regional

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. attack on Iran would trigger a regional war, state media reported, as Washington moves additional naval assets into the Middle East and both sides signal that indirect talks are underway. Khamenei dismissed President Donald Trump’s repeated threats and the U.S. carrier-led deployment as psychological pressure. “The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things,” he said. “We are not the initiators and do not want to attack any country, but the Iranian…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government on Monday praised Türkiye for what it called steadfast support in security cooperation and counterterrorism, following talks in Mogadishu between Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and a high-level Turkish delegation. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office described Türkiye as a strategic partner that has bolstered Somalia’s security, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It said Ankara’s engagement has been central to strengthening Somali state institutions,…

Southern African Development Community emergency response teams have arrived in Mozambique after heavy rains caused deadly floods that have submerged entire villages and left large areas inaccessible, officials said. The teams were deployed following the Mozambican government's Red Alert declaration on Jan. 16, and are concentrating on the worst-hit districts of Gaza Province, where floodwaters have reached levels that local authorities say are unprecedented. Roads, public facilities and other critical infrastructure have…

MOGADISHU — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development on Wednesday welcomed Somalia’s ratification of the new IGAD Treaty, calling it a significant step toward stronger regional cooperation and integration across the Horn of Africa. Somalia’s House of the People approved the treaty by show of hands after the agreement was presented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Balcad, who urged lawmakers to endorse it as essential to the country’s regional engagement and political stability. According to Speaker…

At Las Anod inauguration, Somalia’s president condemns Israel over North Western State of Somalia and vows to defend unity LAS ANOD — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Saturday attended the swearing-in of Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known as Firdhiye, as president of the Northeastern Regional State, using the ceremony to project federal authority and denounce foreign interference in Somalia’s internal affairs. Hassan Sheikh condemns Israel’s recognition of North Western State of…

Friday January 16, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Saudi Arabia is in advanced talks with Somalia and Egypt to establish a new Red Sea military and security partnership, a step that would deepen Riyadh’s role in the Horn of Africa and sharpen competition with the United Arab Emirates, according to people familiar with the discussions. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks to finalize elements of the agreement, the people said. The proposed pact would expand coordination on…

Federal Government Accused of Politicizing Somali Unity Amid Rising Tensions With Regional States LAAS CANOOD, Somalia — Accusations are mounting that Somalia’s federal authorities are leveraging the language of national unity as a political weapon against some federal member states, with a planned inauguration in Laas Canood sharpening disputes and stirring fresh security concerns. The ceremony, expected to draw senior federal officials including members of the Council of Ministers and security chiefs from the National…

Egypt, Djibouti back Somalia’s unity, broaden regional cooperation in Cairo talks CAIRO — Egypt and Djibouti on Wednesday reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity while pledging to expand cooperation in trade, energy and infrastructure, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. The commitments came during talks in Cairo between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Djibouti’s foreign minister, Abdulqader Hussein Omar, held on the sidelines of a fifth consultative meeting focused…

U.N. official warns U.S. threats add ‘volatility’ as Iran protests persist; New Zealand shuts Tehran embassy A senior U.N. official warned Thursday that public threats of military action against Iran — including remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump — are intensifying an already combustible crisis as nationwide protests test the Islamic Republic and foreign governments reassess their footprint in the country. “We note with alarm various public statements suggesting possible military strikes on Iran. This external dimension…

A senior United Nations official warned that threats of military action against Iran — including those made by President Donald Trump — risked further inflaming a country already shaken by some of the largest anti-government protests in the Islamic republic’s history. “We note with alarm various public statements suggesting possible military strikes on Iran. This external dimension adds volatility to an already combustible situation,” UN Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee told the UN Security Council. Iran has been…