Territorial

Erdogan heads to UAE, Ethiopia as Turkey presses Gaza cease-fire and backs Somalia’s unity Turkey sharpens Gulf trade push while asserting influence in the Horn of Africa amid tensions over North Western State of Somalia recognition Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 MOGADISHU — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to visit the United Arab Emirates on Monday before traveling to Ethiopia on Tuesday, with Gaza and Somalia’s territorial integrity expected to anchor a two-stop tour aimed at entwining economic outreach with…

The Kremlin said U.S.-brokered trilateral talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the United Arab Emirates over the weekend were held in a “constructive spirit,” but cautioned that no early breakthrough should be expected as core territorial disputes remain unresolved. “It would be a mistake to expect any significant results from the initial contacts,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, calling the opening exchanges positive while adding there was “significant work ahead.” He underscored that…

NEW DELHI — India on Friday reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, distancing itself from growing regional moves to recognize North Western State of Somalia amid rising tensions in the Horn of Africa. Responding to questions at a routine press briefing about the self-declared North Western State of Somalia administration, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored New Delhi’s long-held position in favor of Somalia’s unity. “India has longstanding…

MOGADISHU — The European Union on Saturday said respecting Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity is “key to the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa,” after Israel recognized the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state a day earlier. In a statement, the EU said it “reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” in line with Somalia’s Constitution and the charters of the African Union…

Somalia’s push for direct vote exposes fault lines between Mogadishu and the regions When Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre insists Somalia is moving away from "lawmakers appointed by clan elders or regional administrations" toward a system in which "representatives elected directly by the Somali people," he is sketching a future that is both aspirational and deeply contested. The proposal — to replace a decades-old, clan-based indirect model with universal suffrage and to shift governance toward a presidential system — has…

"Ethiopia's bid to annex a segment of Somalia, ostensibly to secure sea access, is both illegal and unwarranted," he asserted. "Comparable pacts have been forged by other nations. Thus, Somalia's government stirring up antagonism to mask its internal political strife is uncalled for," he remarked to the General Assembly. Faced with Ethiopia's design, Somalia has vowed to expel Ethiopian troops integrated into an African Union mission fighting Al-Shabaab militants since 2007. Mogadishu has brokered a defense…

The North African state didn't detail their aid, but it's geared towards bolstering the Somali army, honoring Egypt's commitments under a military collaboration agreement from August. That deal surfaced after Ethiopia, a landlocked country, planned to officially acknowledge North Western State of Somalia's independence from Somalia, declared 30 years ago, in exchange for port access and a military base on the Gulf of Aden. Somalia, viewing North Western State of Somalia as its own, rejected the offer. Last month, Egypt…

Las Anod (AX) – The provisional leadership of SSC-Khatumo has leveled serious accusations against the Northeastern State of Somalia, alleging that their actions infringe on SSC-Khatumo's territory. They branded this move as a blatant affront to their governance. On Tuesday, Najib Barkhadle Warsame, the Minister of Information for SSC-Khatumo, delivered a stern message condemning Northeastern State's territorial assertions. "It’s outrageous for Northeastern State to stake a claim on land managed by SSC-Khatumo. This is a…

Somali PM Rejects Ethiopia’s Maritime Claims Prime Minister Hamza has firmly dismissed Ethiopia's attempts to gain control over Somali maritime waters, either through coercion or agreements with Somaliland. Hamza stated emphatically, "If Ethiopia thinks they can snatch our waters or make us bow to deals they've struck with Somaliland, they've got another thing coming." Hamza asserted Somalia's sovereign right to forge alliances that serve its national interests. He brushed off concerns that such alliances are intended to…

Somali UN Envoy Implores AU Troops to Respect International Norms and Somalia's Borders UNITED NATIONS (AX) — Somalia's voice at the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, urged African Union troop-contributing nations to rigorously adhere to global laws and honor Somalia’s borders. Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Osman underscored the importance of aligning foreign military actions with regional agreements to maintain stability. "Failing to respect Somalia's borders can be perceived as aggression," Osman…