Somalia

Somalia on the Brink of Fragmentation Under Hassan Sheikh Amid Escalating Federal Rift MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s fragile federal system faces a fresh test after Jubaland moved to strip the words “federal member” from its official title, a direct challenge to Mogadishu that echoes an earlier rupture by Puntland State and deepens a nationwide constitutional and political rift under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The move, announced Sunday by Jubaland regional Speaker Sheikh Abdi Mohamed, follows months of acrimony over…

At least 10 killed in Beledhawo amid suspected clan revenge attacks MOGADISHU — At least 10 people were killed in a series of attacks in Beledhawo town in Somalia’s Gedo region over the past several hours, local sources said Monday, in violence believed to be tied to escalating clan-related revenge killings across south and central Somalia. Residents in the Farjano neighborhood of Beledhawo district said five civilians were shot dead late Sunday. Among the victims, according to those accounts, was a sick man and four…

MOGADISHU — At least 10 people were killed in a series of attacks in Beledhawo town in Somalia’s Gedo region over the past several hours, local sources said Monday, underscoring a surge in clan-related revenge violence across parts of the country. The deadliest incident unfolded Sunday night in the Farjano neighborhood of Beledhawo district, where five civilians were shot dead. Among the victims was a sick man and four relatives — two brothers and two other close family members — who were reportedly caring for him, residents…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A strategically vital bridge near the town of Afgoye has been rebuilt months after Al-Shabaab militants destroyed it, restoring a critical artery for security forces, trade and civilian movement in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. The span, located by Sabiid and Anole villages about 35 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, was blown up in June as militants retreated amid intensified operations by Somali government troops backed by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The…

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — North Western State of Somalia authorities on Sunday rejected claims from Somalia’s federal government that talks between the two sides are under way, declaring the long-running dialogue “formally ceased” and accusing Mogadishu of “blatant interference” in its internal affairs. In a statement posted on X, North Western State of Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it wanted to “clarify that there are no ongoing talks with Somalia,” adding that Hargeisa “officially suspended…

North Western State of Somalia on edge as rival elders mobilize after Borama killings; military probes claims of foreign snipers HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — Fears of clan conflict surged Sunday in North Western State of Somalia’s western regions after rival elders in Awdal and Salal declared they were prepared for war, while the military said it is investigating reports that “foreign shooters” may have killed civilians during unrest in Borama. The warnings followed the government’s decision to cancel the Issa…

Analysis: Somalia’s counterterrorism campaign shows gains—but the next phase will test staying power Somalia’s government says it is closer to defeating terrorism than at any point in its modern history. The claim rests on a three-front strategy—military operations, financial disruption and ideological delegitimization—backed by institutional rebuilding and a push to normalize civic life. The figures, initiatives and timelines advanced by Somali authorities sketch a picture of momentum that is tangible in liberated territory…

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — Information Minister Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayaanle resigned late Saturday, saying he was tasked with delivering a “bitter decision” to allow a book launch celebrating Xeer Ciise that preceded deadly unrest in the Awdal region’s Borama town. Ayaanle said President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi assigned him to announce the authorization for the ceremony, which triggered clashes between residents and security forces that left 10 people dead, according to local authorities and community…

Analysis: Turkish Intelligence Flags ‘Unprecedented Fragility’ in Somalia as Ankara’s Stakes Deepen ANKARA, Turkey — A new intelligence academy report in Turkey warns that Somalia faces “unprecedented fragility,” identifying a confluence of security, political and institutional risks that could shape the trajectory of the country’s stability — and the future of Ankara’s most ambitious partnership in Africa. The assessment, titled “A Multidimensional Partnership Model,” acknowledges gains in the Turkey–Somalia relationship…

Somalia says it maintains direct contacts with North Western State of Somalia, seeks political solution amid rising Horn of Africa stakes MOGADISHU — Somalia’s government is engaging in direct and regular contact with authorities in North Western State of Somalia and pursuing a negotiated political settlement, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Balcad said in an interview published Saturday. Speaking to Doha News, Balcad reaffirmed the federal government’s position that North Western State of Somalia remains part…