regional

Disqualified candidate arrested after fatal election clashes shake Somalia’s northeast LAS ANOD, Somalia — Security forces in Somalia’s northeast have arrested a wealthy businessman who was disqualified from a regional presidential race, accusing him of mobilizing armed supporters who battled police during an August 29 vote at a hotel in Las Anod. The violence left several people dead, according to local elders, and delayed burials as families spar over where and how to lay their loved ones to rest. What happened Police…

Las Anod (AX) — The SSC-Khaatumo leadership has leveled allegations against Northeastern State for meddling in its self-governance, heightening tensions between these two neighboring regions. In a recent media briefing, SSC-Khaatumo's Minister of Planning, Ahmed Diiriye, claimed that his counterpart from Northeastern State, Da'ud Bisinle, has been diligently sowing discord between their communities. Diiriye expressed concerns over teams sent from Garowe, the capital of Northeastern State, asserting they were implementing…

Hargeisa (AX) — In a momentous election hailed for its openness, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro emerged victorious to take up the mantle as North Western State of Somalia’s president, winning a landslide 64% of the vote. As Irro steps up to the plate, he inherits a politically tense landscape marked by fraught relations with Somalia and scrutiny surrounding a debatable pact with Ethiopia for access to the coastline. Leader of the opposition, the Waddani Party, Irro ousted the incumbent president, Muse Bihi Abdi, who…

A collaborative effort among various firms has welcomed the arrival of the initial set of 275 container wagons, designed to boost the transport capabilities of the Lobito Corridor project. This ambitious railway initiative stretches from Angola's Lobito port, reaching into the Democratic Republic of Congo and extending to Zambia. Unveiled in 2023 as part of the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, this corridor is backed by both the United States and the European Union. Once fully operational, it…

The vibrant colors of the North Western State of Somalia flag waved through the air at a bustling rally in Hargeisa on November 8, 2024, marking the region's anticipation for the upcoming presidential election. The North Western State of Somalia National Electoral Commission confirmed that over a million citizens are set to cast their votes this Wednesday, deciding on their leader for another five-year term. The three presidential contenders aim not only to cement North Western State of Somalia’s delicate political…

"Oh, the political temperature is rising in North Western State of Somalia!" exclaimed a supporter of the opposition Waddani party, captured by the lens of LUIS TATO. In the heart of a diplomatic firestorm, North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared independent region splintered from Somalia, gears up for a Wednesday presidential showdown during a tumultuous spell in the Horn of Africa. Perched at Somalia's northwest tip, this territory broke free in 1991, maintaining a level of tranquility and calmness that its…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is on the cusp of a historic milestone. Preparing for its first direct elections in over half a century, the nation is inching towards democratic reform. Yet, this noble endeavor risks intensifying the rifts in an already fragile federal framework. Tensions have spiked between the Federal Somali Government (FGS) and the regional administrations of Jubbaland and Northeastern State. Political squabbles could possibly unleash chaos as the country approaches its 2025 elections. In a noteworthy move last…

Mogadishu (AX) - In a surprising political twist, Sadam Mohamud Abdi, the Deputy Minister of Ports and Marine Transport in Somalia, decided to part ways with his post on a Tuesday night, marking him as the third minister to have done so in a matter of days. What’s cooking behind these ministerial resignations?Abdi, who finds dual roles as a federal parliament member from Northeastern State, now stands with Abdirashid Jire Qalinle and Ahmed Isman Ibrahim Daqare of Jubbaland fame. Both had already thrown in their resignation…

Mogadishu (AX) — Masterminding a move towards renewed governance, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre unveiled fresh appointments on Monday. A new state minister for the Ministry of Planning and Investment and a deputy for the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education took the stage, replacing their predecessors who recently bowed out of the political scene. Stepping up as the freshly minted state minister for Planning is Ahmed Nor Sheikh Mohamed Loxox, while Abdirashid Mohamed Du'ale slides into the Deputy…

Egyptian Warship Drops Anchor in Mogadishu with Third Batch of Arms amid Regional Tug-of-War MOGADISHU, Somalia — On Sunday, an Egyptian naval ship berthed in Mogadishu. This marks the third delivery of arms amidst escalating local and international tensions. Fraught diplomatic relations with Ethiopia have influenced this maritime maneuver. Upon arrival, the military hardware was quickly unloaded at the bustling port, signaling Egypt’s ongoing commitment to bolster Somalia’s defense capabilities. This alliance aims to…