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MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday moved to underscore Uganda’s deep and costly military involvement in Somalia, stressing that Kampala has continued to bankroll troop deployments beyond the African Union mandate and has absorbed heavy losses in hardware without compensation. The president’s remarks offered a diplomatic rebuttal to recent pointed comments from Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has drawn attention for his criticism of foreign influence in the Horn of…

Jubaland, one of Somalia’s federal member states in the south, has become a key political player in national debates over elections, security, and the balance of power between Mogadishu and regional administrations. At the center of this influence is Jubaland’s president, Ahmed Mohamed Islam—known as Ahmed Madobe—and his government in Kismayo.In recent years, Jubaland’s leadership has shaped how Somalia’s federal system operates in practice, especially as the country moves toward election reforms and faces ongoing militant…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal administration appears to be tightening its grip on the South West State, moving toward a possible showdown after relations with its regional president, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed—known as Laftagareen—collapsed. The dispute began as a political rupture late in Ramadan, but it has since hardened into a two-track strategy: federal pressure to force Laftagareen back into alignment with Villa Somalia, alongside fresh military movement. Officials close to the talks say attempts to restore cooperation…

CANBERRA, Australia — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he cannot rule out Canada’s military participation in the escalating war in the Middle East, even as he reiterated that the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran launched last weekend appeared “inconsistent with international law.” Asked in a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese whether there was any scenario in which Canada would get involved, Carney called the question hypothetical but left the door open. “One can never…

Trump says he’ll be ‘indirectly’ involved as U.S., Iran resume high-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva GENEVA — U.S. President Donald Trump said he will be “involved … indirectly” in talks set for today in Geneva aimed at containing Iran’s nuclear program, as Washington rushes additional military power to the Middle East and warns it is prepared for a sustained campaign if diplomacy fails. “I’ll be involved in those talks, indirectly. And they’ll be very important,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He added he believes…

Red Sea flashpoint: Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition collides with Türkiye’s long game in Somalia In the strategic waters that link the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, two storylines are converging with destabilizing force. Israel’s December 2025 recognition of North Western State of Somalia, the breakaway region abutting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, has injected a new geopolitical shock into a corridor already strained by Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes in Yemen. The…

Turkey’s Expanding Influence in Somalia Draws Sharp Criticism AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State’s State Minister of Information, Mohamud Aided Dirir, has sharply criticized Turkey’s growing footprint in Somalia, alleging the engagement is driven by self-interest, corruption and exploitation rather than the country’s long-term stability, security or good governance. Dirir said Ankara’s presence undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and misappropriates local resources, arguing that foreign assistance should reinforce Somali…

MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday hosted a dinner in Mogadishu honoring religious scholars who attended the 3rd Somali Scholars Conference, underscoring a deepening partnership between the government and faith leaders to counter extremist ideologies, bolster public awareness and strengthen national unity. In remarks at the event, Mohamud praised the scholars’ longstanding role in Somali society and governance, saying their guidance, advice and moral leadership remain essential as the country…

A new front in the climate battle: defending truth at COP30 Belem’s humid air this week carried more than the tang of the Amazon. At the UN Pavilion during COP30, delegates and activists gathered to talk emissions, finance and loss and damage — but one of the loudest pleas came from an unexpected corner: the newsroom. Omar Faruk Osman, secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists, used a high-level UNESCO panel to argue that the integrity of information is now a frontline issue for climate action. The…

"Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib Triumph Again: Trailblazers in American Politics Keep Their Seats" DETROIT, USA — Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, trailblazing as the first Muslim women to serve in the United States Congress, have both successfully defended their seats, ongoing election counts revealed Tuesday. Tlaib broke ground earlier as the maiden woman of Palestinian heritage in Congress, celebrating a fourth term win in Michigan's 12th District. The Arab-American community of Dearborn, a vital…