Somalia

Somali Leaders Hold Secretive Talks Over Ethiopian Troops MOGADISHU, Somalia — Amid swirling tensions around Ethiopian military presence, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in a fragile negotiation with Abdiaziz Laftagareen, the president of Somalia's Southwest State, insiders disclosed Tuesday. The high-stakes meeting, shrouded in secrecy, seeks to tackle the thorny issue of Ethiopian soldiers jostling around Somalia's sovereignty and regional tranquility. This happens against the backdrop of geopolitical plays involving…

EU Allocates $9 Million to Bolster Somalia’s Budget The European Union (EU) has committed $9 million to aid Somalia’s federal budget. This cash injection aims to address shortfalls encountered during budget drafting. According to an EU statement, the funding comes in recognition of Somalia’s strides in economic stabilization and financial reform, leading to improved service delivery. The EU emphasizes that this contribution is part of the State and Resilience Building Contract (SRBC), which seeks to enhance the Somali…

Somalia Criticizes Strike on UAE Envoy's Residence in Sudan Expressing strong disapproval, Somalia blasted the assault on the home of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador in Khartoum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the act "unfortunate and disrespectful" in their fresh communication. They emphasized that the strike violated diplomatic etiquette and warned that it could rattle ties among Arab League nations, which includes Somalia. The communiqué stressed the need to uphold the Vienna Convention by…

FILE - U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, at the helm of U.S. Africa Command, partakes in a military drill in Agadir, Morocco, May 30, 2024. The Islamic State in Somalia has doubled its strength in the past year, reveals the head of U.S. Africa Command in a chat with VOA. “Northern Somalia is on my radar due to the uptick in ISIS numbers,” AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley mentioned in a candid interview, using the acronym for the terrorist group. Langley refrained from disclosing the U.S.'s exact figures on…

--- ## Ethiopia Silent on Djibouti's Proposal for Easing Tensions with Somalia NAIROBI, Kenya - Over a month has trickled by, and Ethiopia has yet to respond to Djibouti's proposal, which aims to ease the strained relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. This initiative, endorsed by multiple international actors, is gaining momentum. Djibouti's Foreign Affairs minister, Mohamoud Ali Youssouf, announced last month that Djibouti is poised to resolve the maritime dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia. He mentioned that…

Mogadishu (AX) – On Monday, Somali Minister of Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, and his Turkmenistan counterpart, J. Gurbandeldiyev, connected via video call, discussing ways to bolster ties in education, culture, and tech sectors. Fathudin Ali Muhammad, the Somali Ambassador to Turkmenistan residing in Ankara, took part in the session. The main focus was on fostering collaboration and promoting university-level education between the two countries. Turkmenistan's Minister of Education applauded Somalia's enthusiasm…

Somali Telecom Firms Shine in Crisis Handling with Cutting-Edge Alert Systems NAIROBI, Kenya - In the evolving sphere of emergency responses, Somalia's telecom industry has emerged as a key player through cutting-edge warning systems. This was underscored at the National Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP) held in Nairobi, Kenya. From September 23 to 27, a unified initiative brought together Somalia's National Communications Authority (NCA), the International…

US Raises Alarm Over Growing Islamic State in Northern Somalia PENTAGON — The Islamic State's presence in Somalia has surged almost twofold over the past year, according to the chief of U.S. Africa Command. “Northern Somalia's situation is increasingly worrisome with ISIS numbers on the rise,” Gen. Michael Langley, AFRICOM commander, shared in an exclusive with VOA. While Langley refrained from specifying the exact number of fighters, he noted the group's size had approximately "doubled" in the last…

Mogadishu (AX) – Djibouti's intriguing suggestion as a potential remedy for the ongoing diplomatic rift between Somalia and Ethiopia remains unanswered by Ethiopia, Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf disclosed. In a tête-à-tête with VOA, Youssouf shared that the ball is still in Ethiopia’s court regarding the management and use of the Tojorah port, nestled in Djibouti's northern expanse. This port has been proposed by Djibouti as an alternate maritime gateway for landlocked Ethiopia, heavily dependent on…

At a heartfelt farewell ceremony, AFAD's chief Okay Memis shared that since 2016, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s guidance, over 60,000 tons of aid have been sent to East Africa from Türkiye, a region often battered by natural calamities like drought, famine, floods, and cyclones. Memis underscored Türkiye’s unwavering dedication to assisting those in need, both domestically and internationally, shining a light on the invaluable efforts of non-profits and generous individuals. Post-speeches, a vessel brimming with…