Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Former President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, ex-PM Hassan Ali Khaire, and member of parliament Abdirahman Abdishakur fiercely criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, stating he’s pulling strings to illegitimately extend his tenure. These verbal jabs follow failed high-stakes discussions meant to soothe federal-state relations and reveal an ominous narrative in Somalia, a nation already battling the menace of Al-Shabaab. In a fiery declaration released on Monday, the opposition titans pledged a court…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey hails the start of oil and gas exploration in Somalia as a groundbreaking development, marking the beginning of a transformative period. Over the weekend, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan dispatched vessels to scour Somalia's coast for valuable resources. Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, emphasized that deploying the Oruc Reis, a research ship, would bolster Turkey’s energy advancement, pitting it against global contenders. During a ceremonial send-off,…

Jubaland Leader Creates Buzz by Exiting NCC Gathering in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Somalia – The National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting held in Mogadishu hit a snag as Jubaland's chief, Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, vigorously opposed the act of simply approving term extensions without scrutiny. He urged the leadership to uphold ethical standards and transparency. On the NCC's concluding day, Madobe was spotted at Aden Adde International Airport, making his way to Kismayo after denouncing the controversial extension proposed…

The Somali government's efforts to push back against al-Shabab are hitting snags due to the group's cunning and divisive strategies.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, has firmly expressed his disapproval of Egypt's decision to deploy troops for peacekeeping in Somalia. His criticism comes amid discussions focused on the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the envisioned African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), stirring the pot regarding Egypt's growing military ambitions in the Horn of Africa. The ongoing reevaluation of peacekeeping strategies in Somalia,…

Back when Somalia first dipped its toes into federalism, there was real hope in the air—an honest chance to stitch our country back together after endless chaos and strife. The idea of empowering regions, sharing power wisely, and acknowledging local priorities seemed a promising path. Yet, here we are, more fragmented than united. If we're to grasp why federalism collapsed, we've got to see Somalia for what it is, not just some textbook example of a system that works great in places like Germany or the USA. We ain't those…

Somalia: Dahabshiil's Walk Back on 'North Western State of Somalia' Spurs Outrage — Dahabshiil, a major player in Somali money transfers, has acquiesced to a directive from Somalia's Federal Government, removing any mention of "North Western State of Somalia" from its platforms. This decision has sparked considerable backlash in the self-declared independent region of North Western State of Somalia. To many in North Western State of Somalia, this decision feels like a deep betrayal. It follows the path taken by…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a twist of fate, Dahabshiil, a heavyweight in international financial services, decided to scrub any mention of 'North Western State of Somalia' from its platform. This decision follows strict orders from the government of Somalia. This compliance sparked a wave of negativity in North Western State of Somalia, where folks see it as a breach of their self-governance. Dahabshiil is navigating the choppy waters faced by global enterprises under similar governmental pressure. Recently, even airlines like…

Jubaland Accuses Villa Somalia of Launching an Online Assault on its Leader MOGADISHU, Somalia - The spokesperson for Jubaland's leadership, Mohamed Hassan Hiis, has made serious assertions against Villa Somalia, the official residence of the President of Somalia. He claims they are bankrolling an online smear campaign to tarnish President Ahmed Madobe's image. It's a bold accusation that brings drama into the political theatrics of the region. Hiis pointed his finger directly at Abdulkadir Ali Dige, who holds the reins as…

Mogadishu (AX) – Mohamed Hassan Hiis, the Communication Director for Jubbaland Regional State, has thrown some bold accusations at Somalia's presidency. He alleges they're bankrolling a negative campaign on social media aimed squarely at Jubbaland's head honcho, Ahmed Madobe.Hiis pointed his finger at Abdiqadir Ali Dige, Villa Somalia's communications chief, claiming he's the mastermind behind this orchestrated social media blitz to tarnish Madobe's reputation. "Mr. President, can you really bank on these delegations to…