regional

Mogadishu (AX) — The Egyptian leader, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, is gearing up for a visit to Asmara, Eritrea, come Thursday, where he's scheduled for a three-party pow-wow with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This top-tier sit-down aims to bolster security partnerships and tackle mutual hurdles in the Horn of Africa and the bustling Red Sea zone. A big-ticket item on the agenda is the creation of a tri-nation coalition to navigate common challenges, with a spotlight on Ethiopia's…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — In the face of regional discord, Somalia stands by its robust defense agreement with Egypt, harmonizing with its foreign policy to enhance its security framework, though ruffling feathers, particularly in Ethiopia. The pact, reminiscent of Somalia’s strategic alliances with the U.S., EU, Turkey, and nations in the Gulf, drew skepticism from Ethiopia. Concerns revolve around potential military intensification, fueled by maritime disputes and Egypt’s longstanding Nile River tensions. Hussein Sheikh Ali,…

Turning up in Mogadishu, Somalia's Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi gets a warm welcome after returning from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Mogadishu (AX) — Just back from the international spotlight, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Somalia's Foreign Minister, recently chewed the fat with Egyptian and Eritrean counterparts, focusing on what Somalia says are ongoing invasions by Ethiopia into its turf. Both Egypt and Eritrea threw their weight behind Somalia, lambasting Ethiopia for actions that jeopardize Somalia's…

The Horn of Africa continues to grapple with aftershocks from Ethiopia’s agreement with North Western State of Somalia in January. This pact, which bestowed Ethiopian naval units access to North Western State of Somalia’s coastline, has sparked strife and intrigue across the region. In a twist, Hargeisa claims Ethiopia is mulling over acknowledging North Western State of Somalia’s boundaries, stirring the pot further. Fast forward nine months, and tensions escalate with new forces entering the fray, like Egypt making chummy…

Beledweyne (AX) – In a significant community triumph, Ugas Yusuf Ugas Hassan Ugas Khalif, the esteemed leader of the Hawadle tribe, has navigated the successful dismantling of numerous rogue checkpoints along the stretch between Beledweyne and El-gal in the Hiiraan territory.Flanked by Hiiraan's regional chief, Muse Salad Wehliye, and a cohort of respected elders, the leader embarked on a mission to clear the main artery linking Mataban and Beledweyne. These makeshift barricades had been a notorious thorn in the side of…

Egypt's Military Aid to Somalia Steers Clear of Regional Rivalry: El-Sisi Cairo — President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi clarified that Egypt’s aid to Somalia is driven by a genuine desire to help restore stability to a nation plagued by decades of turmoil, not by regional animosities, particularly with Ethiopia. "Listen, our support for Somalia isn’t tied to Ethiopia whatsoever. We want to help them emerge from three decades of chaos," El-Sisi stated to esteemed guests at a police academy graduation ceremony on Sunday. The…

Mogadishu (AX) — Ethiopian troops, who are part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), have taken the lead in renovating Bardhere Airport located in Somalia's Gedo region. This development has further strained the already tense relations between Ethiopia and Somalia. The 46th Motorized Battalion of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is executing this airport overhaul as part of a Quick Impact Project (QIP). The project involves extending the runway by 400 meters to boost safety and accommodate…

Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, voiced apprehension over the meddling of "external forces" potentially destabilizing an already tenuous security scenario, and feared that weapons could land in the hands of terrorists. Ali Omar, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, took to X to express surprise at Ethiopia's reservations regarding Somalia's procurement of arms for defending sovereignty and combatting terror. Amid a protracted clash with Ethiopia over a significant dam project on the Blue…

"Peace goes beyond just ending wars. It is about nations respecting one another's sovereignty and territorial boundaries," echoed John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. President. Viewed as a foundational tenet of global diplomacy, countries worldwide aspire to these principles. However, Ethiopia's recent assertive stance towards Somalia challenges these ideals. Their attempt to annex a key Somali port is not just an economic move but a direct affront to Somalia's sovereignty and a precursor to potential regional turmoil.…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Astke Selassie, has voiced alarming concerns over recent influxes of arms heading to Somalia. He cautioned that these weapons might escalate regional conflicts and potentially be seized by terrorist factions, as reported by Ethiopia's state news agency on Tuesday. A wave of worry emerged after an Egyptian warship docked in Mogadishu, offloading a hefty load of heavy weaponry. This marks the second significant arms shipment to Somalia in just one month. This follows a…