Somalia

In the Shadows of Conflict: Somalia's Ongoing Battle Against Terrorism As the sun rises over the arid landscapes of Somalia, a dual battle rages on—one against the unforgiving elements of nature and the other against the relentless tide of terrorism. The struggle to fortify this fragile nation against factions like Al-Shabaab and ISIS has intensified, drawing not just the resolve of local forces but also the strategic intervention of international allies, particularly the United States. Demonstrating Resilience The U.S.…

Egyptian Troops Deploy to Somalia: A New Chapter in Regional Dynamics MOGADISHU, Somalia – As the sun rises over the verdant hills of Middle Shabelle, a new chapter is unfolding in Somalia's ongoing battle against the militant group Al-Shabaab. Egyptian troops have joined the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM) to help restore peace in a region that has long felt the heavy hand of violence. This moment, however, carries complexities that resonate far beyond the borders of Somalia as geopolitical…

Somalia Executes Two Convicted al-Shabaab Members as Military Court Steps Up Death Sentences Somalia’s military court on Monday executed two men convicted of belonging to al-Shabaab and participating in targeted killings and ambushes in Mogadishu, in the latest sign that authorities are accelerating capital punishments amid an ongoing offensive against the extremist group. The men were identified by the court as Ibrahim Adan Madeey and Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known by the noms de guerre “Maaxi” and “Yoonis.” The…

Analysis: Aid Spat Between Northeastern State and Mogadishu Exposes Fragile Federal Ties In Somalia’s rugged northeast, where the wind-carved ridges of the Cal Miskaad range fall to the sea, a familiar political quarrel is spilling into the humanitarian lane. Northeastern State officials and Somalia’s national disaster agency are trading accusations over who blocked lifesaving support to freshly secured areas — and why. It’s a dispute with real consequences for wounded soldiers, displaced families and the credibility of a…

US-Backed Airstrikes Hit Suspected al‑Shabaab Sites in Central Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia — A series of powerful airstrikes struck suspected al‑Shabaab hideouts at the edge of Somalia’s Galgaduud and Middle Shabelle regions over the weekend, according to local security sources and residents, in a fresh show of force that underscores the relentless cat‑and‑mouse campaign against the al‑Qaida‑linked insurgency. Details from the remote frontline remain sketchy. But multiple sources described precision strikes on Hareer…

Somalia and Djibouti’s Quiet Pact Signals a Louder Message for the Horn of Africa MOGADISHU — In a capital accustomed to headlines about conflict and crisis, a quieter story unfolded this weekend: Somalia and Djibouti signed a memorandum of understanding to hold regular political consultations. On paper, it’s simple—two neighbors pledging to talk more, and to make that dialogue routine rather than reactive. In the Horn of Africa, that modest promise can carry real weight. The agreement, inked in Mogadishu by Somalia’s…

Somalia and Egypt Edge Closer on Defense — With the Nile Dispute in the Background MOGADISHU — Around a long wooden table inside Somalia’s Ministry of Defense, a quiet but consequential conversation unfolded this week. Somalia’s deputy defense minister and senior generals received Egypt’s defense attaché, Col. Ahmed Fathi Abdelsatar Al-Husseini, to discuss tighter military cooperation: more joint training, deeper coordination, and, according to Somali officials, a possible Egyptian role within the African Union’s security…

Heavy Airstrikes Hit Al-Shabaab on Galgadud–Middle Shabelle Frontier, Casualties Unclear Powerful airstrikes pounded suspected Al-Shabaab positions late Friday along the border between Somalia’s Galgadud and Middle Shabelle regions, flattening militant compounds and sending shockwaves across nearby villages, according to residents who described a night lit by flashes and thunderous detonations. There was no immediate word on casualties, and Somali authorities had not issued a statement by early Saturday. What happened The…

North Western State of Somalia police warn against attacks on Ethiopian migrants after Hargeisa incident Hargeisa, North Western State of Somalia — Police in the North Western State of Somalia capital moved quickly on Saturday to warn would-be vigilantes that anyone who harms Ethiopian nationals will be prosecuted after a group of youths attacked Ethiopian migrants in the city. Authorities said no serious injuries were reported, but the incident has unsettled a city that prides itself on order and relative calm. What…

Egypt’s troop deployment to Somalia is legal — and a spark in an increasingly combustible region When Cairo announced in late August that Egyptian soldiers would join the African Union’s stabilization mission in Somalia, the move was presented as a routine piece of security cooperation: units trained in Egypt were to be deployed to the central and southern frontlines — Hiiraan, Lower Shabelle and Gedo — to help Somali forces press the fight against al-Shabab. But beneath the procedural language lies a story about shifting…