Somalia

BELED-HAWO, Somalia - Jubalan's state Security Minister Abdirashid Janan has surrendered to the government following secret talks with NISA leader Fahad Yasin. His surrender took place in the border town of Beled-Hawo in the presence of two Somali government ministers and Fahad Yassin. Janan dropped out of a large number of regional troops shortly after he was fired as Jubaland security minister due to his contact with Mogadishu. Amnesty International has called on the government to bring Janan to justice for human…

Turkey's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it was concerned about the lack of consensus between Somalia's political factions on the electoral process. "We are concerned that the lack of consensus so far among stakeholders on the electoral process in Somalia could disrupt the Somali people's expectations of the development of their country, as well as achieving peace and prosperity," the statement said. It added that Turkey has invited the Somali Federal Government (FGS) and the Federal…

Kenya is closing the world's largest refugee camp amid strained ties with Somalia NAIROBI, Kenya - The Kenyan government has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to close two key refugee camps in yet another step that could escalate the security crisis even across the country's borders. In a statement from the Secretary of the Interior, Dr.…

The United States is asking Somalia's political actors to drop the terms before the pre - election talks MOGADISHU, Somalia - In what could rattle both the opposition and the federal government in Somalia, the United States has asked the political players to drop prior conditions so that they can allow the country to find a solution to the current political stalemate in the country.…

EDITORIAL | Somalia is once again facing the prospect of a political agreement after another meeting was held on Wednesday this week at the well-guarded Mogadishu Aden Abdulle International Airport. Still, there is little, if any, optimism at this meeting. First, there was confusion after President Farmajo organized a parallel but partial meeting with his prime minister Hussein Roble, Benadir Governor Omar Filish and presidents of Hirshabelle, Southwest and Galmudug. There is no problem with the meeting if it was a…

KISMAYO, Somalia | The incumbent Jubaland security minister Abdirashid Janaan has been formally fired after switching allegiance to the Mogadishu administration, despite working closely with the regional government under President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe. Several sources had suggested to Axadlethat Janan, who hails from the Gedo region, was planning to formally move his loyalty to outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, with whom he had disagreed. And Jubaland, who apparently had intelligence reports, fired…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Water sources in Somalia are rapidly drying up when an impending drought intensifies, leaving 70 percent of families across the country without access to safe drinking water. Thousands of children are now dependent on emergency water transport and unprotected wells or are being forced to leave their homes in search of water, according to a new assessment from Save the Children. The assessment, which covered 632 households in eight regions of Somalia, shows reduced rainfall and severe water shortages…

KISMAYO, Somalia - The UN's top aid worker in Somalia has called for swift action to prevent a disaster in Somalia in the midst of an impending drought. Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary-General and UN-Residential and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said about 3.4 million people are expected to be affected by the drought in the country. Extreme dry conditions and water scarcity are reported in 34 districts; the hardest hit areas are Somaliland, Northeastern State, Galmudug,…

Somalia's foreign minister meets with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo CAIRO - Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a senior delegation from Somalia on Monday as part of their current visit to Cairo. The Somali delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohamed Abdirizak and Hassan Moallem Khalif, the Prime Minister of the…

Turkey is sending weapons to Somalia during a sensitive election period MOGADISHU, Somalia - Turkey has sent a shipment of weapons and armored vehicles to Somalia during a season of foreign interference in the country's internal political affairs. Sources familiar with the Defense Ministry told Axadlethat a Turkish cargo plane with weapons and military equipment intended to arm…