Somali

Somalia’s Political Turmoil: A Threatened Stability Amid Al-Shabaab Resurgence MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — In a country where shadows loom large, the specter of Al-Shabaab has once again taken root, troubling citizens and alarmingly opposition leaders alike. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud faces accusations of negligence as opposition figures blame the government’s preoccupation with constitutional revisions for the destabilization currently gripping the nation. These concerns echo the compelling narratives of a battered society,…

On Turkey’s Victory Day, new Somali officers step forward in Ankara Under a late-summer sky in Ankara, the brass of military bands mingled with the steady tap of parade boots and the low murmur of families craning for a better view. On a day when Turkey commemorates its hard-won independence, a new class of officers—including a cohort from Somalia—crossed the stage at the National Defence University’s War College to collect their diplomas. Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Somalia’s ambassador to Turkey,…

In Mogadishu, tiny hearts get a second chance — and a health system finds its stride For three intense days in late August, the corridors of Guuleed Specialist Hospital in Mogadishu pulsed with a rare kind of urgency. A volunteer team of cardiac specialists from Somalia and abroad scrubbed in, monitors beeped in careful rhythm, and anxious families clutched prayer beads as their children—some no bigger than a bag of rice—were wheeled into operating theaters. By the evening of August 27, organizers said 15 children with…

Ethiopia Bets on Homegrown Fertilizer as Dangote Signs $2.5 Billion Deal in Somali Region For a country where seven in ten people make a living from the land, the announcement landed with the weight of a good rain. Ethiopia will partner with Nigeria’s Dangote Group to build one of the world’s largest urea fertilizer complexes in Gode, in the Somali Regional State—an arid corner better known to many Ethiopians as a frontier than a factory town. The deal, framed as a bid for “food sovereignty,” is also a test of whether East…

Shot dead in a township: how extortion and xenophobia leave Somali shopkeepers exposed in South Africa Late on a Thursday in Booysenpark, a low-rise neighbourhood of Port Elizabeth, the staccato of gunfire ended the life of a shopkeeper who had been trying, like many migrants, to make a modest living in South Africa. Sharmaarke Aadan Mohamed was killed inside his spaza shop — one more body on a long list of Somali traders who say they live under the constant threat of violence, robbery and organized extortion. The killing…

Strengthening Somalia: Defense Partnerships Pave New Paths In a noteworthy development, Somalia is forging forward with strategic defense agreements that promise to reshape its national security landscape. During a critical meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, Somalia's cabinet approved several international defense agreements aimed at bolstering the country's armed forces. Forging Global Partnerships The spotlight of this diplomatic maneuvering falls on the newly signed memorandums of understanding…

Voices from the Capital: A Clash Over Free Speech and Political Power The bustling avenues of Mogadishu tell tales of resilience, struggle, and now, a spotlight on the evolving discourse of power and free expression in Somalia. The Somali Salvation Council, a coalition shaped by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has brought forth a boiling issue in the Somali capital: the arrest of Hussein Mohamed Mahmoud Haadoole. A Controversial Arrest Earlier this week, Mogadishu's dynamic rhythm was cut by an event that has…

markdown Strengthening Bonds: Somalia and Djibouti Forge Deeper Ties In the bustling city of Mogadishu, amid the backdrop of age-old buildings and a resilient populace, a meeting of diplomatic significance quietly unfolded. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Abdiqadir Hussein Omar, marking a noteworthy moment in the continued camaraderie between these two Horn of Africa nations. A Message of Solidarity Emissaries serve not just as messengers but as symbols of continuity and…

Sobering Seizure at Somalia's Gateway: A Closer Look at the Drug Crisis Amid shimmering heat and the steady hum of life at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport, Somali police intercepted an alarming cargo—48 sacks of narcotics ready to breach the borders. As passengers crisscrossed the airport's buzzing terminals, this illicit cache threatened to slip quietly into the world beyond. A Calculated Haul This wasn't just a minor find. The Office of the Attorney General detailed the discovery: 48 bags, each divided into…

Somali Forces Foil Roadside Bombing in Lower Shabelle: A Triumph in Ongoing Conflict In the sunbaked landscape of Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, the rhythm of daily life was suddenly disrupted this past Saturday. Members of the Somali National Army's 14th October Battalion, led by the vigilant Brig. Gen. Abdirahin Mohamed Munye, safely intercepted a deadly roadside bomb intended to wreak havoc in the district of Janaale. This decisive action reflects the persistent challenges faced in a nation long-scarred by conflict and…