Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A plane carrying a relative of incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was turned back in flight Thursday before landing at Kismayo airport in another dramatic event in Somalia's tectonic politics. Abdi Ali Rage, special adviser to outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, was on a plane due to land at Kismayo airport on the Indian Ocean, but authorities in Jubaland were apparently aware of his trip In the region. Several sources confirmed that the plane was denied landing rights, forcing…

Deni not a secret Somali presidential candidate, Northeastern State says AXADLE, Northeastern State - Northeastern State President Said Abdullahi Deni is not interested in running for president before Somalia's next election, Northeastern State said, just hours after a federal minister made sensational allegations on Twitter, prompting anxiety in the country. In a tweet, Gamal Mohamed Hassan,…

US military equips Danab forces amid al-Shabaab crackdown MOGADISHU, Somalia - The US military handed over armored vehicles to Danab's special forces, which carried out operations against Al-Shabaab militants in central and southern Somalia, which ended earlier this week ahead of the next phase . For years, the United States has been a crucial security partner in the fight against al-Shabaab,…

US unveils Somalia's budget transparency report WASHINGTON, United States - The United States unveiled the Somalia Budget Transparency Report for 2021, which is typically a government-to-government audit of projects, giving a clear picture of how resources, especially donor funds, are being used . During the reporting period, the US government released its enacted budget and year-end report…

KISMAYO, Somalia - Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble is visiting Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubaland, as part of his pre-election preparations, as he seeks to oversee a credible election in the Horn of Africa country. The Prime Minister accompanied by senior federal government officials, including Finance Minister Abdirahman Dualle Beileh, was warmly greeted at the airport by the President of Jubaland, Ahmed Madobe, and members of the public from state authorities. The state of Jubaland has been at odds…

Northeastern State rejects extension of hydrocarbon authorization deadlines MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Northeastern State regional government has categorically rejected an extension of the authorization deadlines for hydrocarbons, which was issued by the Somali Petroleum Authority who is domiciled in Mogadishu. Over the past two years, the quest for control over mineral resources has intensified…

Al-Shabaab hit hard as army seizes key central Somali town MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali national army on Tuesday recaptured the town of Ba'adweyn from al-Shabaab militants, more than four months after the region was captured by the al-Qaida-linked group, which controls large swathes of rural central and southern parts of the country. Somalia. Al-Shabaab has used the strategic city to unleash…

The Somali military has killed 15 al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab terrorists in the central Galgaduud region, according to a statement issued on Sunday. An operation was carried out by Gorgor, the Somali special forces trained by Turkey, in the village of El Dhere, 15 kilometers south of Dhusamareb, the capital of the state of Galmuduug. In a brief statement on Twitter, the Somali army said dozens of al-Shabab terrorists were also injured in the operation. A large weapons cache was also seized during the…

Ethiopia's Somali region raises funds for victims of Tigray atrocities JIGJIGA, Ethiopia - Leaders from the Somali region of Ethiopia have launched a fundraiser aimed at raising funds for victims of atrocities in the Tigray region, as part of one of the latest humanitarian efforts to reduce loss of life possible due to hunger. In the past seven months, the Tigray region has been the scene of…

Former al-Shabaab deputy chief begins hunger strike in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Somalia - Mukhtar Robow, the former deputy head of Al-Shabaab began his third day of hunger strike in Mogadishu on Saturday, which could spark further debate over his continued house arrest, more than two years after his arrest in Baidoa , the regional administrative capital of Southwest. A government source told…