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Shot dead in a township: how extortion and xenophobia leave Somali shopkeepers exposed in South Africa Late on a Thursday in Booysenpark, a low-rise neighbourhood of Port Elizabeth, the staccato of gunfire ended the life of a shopkeeper who had been trying, like many migrants, to make a modest living in South Africa. Sharmaarke Aadan Mohamed was killed inside his spaza shop — one more body on a long list of Somali traders who say they live under the constant threat of violence, robbery and organized extortion. The killing…

Changing Tides at Mogadishu Port: A New Chapter for Somalia's Economic Lifeline MOGADISHU, Somalia — In the heart of the Horn of Africa, where geopolitical currents are as tumultuous as the Indian Ocean waves, Mogadishu Port stands as a beacon of economic potential and national resilience. Thursday marked a notable shift in its stewardship as Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur, affectionately known as Americo, took the helm, poised to chart a fresh course for Somalia’s primary gateway to the world. Leadership Transition: Americo…

"Irro has clinched the election with a massive victory," announced Muse Hassan Yusuf, the helmsman of North Western State of Somalia's National Electoral Commission during the results event in Hargeisa. In 1991, North Western State of Somalia broke away from Somalia, declaring its independence. Despite this bold move, many global powers have yet to acknowledge it formally as a nation. An intriguing accord was unveiled on January 1. Under its terms, North Western State of Somalia allowed Addis Ababa to set up a military…

North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared state seeking to carve its own niche in the African political landscape, recently headed to the polls under a cloud of intrigue stemming from a contentious Ethiopia-Somalia port agreement. This developing situation has quickly garnered attention, not just within the region but also on the international stage. The stakes are high, adding a thick layer of tension to what would otherwise be a straightforward exercise in democracy. "Elections are a pivotal moment for any…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy has inked a transformative pact with Abu Dhabi PORTS Group, aiming to revolutionize the nation's fisheries and port infrastructures. This move is hoped to bolster both stability and economic growth along Somalia’s coastline, which has been marred by decades of turmoil. Approved by Somalia’s Council of Ministers, this memorandum of understanding (MoU) sets forth a visionary plan to revamp fishing facilities, upgrade ports, and initiate training programs to arm…

The Hobyo-Port Initiative (Courtesy of MyProperty) Pretty recently, Turkish builders have been all about turning African air and sea ports into some real head-turners. Summa Construction is knee-deep in airport ventures in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Metag Holding, hailing from Ankara, inked a $70 million blueprint to spruce up Hobyo Port, Somalia's mighty second-largest. These Turkish enterprises are grabbing the spotlight with their big plays in boosting African airwaves and waterways. "Metag Holding's freshly inked pact looks…

Mogadishu (AX) — On Monday, Galmudug's leader, Ahmed Abdi Kariye, fondly known as 'Qoor Qoor,' inked a monumental 80-year pact with Turkish industrial giant Metag Holding to build the Hobyo Port. He remarked that this project could morph Somalia's central coastline into a bustling trade corridor. It was a well-attended shindig in Mogadishu, drawing in federal bigwigs, lawmakers, and the who's who of the business world. Qoor Qoor underscored Hobyo Port's game-changing potential, especially for landlocked Ethiopia, which…

Mogadishu (AX) – Djibouti's intriguing suggestion as a potential remedy for the ongoing diplomatic rift between Somalia and Ethiopia remains unanswered by Ethiopia, Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf disclosed. In a tête-à-tête with VOA, Youssouf shared that the ball is still in Ethiopia’s court regarding the management and use of the Tojorah port, nestled in Djibouti's northern expanse. This port has been proposed by Djibouti as an alternate maritime gateway for landlocked Ethiopia, heavily dependent on…

The deal allowing Ethiopia access to North Western State of Somalia's Red Sea coast has ignited a diplomatic skirmish. Somalia views this as a breach of its sovereignty since North Western State of Somalia, despite declaring independence in 1991, remains part of Somalia in Mogadishu's eyes. Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi suggested that Somalia might support Ethiopian rebel factions if Ethiopia continues with the agreement. "The option to engage with armed rebels in Ethiopia...is available to us," Fiqi stated on…

Al-Shabaab's Big Move on Key Military Base North of Kismayo KISMAYO, Somalia — Just when dawn was cracking open Sunday, the militant group Al-Shabaab made a brazen move on a military outpost in Jana Abdalle, a settlement about 60 kilometers north of Kismayo, the bustling capital of Somalia's Lower Juba region. The assailants met their match as the Jubaland regional forces mounted a formidable defense, culminating in a fierce showdown that left casualties in its wake. Reports from the ground detail that the hostilities…