Somalia

GARISA, Kenya | About eight years ago, Abdul Haji, then 38, was presented not only in Kenya but across the globe for what many considered heroic acts, after a picture of him rescuing innocent women and men in the Westgate Mall, where Al- Shabaab had attacked. Armed with his rifle, Haji, whose father Yusuf Haji was then the senator of Garissa, was depicted by rescuing dozens of people, but it is the footage of him holding children and women that puts him on the global map and even gets president Uhuru Kenyatta to give him…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Northeastern State and the state of Jubaland have jointly accused the outgoing Somali government on Wednesday of "pulling its legs" by convening inclusive election negotiations in Mogadishu. Negotiations between federal leaders and international partners have been going on for weeks in Mogadishu, seeking a broad consensus on the poll dispute, but Farmajo is blocking an agreement. On Wednesday, Northeastern State and Jubaland issued a joint statement accusing incumbent President Farmajo of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - All stakeholders and stakeholders in Somalia are involved in last - minute efforts to save the country from jumping into an unprecedented political crisis following delayed elections, which are due to take place in December 2020. With the term of office of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo already expired and even the mandate of Parliament, efforts have been made to bring all parties together for the sake of stability and unity. Farmajo was due to leave office on February 8 this year. But even…

Somalia's parliamentary roads in Mogadishu closed, heavy security views MOGADISHU, Somalia - Heavy presence of security forces has been seen along all roads leading to the parliament in Mogadishu, just ahead of the stormy session, which is expected to start already now after Monday’s postponement. Last Saturday, MPs from both sides of the political divide shouted at each other in…

Hundreds benefit from free AMISOM medical services in the Gedo region African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces have provided free medical services to hundreds of people in the Gedo region of Jubaland state as part of their civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) activities. The free medical camp took place last weekend in Gedo's villages of Burahache and Gherrile. Elderly people,…

Somalia has teamed up with international organizations to launch an online learning platform for primary school as the country struggles with the effects of COVID-19. The Ministry of Education said the alternative learning opportunity aims to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on education and intends to improve access to quality education for children affected by the pandemic. The online platform, launched in partnership with the EU, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Save the Children Somalia program, will…

Kenyan police said on Tuesday they had arrested three suspects and recovered a cache of weapons during a security operation in Garissa County, which borders Somalia. Rono Bunei, northeastern regional police chief, said the three suspects were snatched while transporting eight rifles, 2,104 bullets and 20 liters of petrol along a busy road in the Lagdera area when they were caught after a four-hour chase. Bunei said police patrolling the area spotted the saloon car around 5pm on Monday before the driver moved off,…

Al-Shabaab pilot may be planning attacks in Kenya, police warn Kenyan security agencies have appealed to the public to voluntarily release information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of Rashid Mwalimu, who is wanted by anti-terrorism police. According to a statement sent to media houses, Mwalimu, who is currently in Somalia, should be considered armed and dangerous; he…

Election talks in Somalia between FGS and FMS were suspended due to division MOGADISHU, Somalia - The highly anticipated talks before the election between the federal government of Somalia and the federal states collapsed, Axadlehas learned in the latest twist, which further shows a deep-rooted political crisis that could throw the country into chaos. Today , FGS and FMS leaders…

NAIROBI, Kenya - The United States has promised to take the threats posed by Al-Shabaab seriously, adding that the security of its troops and allied forces in East Africa remains its top priority in line with its security arrangements. The US Africa Command and the French troops based in Djibouti have been threatened by Al-Shabaab militants who issued a stern warning through its leader Ahmed Omar alias Abu Ubaydah over the weekend. A spokesman, Colonel Christopher Karns, told VOA Somali that the US Africa Command is…