Somali

Monday April 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council on Sunday issued a sharp warning against politicizing the Somali National Army, saying the country’s security forces must be protected from clan rivalry and partisan pressure if they are to remain effective and credible. In a statement released to coincide with the 66th anniversary of the army’s founding on April 12, the council congratulated servicemen and women and praised their role in defending the nation, preserving unity and helping maintain public…

Monday April 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council on Sunday warned that the Somali National Army must be shielded from political manipulation, saying any effort to pull the force into partisan or clan disputes could erode its neutrality and weaken the country’s security architecture. In a statement issued to coincide with the army’s 66th anniversary on April 12, the council congratulated soldiers across the ranks and praised their service in defending Somalia, preserving national unity and helping maintain…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia marked a major military milestone on Sunday as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud поздравulated members of the Somali National Army and their families on the force’s 66th anniversary. At a ceremony in Mogadishu, Mohamud highlighted the army’s role in safeguarding the country and protecting civilians, saying its work remains a cornerstone of Somalia’s state-building drive. “Heroes of the Somali National Army have saved 20 million Somalis. They do not only defend with weapons, but…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s music community is mourning the death of Shankaroon Ahmed Yusuf, better known as Sagal, one of the best-known voices of the celebrated Waaberi band. She died Saturday in the United States, where she had lived for several years, after reportedly being ill. Shankaroon first gained national recognition in the 1970s, during a period when Somalia’s state-backed arts scene was flourishing. She went on to become a key member of the Somali National Army band, which later joined with…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and Libya have moved to bring home roughly 400 Somali nationals held in Libyan prisons after senior officials met in Tripoli over the weekend, according to authorities. The deal emerged from a consultative session between Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, and Libya’s acting Foreign Minister, Taher Al-Baour. Their discussions centered on deepening diplomatic relations while widening cooperation on migration and security.…

Saturday April 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and Türkiye took a major step Friday toward the country’s first offshore deep-water oil drilling project, as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar in Mogadishu. The talks centered on deepening the two countries’ strategic ties, with energy, natural resources and the blue economy high on the agenda. President Mohamud said the partnership had entered what he called a historic phase, underscoring the arrival of…

Friday April 10, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali National Army forces, operating alongside international partners, launched an airstrike in Somalia’s Mudug region on Thursday that the Ministry of Defense said killed about 70 al-Shabab fighters and left dozens more wounded. The intelligence-driven strike hit what officials described as a large militant assembly near Tawarmooge, about 8 kilometers south of Aad and 45 kilometers north of Harardhere in central Somalia. In a statement, the ministry said the target was a location…

Friday April 10, 2026 Ethiopian police say Yetbarek Dawit, who is yet to comment on the allegations, was wanted in various countries Mogadishu (AX) — Ethiopian authorities say they have arrested a man accused of running a trafficking ring that moved thousands of migrants, including Somalis, into Libya over a number of years, where many were allegedly tortured, abused and held for ransom. Federal police named the suspect as Yetbarek Dawit, saying he directed a cross-border operation that smuggled more than 3,000 people from…

Thursday April 9, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali international referee Omar Abdulqadir Artan has broken new ground for his country, earning a place on the officiating roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and becoming the first Somali referee ever named to the tournament. His selection for FIFA’s official list of match officials, ahead of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is being hailed as a defining moment for Somali football and a rare global spotlight for the nation’s sporting ambitions. The…

Arturo Chang Wednesday April 8, 2026 Najib Warsame says Somali asylum claimants often spend months unable to work as they wait for their immigration claims to be processed. (Submitted by Najib Warsame) A hard-line immigration push in the United States is sending more Somalis to Manitoba in search of asylum, according to a Winnipeg refugee advocate who says anxiety in the community has risen sharply. Najib Warsame said many of the people he has recently assisted came to the province after feeling targeted by U.S. President…