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Responds to Heritage Institute on Research Versus Political Campaign

By Ali Mohamed Omar Saturday May 9, 2026 A Response to the Heritage Institute’s Assessment of Somalia’s Diplomacy There is a sharp line between rigorous analysis and reflexive cynicism, between constructive criticism and the kind of commentary that weakens the very institutions a country depends on abroad. When that line is crossed, scholarship can become a liability instead of a public service. A recent policy paper has asked Somalis, along with our international partners, to judge what the country has achieved during…

Dembélé goal sends Paris Saint-Germain past Bayern Munich into Champions League final

Thursday May 7, 2026 Ousmane Dembélé struck inside three minutes and Paris Saint-Germain rode that lightning-fast start to a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich on Wednesday, enough to send the defending champions back to the Champions League final. The move began in midfield with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia combining neatly with Fabián Ruiz before bursting into space. Kvaratskhelia then picked out the unmarked Dembélé, who swept the ball beneath the crossbar in the third minute of the second-leg semifinal. By the time Harry Kane…

Trump says Russia, Ukraine agree to 3-day ceasefire, prisoner swap

By  DARLENE SUPERVILLESaturday May 9, 2026 President Donald Trump said Friday that Russia and Ukraine had accepted his call for a three-day ceasefire and a prisoner swap, casting the limited pause as a possible first step toward ending a war that has dragged on for years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, both said the arrangement had been agreed to. “I asked and, President Putin agreed. President Zelenskyy agreed -- both readily,” Trump…

Prime Minister Hamza Urges Opposition to Join National Dialogue

Friday May 8, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Wednesday said Somalia’s federal government is ready to hear opposition concerns, but drew a firm line against any rhetoric or actions he said could threaten the country’s security and hard-won stability. At a press briefing in Mogadishu, Hamza took aim at recent comments by some former national leaders who have aligned themselves with the opposition, cautioning that political language should not be allowed to deepen national tensions. “I hope those…

Banadir Administration Suspends Land Demolitions, Forms Committee to Review Disputes

Friday May 8, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — In a swift response to mounting anger over demolitions and evictions in the capital, the Banadir Regional Administration has ordered a temporary halt to land reform activities in Mogadishu. Banadir administration spokesperson Salah Dheere announced the decision on Thursday during a press briefing, citing directives issued by Mogadishu Mayor and Banadir Governor Hassan Mohamed Hussein “Muungaab.” According to the administration, the move follows instructions from President Hassan Sheikh…

Somali man sentenced to 30 years for kidnapping resulting in death

Thursday May 7, 2026 Missouri (AX) — A Somali national has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after being convicted in the kidnapping of a woman whose body was later found in a roadside ditch in Missouri, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 44, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Megan B. Benton in a case that ended with the death of a woman identified in court records as J.M. According to prosecutors, J.M.’s body was discovered on July 29, 2019, near Missouri Highway 59 after a…

Somali civil society conference urges dialogue to ease political tensions

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…

US to lift Eritrea sanctions as Red Sea tensions shift alliances

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…

Hormuud Telecom, Get-Phone Launch Somalia’s Largest Smartphone Financing Program

Tuesday May 5, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — In a move that could reshape access to mobile technology in Somalia, Hormuud Telecom on Tuesday unveiled a new partnership with Get-Phone to introduce the country’s first structured smartphone financing plan. The program is designed to reach millions of low-income Somalis who have long been priced out of internet-enabled handsets, tackling what company officials described as the “affordability gap” that remains the biggest obstacle to digital inclusion. That challenge persists even…

Somali police chief meets Turkish delegation to strengthen security cooperation

Monday May 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Police Force Commander General Asad Osman Abdullahi on Monday hosted a senior Turkish delegation in Mogadishu, in a meeting centered on expanding security cooperation between the two countries. Officials said the talks were aimed at deepening bilateral ties in the security field, with a particular focus on training initiatives and efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Somali Police Force, including its elite Haramcad unit. The meeting comes amid continuing efforts…