping young learners and unfolded across primary schools, secondary schools, universities and, eventually, a graduate program in Japan. A decade…

Mogadishu opposition condemns alleged looting, forced displacement in Yaqshiid, cites killing and detentions MOGADISHU — The Somali Salvation Forum, a major opposition bloc, on Saturday condemned what it described as a wave of abuses in parts of Mogadishu, accusing security agencies of looting, forced displacement and other violations, particularly in the Yaqshiid district. In a statement, the Forum expressed condolences over the killing of Abdullahi Abdi Raage, a young resident of the Buulo-Geesaale neighborhood. According…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Police in the Somali capital arrested a woman Thursday on suspicion of fatally stabbing her husband in the city’s Dayniile district, according to the Banadir Regional Police Command. The suspect, identified as Fadumo Mohamed Osman, was taken into custody shortly after the killing of her husband, Hassan Mohamed Nur. Authorities said Nur died of severe injuries sustained in a knife attack allegedly carried out by his wife. The police command said investigators are working to determine the motive and…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s drive to build a 100,000-strong national army gained fresh momentum as a new unit trained in Qatar was deployed across Mogadishu, part of a broader, multinational effort to professionalize the country’s security forces after years of conflict. About 600 Somali soldiers returned from long-term training in Doha and have been placed under the National Intelligence and Security Agency’s Banadir command, according to multiple security sources. Turkey is supplying weapons and gear to the unit as…