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Saturday April 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — More than 500 young athletes crowded into Mogadishu on Friday for Somalia’s annual short-distance marathon, a race officials are using to scout the next generation of competitors for the international arena. The capital-hosted event drew open participation from aspiring runners across the country, with no restrictions based on age or competitive experience. Organizers said the broader goal is to widen Somalia’s athletics pipeline and give the country a stronger foothold in global…

Bea SwallowThursday April 9, 2026 Yassin Mohamud said he intended to "use this platform to bring people together" Bristol’s incoming Lord Mayor has called the appointment a "deep honour", saying he wants to help "ensure that every community feels recognised and valued" in the city. Yassin Mohamud, elected as Green councillor for Lawrence Hill in 2021, is set to take up Bristol City Council’s ceremonial mayoral post in May. The position rotates between the council's four largest political groups. He will take over from…

By Edna Mohamed, Reuters and The Associated PressMonday April 6, 2026 Migrants deported last year by the United States to El Salvador under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport, in Maiquetia, Venezuela, July 18, 2025 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) says it is set to take in “third-country” nationals deported from the United States under a new arrangement with the administration of US President Donald Trump. According to a statement released Sunday by the…

By Dulmar Maalim Wednesday April 1, 2026 President William Ruto’s announcement that the Somalia–Kenya border will reopen in April 2026 marks a notable turn in the Horn of Africa’s security and economic outlook. Beyond the symbolism, the move speaks to a broader regional recalibration — one that places trade, connectivity, and cooperation at the center of the East African Community’s integration drive. The significance of the decision fits squarely within the broader argument I have made about regional blocs and…

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - With clan unity and local stability high on the agenda, Abdijamal Mohamed Ali was officially inaugurated on Wednesday as the traditional leader of the Abdalla Samatalis sub-clan of the Hawadle community at a Mogadishu ceremony that drew traditional elders, politicians, youth representatives and women leaders. Senior clan elders chose Abdijamal in a consensus meeting, pointing to his long record of service in community mediation and conflict resolution. Those involved in the selection…

Thursday March 26, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — Drivers and businesses across North Western State of Somalia are facing fresh fuel price hikes after authorities on Wednesday rolled out new official pump rates, pointing to surging global oil prices and tighter supply conditions. The revised pricing sets gasoline at 12,500 North Western State of Somalia shillings per liter, while diesel will sell for 10,500 North Western State of Somalia shillings per liter. Officials said the new rates were agreed after consultations involving the…

Wednesday March 25, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s cabinet has named a new head of the Somali Custodial Corps, a leadership change that comes as tensions deepen between the federal government and the Southwest administration. During its weekly session chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved the appointment of General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud as commander of the Somali Custodial Corps, replacing General Mahad Abdirahman. The Ministry of Justice put forward the…

Saturday March 14, 2026 DJIBOUTI (AX) — Djibouti is deploying a new contingent of troops to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), with the 13th “Hiil-Walaal” Brigade scheduled to arrive March 16 to reinforce security and stabilization efforts, officials said. The rotation will replace the 12th Brigade currently serving in Somalia and sustain Djibouti’s long-standing role in the Hirshabelle state, a central region where Djiboutian forces have helped hold key towns and secure…

Iran and Israel long fought in the shadows — through intelligence operations, cyberattacks, covert sabotage and proxy warfare — calibrating pressure without crossing into direct war. That balance is faltering. The shadow conflict is tilting toward open confrontation, reshaping the Middle East’s security architecture and rippling through energy markets, shipping lanes and fragile regional politics from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. For decades, Tehran relied on partners such as Hezbollah in…

Monday, March 9, 2026 Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been chosen as Iran’s new supreme leader following his father’s killing in U.S.-Israeli strikes, positioning a low-profile but long-rumored power broker at the apex of the Islamic Republic. The selection cements a potentially dynastic handover at the heart of a system founded in 1979 on religious authority and revolutionary legitimacy rather than hereditary succession. Mojtaba Khamenei has never held public office, rarely appeared in…