Somalias

HARGEISA, Somalia - Voters turned out in droves across the self-governing region of North Western State of Somalia, with over a million residents eager to choose their leader, in what could be a nail-biting race due to its competitive nature. The ruling Kulmiye party's candidate, Muse Bihi, alongside his main opponent, Abdirahman Irro, made their way to the polls on Wednesday morning, each radiating hope that they would emerge victorious when the electoral officials announce the final tallies. Bihi, who's been at the helm…

Hargeisa (AX) — A staggering one million-plus voters in the self-proclaimed Republic of North Western State of Somalia turned out early on a Wednesday morning to participate in presidential and parliamentary elections, catching the eye of both local and international onlookers.The current head honcho, President Muse Bihi Abdi of the ruling Kulmiye party, faces competition from Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro of the Waddani party and Faisal Ali Warabe from UCID. Bihi, who has been captaining the ship since 2017, recently…

North Western State of Somalia's Upcoming Election: Muse Bihi Grapples with Defections and Sovereignty Struggle HARGEISA, Somalia - Muse Bihi Abdi, the leader of North Western State of Somalia, faces considerable challenges in the upcoming election as over a million voters prepare to choose their new leader. This vote is poised to be a pivotal moment for the self-declared autonomous region, which is pushing hard for global recognition. Bihi, who once piloted jets in the Air Force, now witnesses the departure of his deputy,…

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared that the ongoing Middle East turmoil between Israel and Palestine has a potential resolution through the United Nations' acceptance of the two-state solution. He presented this as the prime strategy to resolve the regional humanitarian issues. He proposed that establishing a Palestinian state could address numerous concerns such as the relentless conflict responsible for countless civilian casualties. The Israeli military has been actively targeting…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia finds itself entangled in a thorny political conundrum, with rising tensions between the federal government and the southern state of Jubbaland over contentious electoral reforms. This firestorm has forced Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to call for an urgent cabinet meeting on Sunday, aiming to tackle what has become a seriously divisive cause. Jubbaland's leadership is vehemently opposing federal election plans and champions regional self-governance instead. At the crux of this simmering discord…

In Kismayo, voices of discord rang out as lawmakers from Jubaland took center stage, hurling stark criticism at Somalia's federal government on a Saturday. The heart of this fiery clash lies in accusations: actions that amplify political chasms and threaten the fragile unity of Somalia as a nation. As they gathered for strategic talks, these representatives aired grievances, warning that federal maneuvers are not merely steps but leaps toward deepening divisions and halting conversations essential for healing the rift…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has brought General Odowaa Yusuf Rage back to the fore, a youthful officer molded in Turkey. Rage had previously made headlines by cracking down on opposition figures in Mogadishu during the tumultuous 2021-22 elections. This reappointment unfolds against the backdrop of a political storm swirling around Villa Somalia's attempts to tweak certain constitutional passages for timing extensions—moves that might derail the ongoing battle against Al-Shabaab. Rage steps into the…

As North Western State of Somalia gears up for its presidential election, each day brings a vivid display of party colors with various political groups hosting campaign events across the region. From the bustling streets of Borama in the west, to the majestic Erigavo mountains in the northeast, and the vibrant heart of Hargeisa, towns and cities are wrapped in a kaleidoscope of political fervor.Today, you might see the green and yellow of the incumbent president Muse Bihi's Kulmiye party. Tomorrow might be the orange parade…

In a surprising twist in North Western State of Somalia's political scene, Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Saylici threw his weight behind the Waddani Party, a move that could stir up quite the ripple in the upcoming elections slated for November 13. After being in the vice-presidential saddle for what feels like a solid 14 years, Saylici stepped into the limelight in Hargeisa, where he took a shot at President Muse Bihi's regime during a news conference with Waddani's president wannabe, Abdirahman Mohamed…

In the heart of Mogadishu, a troubling situation unfolds in Somalia (AX) as the nation grapples with alarmingly low immunization and treatment rates for pneumonia and diarrhea. These two maladies are the leading killers of children under the age of five. A recent analysis by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlights that Somalia is painfully lagging in delivering essential healthcare measures, putting countless young lives at stake. The study titled "Tracking Progress Toward Pneumonia and Diarrhea…