BAIDOA, Somalia — Pressure is building in Somalia’s South West State as leading presidential contenders accuse rivals of preparing to manipulate the vote, warning they will reject any outcome they believe is tainted by fraud. In remarks to reporters late Tuesday, candidate Ilyaas Ali Nuur singled out his opponent, Aden Madobe, saying any win for Madobe under the current setup would amount to nothing less than a "theft" of the electoral process. "If the results of the South West election are not what we expect, we will step…

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The United States has pushed back against reports that it is serving as a direct mediator in talks between Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders, even as political friction grows over elections and the country’s transition process. Acting U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Justin Davis said this week that Washington is not hosting or leading any mediation between Somali political parties. Davis said U.S. officials have held discussions with both sides to better assess the…

Wednesday May 6, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali opposition leaders are preparing a mass rally in Mogadishu on May 10, calling on residents to take to the streets in protest against what they say is the forced displacement of people from the capital and to demand that families be allowed to return to their homes. Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, speaking in Mogadishu on Wednesday, said the suffering of residents — especially those uprooted from their neighborhoods — must not be dismissed. “The people of Mogadishu…

Wednesday May 6, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A three-day Somali Civil Society Conference on good governance and political stability wrapped up in Mogadishu on Wednesday, bringing together a wide spectrum of voices in a rare push for political calm and consensus. Held from May 3 to 5, the conference drew scholars, civil society umbrella organizations, women, youth, people with disabilities, media representatives, academics and traditional elders. Over the course of the sessions, participants examined Somalia’s political…

Wednesday May 6, 2026 The United States is preparing to lift sanctions on Eritrea, according to an internal US government document reviewed by Reuters, in a move that analysts say reflects the country's strategic value along the Red Sea corridor. The US has reportedly declared plans to lift sanctions imposed on Eritrea, led by President Isaias Afwerki, in 2021. / Public domain The United States is set to remove sanctions against Eritrea, according to an internal US government document seen by Reuters, a step that analysts…

by STEPHEN ASTARIKOSunday May 3, 2026 Residents of Mwingi barricade the Busy Nairobi-Garissa road in Mwingi town./STEPHEN ASTARIKO Leaders from Garissa are urging restraint as insecurity continues to stir fear and deepen friction between communities in Garissa and Kitui counties. The unrest has already begun to choke trade, disrupt travel and strain livelihoods across the region. On Monday, bus operators suspended services on the Garissa–Mwingi–Nairobi route after a string of attacks and rising tension between pastoralists…

Saturday May 2, 2026 The Kenya African National Union (KANU) has appealed for calm and restraint after a surge of insecurity along the Mwingi–Garissa Road corridor in Kitui County. KANU chairman Gideon Moi said the recent violence was a matter of serious national concern and sent condolences to the families who have lost relatives. “Resource-based disputes must never be allowed to descend into violence, senseless killings, or wanton looting,” Moi said. “The loss of life and destruction of property only deepen divisions and…

Oil prices climbed sharply today as fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East gripped markets after Iran released footage showing commandos boarding a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, with little sign of progress toward reopening the crucial shipping lane. Traffic through the strait, which before the war handled roughly a fifth of global oil output, remains effectively shut down. Iran’s seizure of two cargo ships has also underscored the challenges Washington faces in trying to secure passage through the waterway.…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia has renewed its sharp condemnation of Iran’s recent attacks on Arab countries, voicing unequivocal backing for Gulf and regional governments and urging a united front to safeguard Middle East stability. Deputy Foreign Minister Hasan Mohamed Ali set out Somalia’s position at an extraordinary ministerial session of the League of Arab States, held by videoconference on Tuesday. The meeting focused on a draft resolution put forward by Bahrain over Iran’s actions and its…

FRANKFURT — Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, said it has scrapped about 20,000 scheduled flights for the summer after a sharp rise in jet fuel costs driven by worsening tensions linked to Iran.  The carrier said the cuts are intended to contain expenses, adding that fuel prices have climbed steeply as the regional security outlook has deteriorated. The cancellations are expected to reduce consumption by roughly 40,000 tonnes of fuel, with most of the affected services concentrated on short-haul European routes. The…