Amid rising political tensions, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has unveiled a new 30-member cabinet, a move that underscores the complexities within his party, Pastef. This reshuffle comes after Pastef initially threatened to withdraw from the process over disputes regarding the cabinet's composition. Led by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Pastef announced its intent not to engage with the government formation due to differing views on the lineup. Despite this stance, five members from the party made it onto the final…

Thursday June 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Wednesday accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of turning the national army into a political tool, as fierce fighting continued to rage in parts of Mogadishu. At a news conference in the capital, Sharif said government troops had been deployed in large numbers around his home and surrounding neighborhoods ahead of opposition plans to stage protests on Thursday. He said peaceful protest is a constitutional right and cannot legally be…

MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 3 — Western diplomats have pressed Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over the direction of the country’s political transition, urging his government to enter serious talks and settle on an election formula acceptable to all key players, diplomatic sources told Axadle on Wednesday. People familiar with the meeting said representatives from several Western countries sat down with the president on Tuesday and delivered messages from their capitals calling for a more inclusive process as Somalia…

Wednesday June 3, 2026 Wajir, Kenya (AX) — Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday said the Somali community in Kenya has secured political freedoms and openings that, he argued, were previously out of reach under President William Ruto’s administration. Addressing a gathering in Wajir County, Duale mounted a strong defense of Ruto’s approach to northern Kenya and to the Somali community, saying generations had faced discrimination in schooling, public sector jobs, access to identity documents and…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal authorities have tightened security across the capital as opposition groups ready demonstrations in approved locations, deepening a political standoff over the country’s electoral future. Security sources said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has held consultations with senior security officials and directed the deployment of additional forces along major roads in Mogadishu. On Wednesday morning, the leadership of the Somali National Army (SNA) also met with logistics officials as part…

Wednesday June 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said Tuesday that opposition leaders will not accept any government attempt to confine planned anti-government protests to a single site in Mogadishu. Addressing a gathering of opposition politicians, Sharif argued that peaceful demonstration is protected by the constitution and that residents should be able to take to the streets throughout the capital. “The protest should take place wherever it can. The whole city should come out,” Sharif…

NAIROBI — Kenyan President William Ruto has said the Kenya-Somalia border will stay shut for now, pointing to lingering security risks, Somalia’s political instability and shortfalls in funding for security operations. Ruto said the move reflects the current security climate in the region, alongside uncertainty inside Somalia and the cost of putting in place the measures needed to manage cross-border travel safely. The border has faced repeated restrictions in recent years, with authorities citing threats linked to militant…

Tuesday June 2, 2026 From Wajir County, a landmark moment has arrived for Kenya. In a clear message of inclusion, history was being made on Tuesday as the country marked Madaraka Day in the north for the first time in 63 years of self-rule. It was, in the words of the speaker, proof that the Bottom-Up promise to leave no one behind is being put into action. For the first time since independence, a national celebration of Madaraka Day was taking place in Wajir, deep in Northern Kenya. Far from being a symbolic gesture, the…

Tuesday June 2, 2026 Djibouti (AX) — Djiboutian opposition figure Alexis Mohamed Gueldon has accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of eroding the country’s federal system, arguing that decisions from Mogadishu have widened political rifts and weakened confidence in federal institutions. In a Monday post on social media, Gueldon said constitutional amendments, political standoffs and strained ties between the federal government and some federal member states have hurt the credibility of Somalia’s federal model. He…

Questions over whether President Peter Mutharika has been stepping back from the day-to-day demands of governing have drawn a firm rebuttal from the presidency, which insists he remains fully in charge and actively engaged. In an official statement, the government dismissed reports that Mutharika has shirked key responsibilities by handing over his roles to ministers. It described the claims as “regrettable” and “unpatriotic,” and said the president has chaired every Cabinet meeting since taking office in September 2025.…