Browsing Tag

over

130+ federal lawmakers back Southwest state’s decision to hold elections

Tuesday March 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A coalition of 136 lawmakers from both chambers of Somalia’s Federal Parliament has thrown its weight behind Southwest State’s move to press ahead with elections and establish an electoral commission, setting up a fresh flashpoint in the widening dispute between regional leaders and Mogadishu. In a joint statement issued Monday, the MPs said Southwest’s election process should move forward transparently and inclusively, and must be conducted in line with the state constitution as well…

Iran strikes towns near Israel’s nuclear site, wounding over 100

Sunday March 22, 2026 Israeli soldiers work at the scene of damage after Iranian missile barrages struck Dimona Iranian missiles slammed into Israel’s south, hitting Dimona – home to the country’s main nuclear facility – and nearby Arad, leaving more than 100 people wounded and pushing the US-Israel war on Iran into one of its most perilous moments yet. Israeli rescuers reported that the attacks, carried out on Saturday, wounded residents across the two cities in a sharp escalation as the conflict entered its fourth week.…

Chinese national arrested attempting to smuggle 2,000 queen ants out of Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan authorities have arrested a Chinese national at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle more than 2,000 queen garden ants out of the country, in a case underscoring the growing global trade in exotic insects. Airport security intercepted the traveler, identified in court as Zhang Kequn, during screening as he prepared to fly to China. Prosecutors said Zhang is linked to an ant-trafficking network that was disrupted in Kenya last year; he has not responded…

Six U.S. Service Members Killed in Plane Crash Over Iraq

Six U.S. airmen were killed when a U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday during an in-flight incident involving another aircraft, U.S. Central Command said Friday. The military said the loss was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. Six crew members confirmed dead; investigation underway Crash involved a second aircraft that landed safely U.S. says no hostile or friendly fire; Iran-backed group claims responsibility Deaths bring U.S. toll to 13 since operations against Iran began Feb. 28…

Kenya Floods Leave 49 Dead, Displace Over 2,600 Families: Police

Kenya floods kill at least 49; Nairobi among hardest hit as Ruto orders multi-agency response Wednesday, March 11, 2026 NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 49 people have died and 2,624 families have been displaced after days of heavy rains triggered flooding across several parts of Kenya, with Nairobi among the hardest hit areas, authorities said Wednesday. The National Police Service (NPS) said officers are working alongside multi-agency emergency teams to carry out search and rescue operations, evacuate residents from high-risk…

Bajaj drivers block Mogadishu roads to protest soaring fuel prices

Mogadishu Bajaj drivers block key corridor as fuel prices more than double MOGADISHU — Auto rickshaw drivers blocked sections of a major artery in Somalia’s capital on Wednesday, parking their Bajaj three-wheelers between the Taleh and KM4 junctions to protest a sharp jump in fuel prices they say is crushing their earnings and pushing up transport fares. The roadside demonstration, which drew dozens of operators, disrupted traffic along one of Mogadishu’s busiest corridors as drivers demanded swift government action to…

Somalia’s Constitutional Crisis: Power Struggles Put Democracy on the Brink

Opinion/Analysis: Somalia’s constitutional crossroads — process, not power, will decide the future Somalia’s Constitution is again at the center of national politics. A round of changes presented as a constitutional amendment has triggered sharp objections from federal member states and opposition figures, raising questions about legality, legitimacy and the balance of power in the federation. At stake is not only the letter of the 2012 Provisional Federal Constitution but public confidence in the institutions charged with…

Somalia Repatriates 12 Citizens Held in Sudan Over Smuggling Attempt

Somalia repatriates 12 citizens held for years in Sudan over irregular migration MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government on Friday welcomed home 12 citizens who were detained for years in Sudan after attempting irregular migration, concluding a coordinated repatriation supported by the International Organization for Migration. The group landed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu following negotiations that secured their release from detention centers in Khartoum and Omdurman, according to the Ministry…

Stock markets, oil prices volatile amid fears Iran conflict will drag on

Stocks in the U.K. and U.S. rose while Asian indexes tumbled Wednesday as oil and gas prices whipsawed on fears the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran will drag on and keep choking traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy artery. The FTSE 100 and major U.S. and European benchmarks rebounded after two days of declines; several Asian markets fell sharply for a third straight session. Brent crude is up about 12 percent since Saturday, when U.S. and Israeli forces began bombing Iran and Tehran retaliated with strikes on…

Two Federal Ministers Resign Over Somalia’s Revised Constitution Process

Somali ministers from Puntland State resign after parliament approves constitutional overhaul MOGADISHU, Somalia — Two Somali federal state ministers from Puntland State resigned Wednesday in protest after lawmakers approved a revised national constitution, escalating a standoff between Mogadishu and regional leaders. Aynaashe Yusuf Hussein, state minister for labor and social affairs, and Ismail Buraale, state minister for petroleum and minerals, announced they were stepping down from their cabinet posts shortly after a…