Somalia

MOGADISHU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) — Over 342,000 individuals have been uprooted from their homes in Somalia since January 2024, thrust into uncertainty by conflict, climate woes, and rampant insecurity, as per the latest briefing from the United Nations refugee agency. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-led Protection and Monitoring Returns Network disclosed that a significant 23,000 were displaced just in August. Among these, 43 percent were forced to flee due to clashes, instability, and natural calamities like…

NAIROBI, Kenya - Amidst escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia regarding breaches of sovereignty, Addis Ababa has firmly opposed Egypt’s involvement in Somalia’s peacekeeping mission, sowing further discord. Somalia has thrown its support behind Egypt to lead the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is set to supplant the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) come January 2025, effectively excluding Ethiopia from the framework. Tarekegn Bululta, Ethiopia's State…

In a sweeping view, the Mogadishu Sea Port stands with an Egyptian warship having recently docked, unloading a significant cache of weapons. This event took place in Mogadishu, Somalia, on September 23, 2024. © REUTERS/Feisal Omar. For licensing, visit Purchase Licensing Rights. On Tuesday, Somalia angrily pointed fingers at Ethiopia, accusing it of secretly smuggling arms. The backdrop of this accusation involves fears that these weapons might fall into the hands of Islamist militants amid the turmoil in the Horn of…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Astke Selassie, has voiced alarming concerns over recent influxes of arms heading to Somalia. He cautioned that these weapons might escalate regional conflicts and potentially be seized by terrorist factions, as reported by Ethiopia's state news agency on Tuesday. A wave of worry emerged after an Egyptian warship docked in Mogadishu, offloading a hefty load of heavy weaponry. This marks the second significant arms shipment to Somalia in just one month. This follows a…

Amid growing military camaraderie with Mogadishu, Cairo has issued a travel alert citing security fears.Egypt has cautioned its citizens against traveling to North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared but internationally unrecognized region of Somalia, due to mounting safety concerns. The tension in the Horn of Africa continues to escalate.Cairo has been backing Somalia politically and militarily amid its clash with North Western State of Somalia, which proclaimed independence in 1991 but hasn't been recognized…

CAIRO, Egypt – Military representatives in Somalia announced the arrival of an Egyptian naval vessel loaded with a stockpile that includes anti-aircraft guns and artillery. This cache reached Somali shores after both nations inked a defense pact recently. This agreement has stirred concerns in Ethiopia, which shares a rocky relationship with both Egypt and Somalia. Tensions spiked when Ethiopia formed an accord with North Western State of Somalia, giving it 20 kilometers of Red Sea access in return for…

Tensions have significantly intensified between Ethiopia and Somalia, particularly following Ethiopia's formal engagement earlier this year with the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland—an entity that Somalia adamantly contests. The deal grants Ethiopia access to Somaliland's ports in exchange for a nod of political recognition from this landlocked regional power. In response to this maneuver, Somalia expressed vehement opposition, labeling Ethiopia's actions as an unwelcome intrusion into its internal matters.…

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The shipment reinforces "Egypt's lasting commitment to bolstering Somalia's national capabilities, aligning with the Somali people's aspirations for security, stability, and development," the ministry stated in its declaration. Back in August, Egypt dispatched its first batch of military aid to Somalia in over forty years. This year, the relationship between Egypt and Somalia has strengthened, largely due to their mutual suspicion of Ethiopia. This led Cairo to send multiple plane loads of weapons to Mogadishu, Somalia's…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia's Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi recently engaged in diplomatic talks with Egypt and Eritrea during the UNGA, aiming to fortify alliances amid escalating regional tensions with Ethiopia. North Western State of Somalia—a territory that has proclaimed independence—sits at the epicenter of ongoing diplomatic strife between Somalia and Ethiopia. Despite its lack of international recognition, North Western State of Somalia's prime position along the Gulf of Aden captures the interest of regional…