Somalias

BOSASO, Somalia: US Military's Calculated Airstrikes in Northeastern State In an audacious maneuver, the US Africa Command recently executed a series of rare airstrikes against ISIS targets in Northeastern State, Somalia. This marks perhaps only the second recorded instance of the command confronting Islamist extremists in the region, resulting in the demise of multiple militants, including some key figures. Back in May 2024, a significant operation was initiated, aiming to neutralize Abdulkadir Mumin,…

What do a leader of a North African nation and the foreign affairs minister of a small East African country have in common? Quite a lot, it seems. On a recent Sunday in the bustling heart of Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, convened to deliberate on the pressing issues facing Somalia and the collective endeavors required to restore tranquility and stability in the Horn of Africa. A communiqué from the Egyptian presidency underscored the…

In the bustling heart of Mogadishu, an emblem of resilience and endurance, an extraordinary meeting unfolded. On a Sunday that would quietly mark another chapter in Somalia's unfolding narrative, General Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyano, at the helm of the Somali Police Force, found himself in earnest discourse with Michael Nithavrianakis, the UK Ambassador to Somalia. What were they pondering over this crisp afternoon? The labyrinthine intricacies of reinforcing security collaboration and exhilarant counter-terrorism strategies.…

Mogadishu (AX) — A series of U.S. airstrikes, seasoned in precision and resolve, have indelibly altered the tangled landscape of the Al Miskaad Mountains in Somalia. The result: the elimination of senior Islamic State (ISIS) operatives, as announced by local dignitaries on a reflective Sunday morning. Conducted with the F/A-18 jets roaring into action from the decks of the steadfast USS Harry S. Truman, stationed strategically in the Red Sea, these airstrikes uncovered refuges buried deep within the rocky veins of the Golis…

Recently, while seated in a sun-dappled room in Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia spoke with a quiet intensity that comes from years spent grappling with the formidable al-Shabab insurgency. At 69, Mohamud stands at the helm during a turbulent period, his tenure marked by a relentless fight against one of the world's most dangerous terror groups. The question on everyone's mind: how can the United States, a distant though powerful ally, continue to play a crucial role in this struggle? Mohamud's…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - On a Friday evening, beneath the darkening sky, the presidential guards stationed at Villa Somalia found themselves confronting an unexpected mechanical intruder. With a hum resonating overhead, an unauthorized drone zoomed over the president's official residence, casting shadows of uncertainty and potential peril. Two drones were actually sighted; although the security team's keen eyes quickly locked onto and neutralized one, the origins of these rogue devices remain shrouded in mystery. The prompt and…

Year 2024: a monumental chapter etched into Somalia’s modern tapestry—a year where sovereignty hung delicately by a thread. As fireworks painted the sky on New Year’s Day, Ethiopia and North Western State of Somalia clandestinely inked a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement, granting Ethiopia access to a 19-kilometer stretch of North Western State of Somalia’s coast, bypassed Somalia’s federal heartbeat. Was this a simple diplomatic maneuver, or a disruptive gambit? Ethiopia, in a tantalizing exchange, hinted at…

Somali President on U.S. Commitment in Fight Against al-Shabab Why should the United States maintain its involvement in the complex struggle against al-Shabab? To answer this question requires an understanding of Somalia's geopolitical realities, economic imperatives, and, perhaps, a dose of human empathy. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, a stalwart leader with unmistakable resolve, finds himself at the helm of a nation riddled with challenges. Al-Shabab, an insidious al-Qaeda affiliate, lurks…

BOSASO, Somalia — Can one man's resolve turn the tide against terror? In the heart of Northeastern State, a region often shrouded in the relentless noise of strife, President Saciid Cabdullahi Deni has emerged as a beacon of defiance against the insidious spread of ISIS. Unlike other theater commanders, Deni's campaign does not bask in the luxury of extensive international battalions or promised aid from the Somali federal pyramid. Instead, it thrives on something more subtle, more primal — the undying grit…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a captivating move toward bolstering local governance, the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) of Somalia recently declared its intent to conduct Local Council Elections in June. This electoral endeavor, spanning pivotal regions like Gedo and Khaatumo, forms a cornerstone of the federal government's broader strategy for decentralization. Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, the NIEC chairperson, unveiled an interesting array of details in a dialogue with Somali National Television. He indicated that…