political

Facebook Crackdown in Somalia Draws Heat Amid Political Friction MOGADISHU, Somalia — In an eyebrow-raising move, Somalia's political air gets thicker as Facebook suspends accounts of local political mavens and vocal scribes who've been blowing raspberries at the Federal Government. This social media surge coincides with simmering political strains in the country. Word on the street, delivered by Axadle, points to a curious exemption: supporters of the Federal Government, including those yapping for Villa Somalia, didn't…

Hargeisa (AX) — A Critical Vote in the Horn of Africa In the rugged landscape of the Horn of Africa, North Western State of Somalia, a self-styled republic, stands at a crucial point in history. The region is preparing for a momentous event: the dual election scheduled for this Wednesday. Citizens will engage in selecting their leader and defining the political parties that will guide the region's governance over the next decade. Combining a presidential race with a political party ballot, this election is pivotal for North…

In a noteworthy political shift, several members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have jumped ship to the newly formed uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MK Party) over the past six months. High-profile figures like Floyd Shivambu, Mzwanele Manyi, former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and more recently, advocate Dali Mpofu, have all made the switch, stirring quite the buzz in South Africa's political landscape. Julius Malema, the charismatic leader of the EFF, has brought attention to a rather intriguing proposal made by…

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…