Somalia

Somalia opens high-level talks with opposition Future Council on elections and constitution MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government and the Somali Future Council formally opened high-level talks in Mogadishu on Wednesday, launching a long-anticipated push to resolve deep disputes over elections and constitutional reform amid weeks of rising political tension. The meeting marked the first structured engagement in recent weeks between Villa Somalia and the opposition alliance, following a conciliatory luncheon hosted…

Erdogan tells Ethiopia it would gain nothing from recognizing North Western State of Somalia ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during an official visit to Addis Ababa that Ethiopia would gain no benefit from recognizing North Western State of Somalia, underscoring Ankara’s support for Somalia’s territorial integrity. Erdogan said he conveyed the message directly to Abiy, arguing that any formal move to recognize the self-declared republic would not serve…

Somalia cleared to issue East African Community passports, boosting regional mobility Wednesday February 18, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia has received formal approval to issue East African Community (EAC) passports, a key step in the country’s regional integration and a move officials say will ease cross-border travel for Somali citizens across the bloc. The authorization was conveyed in an official letter presented by Somalia’s ambassador to Tanzania and permanent representative to the EAC, Ilyas Ali Hassan. He handed…

Erdogan says Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition would not benefit region as Türkiye, Ethiopia expand ties ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned that Israel’s move to recognize North Western State of Somalia would not benefit North Western State of Somalia or the wider Horn of Africa, urging regional governments to resolve disputes without opening the door to foreign power rivalries. “I would like to reiterate that Israel’s recognition of North Western State of…

Qatar’s emir backs Somalia’s security, territorial integrity in call with President Mohamud MOGADISHU — Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday reaffirmed Doha’s support for Somalia’s security and territorial integrity during a phone call with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, according to Somali and Qatari officials. Officials said the leaders reviewed recent developments and discussed efforts to strengthen security, stabilize the country and preserve the unity of Somali territory. Sheikh Tamim conveyed…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s foreign minister said the United Arab Emirates has halted its security assistance to the Horn of Africa nation after Mogadishu formally withdrew from bilateral agreements with Abu Dhabi. Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali told reporters the Emirati program had focused on Somalia’s military and security institutions and no longer had a legal or political framework after the government’s move to scrap the pacts. “Most of the support provided by the UAE was concentrated in the security sector. Since the…

Turkey sends Cagri Bey drilling ship to Somalia in first offshore mission abroad MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has dispatched its deep-sea drilling vessel Cagri Bey to Somali waters, launching Ankara’s first offshore energy exploration campaign outside its own maritime zone, officials from both countries said Sunday. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar called the deployment a “historic moment” for Turkey’s oil and gas strategy as the ship departed Tasucu port in the southern province of Mersin. The vessel is expected to reach…

Somalia, Tanzania sign migration and travel pact to ease visas, bolster border security Monday February 16, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somalia and Tanzania have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation on migration management and make travel easier between the two countries, officials said. The agreement was signed by Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, known as Fartaag, and Tanzania’s Minister of Home Affairs, Patrobas Paschal Katambi. Senior immigration officials from both governments…

AU reaffirms Somalia’s sovereignty, condemns Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The African Union reaffirmed its full support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia on Sunday, issuing a sharp rebuke to what it called Israel’s unilateral recognition of North Western State of Somalia. In a joint communiqué at the close of the AU’s annual summit in Addis Ababa, member states warned that any unilateral recognition that contravenes the founding principles of the…

Leaked Liberal immigration plan aimed to ban migrants from conflict-held regions across 13 countries and sharply tighten visa rules, but the party’s former shadow immigration minister says he never proposed or agreed to the measures and has “serious concerns.” The draft was prepared under ousted Liberal leader Sussan Ley and slated for release on Feb. 16 after an earlier delay following the Bondi terror attack. It was not taken to shadow cabinet before last week’s leadership change, and new Opposition Leader Angus Taylor had…