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Monday March 30, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Heavy fighting erupted on Monday in and around Baidoa, pitting Southwest State forces against federal government troops and allied armed groups loyal to the regional administration. Residents said intense bursts of gunfire rang out from early morning and continued for hours. The violence reportedly began near a livestock market close to a checkpoint on the main road connecting Baidoa and Mogadishu, then spread into other parts of the town. The number of casualties remains unclear, and…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A former NISA chief has urged the government to lift travel restrictions on lawmakers seeking to reach Baidoa, adding another layer of controversy to the political crisis in South West State. The appeal also carries implications for members of the House of the People, whose access to the region now intersects with wider questions about security power, parliamentary oversight, and political legitimacy. Sanbaloolshe called on the government to lift restrictions affecting federal lawmakers, naming MP…

Sunday March 22, 2026 A Qatari military helicopter went down in Qatar’s territorial waters, killing all seven people on board — among them three Turkish nationals — according to authorities in Doha and Ankara. In statements issued Sunday, the Qatari and Turkish defence ministries said the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction before crashing. Qatar’s Defence Ministry said the failure occurred during a “routine duty”. Four of the dead were Qatar Armed Forces personnel, one served with the Qatar-Turkey joint forces and…

Sunday March 22, 2026 Dhusamareb (AX) — With Somalia’s federal leadership and the Southwest State locked in an increasingly sharp political standoff, Galmudug Vice President Ali Dahir Iid on Thursday stepped forward with an offer to broker talks, pressing both Mogadishu and Baidoa to return to dialogue before the dispute deepens. Iid said Galmudug stands ready to help “lay the groundwork” for renewed discussions between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Southwest State administration, arguing that a prolonged…

Arsenal tightened its hold on the Premier League title race as 16-year-old Max Dowman came off the bench to become the competition’s youngest scorer, capping a 2-0 win over Everton that was followed by Manchester City dropping points at West Ham. The results extended Arsenal’s lead to nine points on a day that could prove pivotal in the run-in. Arsenal 2, Everton 0 — Viktor Gyokeres 86’, Max Dowman 90+7’ West Ham 1, Manchester City 1 — Bernardo Silva 31’, Konstantinos Mavropanos 35’ Chelsea 0, Newcastle 1 — Anthony Gordon…

Somalia warned Thursday that its territory cannot be used for foreign military operations, pushing back against reports that Israel is exploring an installation in North Western State of Somalia, the self-governing region across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen. “Somalia does not want to see its territory pulled into external confrontations or used in ways that could further destabilise an already sensitive region,” Ali Omar, Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera. The statement followed reports by…

Djibouti (AX) — The presidents of Djibouti and Somalia and the prime minister of Ethiopia met Wednesday in Djibouti City for a high-level trilateral summit, underscoring a push for tighter regional security coordination, deeper economic integration and united diplomacy across the Horn of Africa. Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh hosted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for talks at his private residence in Haramuus during an iftar dinner. Officials said the leaders reviewed…

FBI warned California law enforcement of potential Iranian drone attacks before U.S. strikes, as Trump, Newsom play down imminent threat The FBI warned law enforcement agencies last month that Tehran could attempt surprise drone attacks in California if the United States struck Iran, according to a security bulletin seen by Reuters. The alert surfaced publicly Wednesday as U.S. and Israeli bombardments of Iran, which began Feb. 28, drove the conflict into a 12th day and rattled energy markets. The confidential bulletin,…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition-aligned Somali Future Council on Wednesday condemned what it described as the use of force against Bajaj drivers protesting soaring fuel prices in the capital, as well as the arrest of some drivers and journalists covering the demonstration. In a statement, the council said the drivers had been peacefully expressing grievances over sharp increases in fuel costs and should not have faced intimidation or detention. “It is unacceptable that young people who are creating jobs and contributing to…

Egypt, Turkey step up African security coordination in Cairo talks on Libya, Horn of Africa and Sahel CAIRO — Egypt and Turkey held new diplomatic consultations in Cairo on Wednesday focused on instability in Libya, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, deepening their coordination on regional security and political mediation amid mounting pressures across several African theaters. The meetings, organized by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, marked the third round of…