By Abdiaziz Ali Mohamed Wednesday May 13, 2026 Somali identity has never been fixed, singular or simple. It has taken shape over centuries through three powerful currents: a deeply rooted Islamic worldview, a durable clan-based social order, and newer influences born of diaspora life, state-building projects and global modernity. These forces do not replace one another. They overlap, collide and reinforce each other, creating an identity system that remains central to Somalia’s political and social future. The real question…

By Dr. Ali Said FaqiMonday May 11, 2026 When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud campaigned on the promise of “Somalis at peace with themselves and at peace with the rest of the world,” the line struck a nerve. After years of political turbulence and fragmentation, many Somalis saw in it the outline of a fresh start: reconciliation, rebuilt institutions and a stronger sense of national purpose. Four years on, that optimism has largely given way to frustration. Many Somalis now say the country is more divided than before, its…

By Ali Mohamed Omar Saturday May 9, 2026 A Response to the Heritage Institute’s Assessment of Somalia’s Diplomacy There is a sharp line between rigorous analysis and reflexive cynicism, between constructive criticism and the kind of commentary that weakens the very institutions a country depends on abroad. When that line is crossed, scholarship can become a liability instead of a public service. A recent policy paper has asked Somalis, along with our international partners, to judge what the country has achieved during…

By Mahad CamalTuesday May 5, 2026 Jurist and DirectorBackground in Conflict Studies Somalia’s political reality can be read most clearly when one looks not at slogans, but at how power is actually exercised. That is the lens used here, drawing on remarks made by four Somali traditional leaders during their April 27 meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia. Rather than treating those comments as routine expressions of support or criticism, they offer a useful window into the country’s institutional…

Tuesday April 28, 2026 A cargo ship is seen in a port in central Mogadishu Suspected pirates have seized a cargo vessel off Somalia, according to officials and maritime security groups, in what appears to be the latest sign that insecurity is returning to waters once notorious for such attacks. The reported hijacking on Monday was the second off Somalia in less than a week. The target was the Sward, a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged ship carrying cement from Suez, Egypt, to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. The incident comes at…

Change is never simple. It comes with pressure, risk, and uncertainty. But for any country seeking real progress, it is often the only way forward. In Somalia, President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has chosen to face that reality head-on. Since returning to office, he has taken a series of bold and, at times, difficult decisions aimed at reshaping the country’s direction. Drawing on his previous experience, he quickly identified key areas that needed urgent attention to deliver visible results. Now, after years of effort,…

By Hon. Ali M OmarSunday April 5, 2026 The Federal Government says it will not accept lessons in democracy from critics it accuses of trying to weaken Somalia’s hard-won political progress. A wave of commentary on Somalia, both online and in other forums, has offered what the government sees as a selective and misleading picture of the country’s politics. The debate over South West State, it argues, has similarly obscured the deeper question: whether Somalia’s federal arrangement can be protected and strengthened. That,…

Kali Hays,Technology reporter, Nardine Saadand Regan Morris,Los AngelesFriday March 27, 2026 A Los Angeles jury delivered a landmark decision on Friday, finding that Meta and Google helped create social media platforms that harmed a woman’s mental health as a child—an outcome that parents and advocacy groups said signals a turning point for young users. Jurors concluded that Meta, which operates Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, which owns YouTube, intentionally designed systems that fostered addiction and left…

Friday March 27, 2026 In Mogadishu, a crowd of hundreds turned a football match into a statement of change—watching two women’s teams compete at Eng. Yariisow Stadium on February 17, 2026, after years when such scenes were nearly unthinkable in the conservative, conflict-torn country. The U17 Somalia players trained as the women’s game continued despite criticism from some religious conservatives who describe it as “un-Islamic.” (Photo by Hassan Ali ELMI / AFP) For many in the stands, Tuesday’s match felt like a…

Gabon Suspends Social Media Amid Rising Tensions Gabon’s media regulator has announced a sweeping suspension of all social media platforms, a drastic measure attributed to the escalating conflict and deepening societal divisions within the country. This decision reflects the government's increasing scrutiny of online content, deemed damaging to public order. In a televised statement, the High Authority for Communication highlighted several factors leading to the suspension, citing the pervasive spread of false…