Somalia

Northeastern State's president suspends Bososa's mayor days after al-Shabaab's prison raid BOSSASO, Northeastern State - Northeastern State President Said Abdullahi Deni has sent Bosaso Mayor Abdisalan Bashir home over what the State House describes as "economically inappropriate" in the latest measure seen as a strategy to improve revenue collection in the coastal city of the state.…

ICJ releases timetable for maritime border case between Kenya and Somalia HAGUE - The International Court of Justice has released a timetable for the hearing of the maritime border case at the Indian Ocean involving Kenya and Somalia, which is expected to begin on Monday 15 May 2021 in The Hague in the Netherlands after months of postponement. According to the schedule, the case…

Madobe meets with UN envoy hours after al-Shabaab attack on Halane MOGADISHU, Somalia - Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday ahead of the election conference to be convened with the federal government of Somalia's leaders and those from member states as the country strives to unlock the stalemate. Madobe, who has been critical of outgoing President Mohamed…

A Hasty Withdrawal From Somalia U.S. troops can’t be everywhere forever. But the Trump administration hasn’t made a good case for its recently announced withdrawal from Somalia in Northeast Africa. President Trump has often expressed his skepticism of American…

The EU can unblock the so-called “electoral impasse” paralyzing Somalia by rejecting the involvement of the outgoing president. But it must also set out a new framework to help the country move forward. The four-year term of Somalia’s president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, formally ended last week – but he has refused to leave the office. With the federal parliament’s mandate also expired as of December 2020, Somalia now, for all intents and purposes, lacks legitimate effective national government. Farmaajo argues that…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Authorities in the troubled Gedo region have reported two starvation-related deaths, mainly caused by al-Shabaab blockades, making it impossible for humanitarian groups as most supply routes remain closed. Those who died of hunger and thirst are mainly children, and there is the possibility of more losses in the coming weeks if residents do not get quick help from benevolent people, authorities said in a statement coming amid political chaos. Al-Shabaab, local authorities said, has used the current…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A contingent of GorGor troops landed at Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport on Monday after months of training in Turkey, just in the middle of an ongoing stalemate before the election, which has sparked war between the opposition and the federal government. In footage taken at the airport, the troops were seen matching and receiving instructions from their commander, most of whom had the red mark, as they shouted patriotic slogans as a sign of solidarity with the hiring authority.…

Al-Shabaab is expanding its tax collection bases, claims Somalia's opposition MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali government has once again been alerted to allegations that al-Shabaab militants are now controlling large parts of the country in the midst of an ongoing stalemate before the election, which has literally brought many activities to standoff in the country. In a harsh…

Lack of US airstrikes in Somalia rejuvenates Al-Shabaab militants MOGADISHU, Somalia - Senior Somali officials have expressed concern over the lack of US airstrikes in the Horn of Africa, arguing that the movement allows al-Shabaab to expand territories in the country at the expense of civilians fighting insecurity. Ever since President Joe Biden took office on January 20, the…

Somalia was scheduled to hold presidential elections on February 8th. It was the second deadline missed, after the Federal Parliament’s constitutionally mandated term ended on December 27, 2020. On February 5th, the latest round of election discussions between leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) in Galmudug state capital Dhusamareb ended without an election timetable. The term of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, alias “Farmajo”, ended on February 7th. According to the…