state

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Irro is attending the World Governments Summit in Dubai for the second consecutive year, joining global leaders as they debate the future of governance, technological innovation and public policy. Irro’s participation comes as relations between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates face renewed strain. Somalia has said it canceled agreements with Abu Dhabi following claims by Israel that it had recognized North Western State of Somalia as an…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Puntland State authorities on Tuesday executed a woman convicted of murdering a 14-year-old girl after the victim’s family chose retributive justice under Islamic law, a rare application of the death penalty against a woman in the semi-autonomous region. Officials said the execution was carried out in Galkacyo, a divided city in central Somalia, after courts found Hodan Mohamud guilty of killing Sabirin Saylaan Abdille, a minor who had been working as a domestic helper. Judges ruled that Sabirin died as…

Puntland State executes woman for torture-murder of 14-year-old domestic worker in Galkayo GALKAYO, Somalia — Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland State state on Tuesday executed Hodan Mohamud by firing squad after a court convicted her of the prolonged torture and murder of 14-year-old domestic worker Sabirin Saylaan Abdille. The court enforced Qisas — retributive justice under Islamic law — at the request of the victim’s family, who rejected offers of Diyo, or blood compensation. Prosecutors said Abdille, a minor from a poor…

Mogadishu — Yemen’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has accused Eritrean forces and Somalia’s Puntland State administration of deadly attacks, arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions targeting Yemeni fishermen operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In a statement issued Monday, the ministry said Eritrean forces carried out a direct armed assault on civilian fishermen working in Yemen’s territorial waters in the Red Sea. The incident, according to the ministry, involved multiple types of…

North Western State of Somalia leader departs for UAE, seeks deeper ties as regional stakes rise HARGEISA, Somalia — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Cirro, left for the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday at the head of a high-level delegation that includes cabinet ministers and senior advisers, his office said, in a visit aimed at deepening economic and political ties with Abu Dhabi. Abdullahi is traveling at the formal invitation of the UAE government and is expected to attend a…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Jubaland and Puntland State regional administrations on Sunday accused the federal government of blocking planes carrying their soldiers and presidential security guards from landing in the capital, an escalation that threatens a planned high-level consultative conference on elections. Both regional states said aircraft transporting advance delegations and security details were ordered to turn back shortly before landing at Aden Adde International Airport. The orders, they said, were unsafe, politically…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Puntland State and Jubaland on Sunday accused Somalia’s federal government of endangering their delegations and security personnel after aircraft carrying troops and advance officials were ordered to turn back en route to Mogadishu. In separate statements, the two Federal Member States condemned what they said was a federal government decision to deny air clearance to planes transporting security teams ahead of the arrival of Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubaland President Ahmed…

Arkia awaits renewal to fly over Somalia, warns of possible reroute for Thailand flights MOGADISHU — Israeli carrier Arkia says it has not yet received renewed authorization to cross Somali airspace for February, a delay that could force the airline to reroute its Thailand services if approval does not arrive in time. In a statement Thursday, Arkia said the matter stems from routine international aviation procedures that require periodic renewal of overflight permits. “As of now, Arkia has not yet received the renewal of the…

MOGADISHU — Israeli carrier Arkia says it has not yet received renewed authorization to fly over Somali airspace when its current permit expires at the end of January, a delay that could force the airline to reroute Tel Aviv–Thailand services if clearance is not granted in time. In a statement Thursday, Arkia linked the issue to routine international procedures requiring periodic renewal of overflight permits. “As of now, Arkia has not yet received the renewal of the periodic permit for air transit over Somalia for…

Tuesday January 27, 2026 DAVOS, Switzerland — Eric Trump has denied holding talks or discussing port investments with North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi after reports and a widely shared photo suggested the pair met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. A spokesperson for Trump said Abdullahi attended a dinner reception where the U.S. president’s son was present, but emphasized there was no private meeting. “At no point did Eric Trump ever have a meeting with the North…