President

Monday March 30, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s national security adviser, Awes Haji Yusuf Ahmed, has rejected accusations from Southwest State that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud backs the al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabab militant group, branding the claims unfounded and reckless. In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Ahmed said the president’s government has spearheaded major counterterrorism offensives that have weakened the insurgency and recaptured strategic areas. “Claims that President Hassan Sheikh…

Sunday March 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday cut the ribbon on a newly rebuilt stretch of road connecting Mogadishu’s Dabka and Bakaara intersections, a flagship project carried out by the Benadir Regional Administration. Speaking at the ceremony, Mohamud cast the project as a visible sign of the capital’s recovery and of broader gains in security, governance, and economic life. “The reconstruction of this road reflects the revival and visible progress of the capital,…

Somalia’s President to Raise Ethiopia Complaint in Diplomatic Briefing MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to convene a high-level briefing today at the Presidential Palace with members of the international diplomatic corps stationed in Mogadishu’s heavily secured Halane compound. Officials in the capital told the media that the president plans to give the envoys a detailed update on Somalia’s security and political climate. At the center of the discussion is expected to be a formal complaint over…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s lower house speaker has blocked an impeachment bid against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, according to a lawmaker who said the effort had the backing of more than 120 parliamentarians. Dahir Amin Jesow, a member of the House of the People, said Aden Mohamed Nur, better known as Aadan Madoobe, refused to receive the motion calling for the president’s removal. Jesow said the proposal, submitted by a group of lawmakers, contained “serious accusations” against Mohamud, but was not sent through…

Saturday March 28, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has won re-election for a further five-year term after voters went to the polls on Saturday in Baidoa, the interim administrative capital of the region. Under the supervision of the electoral commission, Laftagareen received 66 votes, narrowly but decisively beating his challenger, Abdullahi Haji Hassan, who secured 13 votes. The vote takes place as political tensions continue to mount between the Southwest administration and…

MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has launched a forceful defense of one-person, one-vote elections, rejecting calls for a return to indirect voting and arguing that the country has already moved past the old approach. Speaking to the nation, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said past understandings have already laid out the electoral roadmap, including how committees should be formed and what rules should govern the process. He added that some politicians have chosen to step away from commitments they signed. “If you…

Djibouti Bets Big: President Guelleh Launches $480 Million "Salaam City" DJIBOUTI CITY — In a bold push to tackle soaring housing needs amid brisk economic expansion, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, on Monday unveiled a $480 million residential venture known as “Salaam City.” Driven by developer Salaam Real Estate, the project will convert a vast tract on the edge of Djibouti City into a contemporary urban center, which officials describe as among the nation’s most ambitious housing efforts…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — In a fresh escalation of its standoff with Mogadishu, Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has moved to set up his own Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, a decision announced just one week after he cut ties with Somalia’s federal government. Under a presidential decree dated March 23, 2026, Laftagareen appointed a chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary and additional members to the commission, which is expected to steer both the groundwork and…

Sunday March 22, 2026 Dhusamareb (AX) — With Somalia’s federal leadership and the Southwest State locked in an increasingly sharp political standoff, Galmudug Vice President Ali Dahir Iid on Thursday stepped forward with an offer to broker talks, pressing both Mogadishu and Baidoa to return to dialogue before the dispute deepens. Iid said Galmudug stands ready to help “lay the groundwork” for renewed discussions between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Southwest State administration, arguing that a prolonged…

Sunday March 22, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new escalation in Somalia’s federal-regional tensions unfolded in Baidoa on Saturday, when Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen accused the federal government of what he called a “blatant invasion” of territories under his administration. Speaking to newly trained Southwest troops, Laftagareen said the central government is moving special forces into Southwest regions and using aircraft to transport militias and additional troops, a claim he framed as a…