Somalias

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday implicitly rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Somalia “has no functioning government,” urging foreign partners to judge the country by its present progress rather than its past chaos. Speaking at the Leadership and Innovation Forum, Mohamud said many outside actors still default to a narrative of failure that no longer reflects Somalia’s current trajectory. “Many people still look down on us, judging Somalia only by what happened before and…

Germany formally recognizes Somali diplomatic passports for entry and residence MOGADISHU, Somalia — Germany has officially recognized the Somali diplomatic passport for entry and residence, a decision published in the German Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) on Dec. 1, 2025, in a move Somali officials hailed as a milestone for the country’s travel document credibility and its international mobility. The designation gives full official status to Somalia’s diplomatic passport at German borders and for residence purposes,…

DHUSAMAREB, Somalia — The United Nations has handed over a fortified compound in Dhusamareb, the regional capital of Galmudug, to the state government as the UN prepares to wind down its political footprint in Somalia. The facility — built by the UN for staff operations at the Hero Drogo site — has been transferred to the Galmudug administration led by Ahmed Abdi Kariye, widely known as Qoor Qoor. UN representative James Swan said the organization had “constructed and equipped the compound for operations” in Galmudug but…

Galmudug rejects move by president’s party to set up district offices

KISMAAYO, Somalia — Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, widely known as Ahmed Madobe, hosted U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard H. Riley in Kismayo on Friday for talks centered on security coordination and U.S.-supported development projects, according to regional officials. The working visit brought together senior members of the Jubaland administration, including the Interior Minister and the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. Participants discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and align…

BAIDOA, Somalia — South West State’s minister of security on Sunday urged the federal government to hand over federal legislator Dahir Amiin Jeesow to the regional administration to face trial over allegations he helped instigate deadly clan clashes in Lower Shabelle. Speaking to reporters in Baidoa, Security Minister Hassan Abdukadir accused the member of parliament of acting as a spoiler in Walanweyn district and across parts of the Lower Shabelle region, where a recent surge of inter-clan violence has strained local…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s push toward a unified, secure and inclusive digital identity gathered fresh momentum as government leaders, development partners and technology stakeholders mapped the next phase of the national ID rollout at the 2nd Somali National ID Conference, held Nov. 24-25 in the capital. Convened by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, the conference underscored how the country’s digital ID program has…

BAIDOA, Somalia — South West State President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has condemned the spread of illegal checkpoints across the region, calling them a major threat to civilian movement and safety and urging communities to back justice and stabilization efforts. Laftagareen said armed individuals obstructing travelers on public roads is “unacceptable,” especially as South West State navigates severe drought and recurring conflict that continue to disrupt livelihoods and strain security. “It is unacceptable…

LUANDA, Angola — The AU–EU summit in Luanda on Nov. 24–25 marked 25 years of a formal partnership, and it delivered the familiar choreography: a joint declaration, carefully worded communiqués, promises to deepen cooperation on trade, climate, migration and security. For Somalia — confronting a stubborn insurgency, maritime insecurity and a pressing need for jobs — the measure of success is not rhetoric but whether Africa and Europe can strike a new, more equal bargain that translates summit language into action. The…

Somalia’s growth is hitting an avoidable ceiling: the price and reliability of electricity. The country’s telecom sector—quietly swapping diesel generators for sunlight—offers a clear, local blueprint for how to lower costs, cut emissions and power a modern economy. If energy is the missing link, renewables are the bridge.