Somali

LAS ANOD, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre arrived in Las Anod on Friday, a highly symbolic visit to the administrative capital of the Northeastern Regional State that underscores Mogadishu’s expanding political and security engagement in Somalia’s contested northern regions. The federal leaders are in the city to attend the inauguration of Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known as Firdhiye, who was elected president of the Northeastern Regional State last year. The ceremony has drawn…

Somali, AU forces kill more than 30 al-Shabaab militants in joint strikes near Bulunugaad MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali and African Union forces, alongside Ugandan troops, killed more than 30 al-Shabaab militants and wounded several others in coordinated air and ground strikes in southern Somalia on Thursday, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) said. The operation, conducted near the Bulunugaad forward operating base in Lower Shabelle and supported by international partners, targeted entrenched al-Shabaab positions…

Somali, AU and Ugandan troops kill 30-plus al-Shabab fighters in Lower Shabelle operation MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali government forces, backed by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and Uganda’s military, killed more than 30 al-Shabab militants during a joint operation in the Lower Shabelle region, authorities said Thursday. The fighting erupted near the Bulunagaad Forward Operating Base when militants attacked Somali National Army units and AUSSOM troops conducting pursuit operations in the area,…

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency, working with international security partners, carried out an airstrike on a high-level meeting of al-Shabab commanders in the Middle Juba region on Wednesday, targeting a safe house in the Bu’aale district, security officials said. Authorities described the mission as intelligence-led and designed to fracture the al-Qaida-linked group’s senior leadership. The compound, identified as a venue for strategic consultations among senior figures, was…

Washington (AX) — Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would seek to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans convicted of fraud, singling out immigrants “from Somalia or anywhere else” as he outlined a tougher immigration and enforcement agenda during a speech in Detroit. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said a future administration would pursue denaturalization and deportation proceedings against immigrants found guilty of defrauding U.S. citizens. “If you come to America to rob Americans, we’re…

U.S. Embassy denies issuing security warning over Somali president’s Las Anod visit MOGADISHU, Somalia — The U.S. Embassy in Somalia on Wednesday denied online reports claiming it issued a security warning ahead of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s planned visit to the northern city of Las Anod, calling the claims false and urging the public to rely on its official channels. “The U.S. Embassy has not released any security warning concerning travel to Las Anod,” the embassy said in a statement, adding that people should…

Al-Shabab stages multi-pronged attack on Beledweyne; Somali forces say they repelled assault MOGADISHU, Somalia — Al-Shabab militants launched a coordinated attack on the central Somali city of Beledweyne late Tuesday, firing mortar rounds into a residential neighborhood before engaging Somali National Army units in street combat, according to residents and military officials. The assault began with a barrage targeting Bundaweyn, a neighborhood on the city’s edge, and quickly escalated into direct clashes with government…

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Tuesday it will terminate Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals, requiring those covered by the program to leave the United States or secure another lawful status by March 17, 2026. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that the country “no longer meets the law’s requirement for Temporary Protected Status,” and continued designation would be “contrary to our national interests.” The decision affects several thousand…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal Cabinet has moved to cancel security and defense agreements tied to three strategic ports, a sweeping decision that immediately drew forceful rejection from Puntland State, Jubbaland and North Western State of Somalia and sharpened a long-running power struggle over sovereignty and foreign partnerships. Ministers meeting in Mogadishu on Monday voted to annul all security and defense agreements and cooperative arrangements related to Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo. The government said the deals…

Somali military says airstrike kills 17 al-Shabab militants in Middle Shabelle MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Somali National Army, working with international partners, carried out an overnight airstrike late Monday in the Middle Shabelle region that killed 17 militants and destroyed weapons and vehicles used in attacks on civilians, the military said Tuesday. The strike hit the Jabad Godone area, which the army described as a planning site for militant operations, particularly bombings targeting civilians and public…