political

The capital of Somalia, Mogadishu, is becoming a hotbed of political strife as a contentious tussle unfolds between the federal government and the southern state of Jubbaland over electoral reforms. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, clearly understanding the stakes, called an urgent cabinet meeting on Sunday. In the spotlight is a heated debate with Jubbaland dismissing federal election changes in favor of their own regional autonomy. The central conflict revolves around the federal authorities' ambition to enact a direct…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia finds itself entangled in a thorny political conundrum, with rising tensions between the federal government and the southern state of Jubbaland over contentious electoral reforms. This firestorm has forced Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to call for an urgent cabinet meeting on Sunday, aiming to tackle what has become a seriously divisive cause. Jubbaland's leadership is vehemently opposing federal election plans and champions regional self-governance instead. At the crux of this simmering discord…

KISMAYO, Somalia - Recent weeks have witnessed a stormy political landscape in Somalia, as Jubaland has decided to walk away from its relationship with Mogadishu. Alongside Northeastern State, it becomes the second of the five states to voice dissatisfaction with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's leadership and his push for significant constitutional reforms. The leadership of Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe in Jubaland halted collaboration with the federal government, declaring an end to cooperation following a crucial meeting…

In a rather astonishing twist, Donald Trump has reclaimed the title of the 47th President of the United States as of Wednesday. This marks a significant return for the former president, who famously resisted accepting his election loss four years prior. During those years, he faced several controversial challenges, from a violent uprising at the Capitol to surviving two attempts on his life and being convicted of felony offenses.The decisive win came with a victory in Wisconsin, pushing Trump past the critical 270 electoral…

Mogadishu (AX) — On Saturday, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi engaged in a pivotal conversation with James Swan, the Acting Special Representative of the United Nations, in Mogadishu. Their discussion revolved around the newly inaugurated United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), which has taken over from UNSOM. This meeting came just a day after UNTMIS’s official debut on November 1. The dialogue centered on Somalia’s evolving role within the UN Security Council, along with critical security…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Facing a potential political turmoil in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expresses his willingness to mend fences with Northeastern State and Jubaland's leaders, emphasizing that building the nation is a collective responsibility for all Somalis, not just those in governance. Hassan Sheikh finds himself at odds with Jubaland's President Ahmed Madobe and Northeastern State's leader Said Abdullahi Deni. Both have criticized the proposed extensions of terms for federal states' leaders and the…

Every four years, an eerie shadow looms over Somalia as elections, instead of heralding a new dawn, often lead to political turmoil and strife. The outcome of these elections should ideally reaffirm the federal government's authority through peaceful and legitimate processes, yet, more often than not, the opposite occurs. The last election cycle (2021-2022) put the very fabric of the Somali state at risk. Despite this, there was a palpable sense of relief among the populace when newly elected parliamentarians pledged to…

Last night, the iconic singer Beyoncé graced a rally for Kamala Harris in Houston. This wasn’t a concert; rather, it marked her debut political appearance during this election cycle, a pivotal moment for the Democratic presidential candidate. Beyoncé, who hails from Houston, stepped onto the stage to an ecstatic ovation from approximately 30,000 attendees gathered for Vice President Harris' rally focused on abortion rights. She was joined by fellow Destiny's Child alum Kelly Rowland, who also solidifies her place in the…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A fierce storm is brewing in Somalia's delicate democracy, fueled by the discord over proposed changes to the constitution. These changes are spearheaded by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who stands firm despite a brewing political tempest. Hassan Sheikh envisions a shift to elections by universal suffrage, moving away from the elder-dominated political approach. For thirty years, Somalia has operated under this indirect system amid persistent turmoil. Amidst fierce constitutional debate on…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Efforts to stabilize Somalia’s delicate democracy hit a snag as the National Consultative Council (NCC) discussions ended in dispute on Wednesday, sparking further discord. Sources indicate that the NCC plans to regroup on October 27, but the attendance of Northeastern State's leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, and Jubaland's Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe remains uncertain following their vocal dissent during the recent conference. During the gathering, leaders struggled to reach an agreement on managing the…