Somalia

Construction of $215M Road Linking Somalia and Ethiopia Faces Delays Over Security Issues NAIROBI, Kenya - Engineers in Kenya have hit the brakes on the construction of a major road intended to bolster connections between Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia due to escalating insecurity in the northeastern region. A spike in Al-Shabaab attacks is largely to blame. This 740-kilometer stretch of road aims to enhance regional socio-economic activities, particularly significant as Somalia recently joined the East African Community…

Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, voiced apprehension over the meddling of "external forces" potentially destabilizing an already tenuous security scenario, and feared that weapons could land in the hands of terrorists. Ali Omar, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, took to X to express surprise at Ethiopia's reservations regarding Somalia's procurement of arms for defending sovereignty and combatting terror. Amid a protracted clash with Ethiopia over a significant dam project on the Blue…

Somalia: MPs Still Battling Travel Bans at Mogadishu Airport En Route to Baidoa MOGADISHU, Somalia — Federal parliamentarians from the Southwest State of Somalia continue to face hurdles at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport, particularly when trying to fly to Baidoa. Today, MP Mohamed Sheikh Abdullahi Osman (known as Iiro) was the latest to be blocked from boarding his plane. These travel impediments have ignited a firestorm of anger and criticism from regional leaders and MPs. They argue that these actions…

Nairobi (AX) – The Italian government has urgently put a halt to processing Schengen visas for applications made through its embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia. The news broke on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, through a statement from the Italian Embassy in Nairobi. The embassy revealed, "We wish to inform you that the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi has immediately ceased the issuance of entry Schengen visas for all applications processed by the Embassy of Italy in Mogadishu. For more details, please get…

AXADLE, Somalia — Inside the regal setting of the presidential palace, President Said Abdullahi Deni of Northeastern State eagerly met with Denmark's Ambassador Steen Sonne Andersen. Their gathering zeroed in on Somalia's vast political horizons and developmental strides, nodding specifically to Northeastern State’s advancements in democratic governance and active development ventures, as per updates from the presidency. This rendezvous underscored the sustained diplomatic efforts within the region. President Deni shared…

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani had a rendezvous with Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, on a Tuesday. Their tête-à-tête took place during the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

The North African state didn't detail their aid, but it's geared towards bolstering the Somali army, honoring Egypt's commitments under a military collaboration agreement from August. That deal surfaced after Ethiopia, a landlocked country, planned to officially acknowledge North Western State of Somalia's independence from Somalia, declared 30 years ago, in exchange for port access and a military base on the Gulf of Aden. Somalia, viewing North Western State of Somalia as its own, rejected the offer. Last month, Egypt…

Though the United Kingdom and Somalia share robust diaspora connections, their trade relationship is surprisingly frail and erratic. A noticeable reflection of this relationship is seen in the Somali federal parliament, where around 15 MPs boast dual British citizenship. Additionally, the UK hosts a significant Somali diaspora—109,000 people identified as Somali in the last census, though some estimates surmise a community of around 500,000. To dive deeper, this article follows up on my earlier work, "Unlocking the Untapped…

"Peace goes beyond just ending wars. It is about nations respecting one another's sovereignty and territorial boundaries," echoed John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. President. Viewed as a foundational tenet of global diplomacy, countries worldwide aspire to these principles. However, Ethiopia's recent assertive stance towards Somalia challenges these ideals. Their attempt to annex a key Somali port is not just an economic move but a direct affront to Somalia's sovereignty and a precursor to potential regional turmoil.…

In recent months, the Horn of Africa has become a powder keg, with Egyptian troops in Somalia igniting fears of a regional war. Tensions are high, fueled by Ethiopia’s controversial sea access pact with North Western State of Somalia and long-standing Nile River disputes between Ethiopia and Egypt, sparking widespread unease. Ethiopia's leader, Abiy Ahmed, didn’t mince words, warning potential invaders to "think 10 times" before making a move. Neighboring countries, including Turkey and Djibouti, are scrambling to broker…