talks

Somalia and Djibouti deepen defense ties as EASF ministers convene in Mogadishu MOGADISHU — Somalia and Djibouti on Wednesday reinforced their security partnership as Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi met his Djiboutian counterpart, Hassan Omar Mohamed, in the capital ahead of a key regional defense summit. The Djiboutian minister is in Mogadishu for the 35th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of Defense and Security of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), a regional forum that brings together defense…

Somalia signals deeper AU security role at Addis Ababa defense summit ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Somalia joined African Union defense and security talks this week in Addis Ababa, underscoring a bid to move from recipient of assistance to contributor in shaping the continent’s collective response to rising threats. Deputy Defense Minister Omar Ali Abdi led Somalia’s delegation to the 17th Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee on Defense, Safety and Security at AU headquarters. The forum convened…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s presidential envoy for countering extremist ideology on Thursday rejected reports that the federal government is holding secret negotiations with al-Shabab, calling the claims false and meant to mislead the public. Aweys Mohamed Omar said the government has not entered discussions with the militant group and has no plans to do so. The rumors, which circulated widely on social media and in several local outlets, suggested informal contacts were underway. Omar said the reports were designed to erode…

GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni has offered condolences to families of those killed in days of violent protests in Borama and urged dialogue after North Western State of Somalia security forces opened fire on residents demonstrating against the planned launch of the Xeer Ciise book. “I express my condolences for the violence that occurred in Borama that resulted in deaths. It was truly an inappropriate matter. I call for a solution to be sought for everything without resorting to violence,”…

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — North Western State of Somalia authorities on Sunday rejected claims from Somalia’s federal government that talks between the two sides are under way, declaring the long-running dialogue “formally ceased” and accusing Mogadishu of “blatant interference” in its internal affairs. In a statement posted on X, North Western State of Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it wanted to “clarify that there are no ongoing talks with Somalia,” adding that Hargeisa “officially suspended…

Trump, Canada and Mexico meet at World Cup draw to pledge further work on CUSMA amid tensions WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada's Mark Carney on the sidelines of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington on Thursday, a 45-minute encounter officials said was partly aimed at the future of the North American free trade arrangement. "The three leaders met for approximately 45 minutes," Audrey Champoux, a spokesperson for Carney, said in an email. "They've agreed…

Somalia says it maintains direct contacts with North Western State of Somalia, seeks political solution amid rising Horn of Africa stakes MOGADISHU — Somalia’s government is engaging in direct and regular contact with authorities in North Western State of Somalia and pursuing a negotiated political settlement, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar Balcad said in an interview published Saturday. Speaking to Doha News, Balcad reaffirmed the federal government’s position that North Western State of Somalia remains part…

MIAMI — U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held two days of “productive” talks with Ukraine’s senior negotiator Rustem Umerov in Miami and will meet again, U.S. officials said Friday, as the delegation and Ukrainian leaders pressed to translate recent diplomacy with Moscow into a durable cease-fire. Witkoff, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week alongside President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Kushner held what the State Department and Ukrainian officials described as “constructive…

DOHA, Qatar — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Doha on Friday to attend the Doha Forum, a global platform that convenes leaders and experts to debate international security, shifting geopolitical dynamics and development cooperation. His visit is expected to include high-level talks with Qatar’s leadership and engagement with international partners on Somalia’s priorities. Upon landing at Hamad International Airport, Mohamud was welcomed by senior Qatari officials, according to Somali authorities. Officials…

Ukraine negotiators and U.S. officials are holding fresh talks in Miami on a Washington-backed plan to end Russia’s invasion, a Kyiv adviser said, as behind-the-scenes diplomacy intensifies over proposals that would require territorial concessions and stop short of NATO membership. The meeting was scheduled to begin in Florida this week with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, listed as participants, though U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed whether an…