policies

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has focused his government on rebuilding state capacity, tightening public management, and pushing major legal and economic reforms. The agenda—carried out through new appointments, governance reviews, and wider fiscal measures—aims to improve how the federal government runs ministries, collects revenue, and prepares for political milestones. This explainer outlines what Barre has pursued since taking office, what was announced publicly, and the main areas that observers track.…

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s political fallout over constitutional changes deepened this week after Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre formally fired two state ministers who had already announced they were quitting in protest earlier this month. In a statement released Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said the dismissals were carried out under Articles 120 and 117 of the Provisional Constitution, as well as the Council of Ministers’ internal regulations. The office said the move was intended to…

Rubio seeks reset with Europe in Munich, vows renewed friendship but offers few specifics MUNICH — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to “revitalise” Washington’s friendship with Europe in a keynote at the Munich Security Conference, drawing a standing ovation after a year of turbulence in transatlantic relations. The speech, however, offered scant concrete commitments, made no mention of Russia and faulted Europe’s approach to migration and climate policy. “In a time of headlines heralding the end of the…

In the Horn of Africa, Britain’s rhetoric and its risk tolerance no longer align. As the war in Sudan grinds on and North Western State of Somalia’s strategic port of Berbera grows in prominence, analysts say the United Kingdom’s choices reveal a pattern: prioritizing access and partnership while avoiding the political costs of forceful action. In December, London again urged accountability for mass civilian suffering in Sudan’s conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Yet internal documents reported…

U.S. asserts control over Venezuela’s oil ‘indefinitely’ after raid that seized Maduro; Caracas reports 100 dead WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said it will dictate decisions to Venezuela’s interim authorities and market the country’s oil “indefinitely” following a U.S. special forces raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, an escalation officials cast as part of what President Donald Trump has called the “Donroe Doctrine” of regional dominance. The claim of sweeping U.S. control — over a nation with…

Jubbaland’s Ahmed Madobe warns Somalia’s president against centralizing power at Kismayo forum KISMAYO, Somalia — Jubbaland State President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, widely known as Ahmed Madobe, used the opening days of the Somali Future Council conference in Kismayo to warn President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud against consolidating power in ways he once opposed, sharpening a national debate over governance and inclusion. Speaking Thursday at the gathering, which he said was convened to address Somalia’s broader political challenges,…

Isaias Afwerki’s rebuke of the UN exposes deep fault lines in Horn of Africa diplomacy When Eritrea’s longtime president, Isaias Afwerki, told the new United Nations special envoy for the Horn of Africa that the world body has “not been effective,” he did more than deliver a familiar rebuke. The comments — relayed by Eritrea’s information minister, Yemane Meskel — crystallize a growing regional narrative: international institutions, however well-intentioned, are increasingly seen as instruments that fall short of producing…

The Fragile Fabric of African Trade: AGOA at a Crossroads As the sun rises on the bustling markets of Nairobi and the vibrant streets of Johannesburg, a shadow looms over the economic prospects of sub-Saharan Africa. This unease derives not from the rhythmic dance of local entrepreneurs or the vibrant colors of fresh produce but from an evolving political landscape in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump’s recent decisions to cut vital aid to Africa and impose new tariffs on exports have raised alarm bells, rekindling…

Minneapolis, Minn (AX) — A group of over 35 Somali religious figures and thinkers in Minnesota have shown firm support for the Harris-Walz campaign. Their endorsement stems from deep worry about what a second term for Donald Trump might mean for Muslims in America. Announced during an event in St. Cloud, they made a fervent call for Somali-American voters to back the Democrats to safeguard civil liberties and combat the growing tide of Islamophobia.This coalition, representing various segments of Minnesota's Somali-American…

Nairobi (AX) – The Italian government has urgently put a halt to processing Schengen visas for applications made through its embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia. The news broke on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, through a statement from the Italian Embassy in Nairobi. The embassy revealed, "We wish to inform you that the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi has immediately ceased the issuance of entry Schengen visas for all applications processed by the Embassy of Italy in Mogadishu. For more details, please get…