Monday April 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has renewed calls for political talks in Somalia, urging the country’s traditional elders to step into the center of efforts to ease the worsening standoff. In a statement released Saturday, Farmaajo said the elders could help narrow the rift and reduce the risk of further turmoil, joining similar appeals made by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “The presidents’ call highlights the important role that…

Monday April 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — As Somalia grapples with a widening political standoff, civil society groups are urging that traditional elders be brought to the forefront of efforts to bridge the divide between the federal government and opposition leaders. At a press conference in Mogadishu on Sunday, Osman Moalim Shatax, chairman of a coalition of non-state actors, said civil society supports recent appeals from both government and opposition figures for elders to take part in mediation. Shatax said the country’s…

by Maxwell Amunga Monday April 27, 2026 Emergency responders at the aircraft accident scene on March 5, 2024 (left) and parts of the plane after the accident. Photo Aviation News Kenya has launched a formal inquiry into a string of aircraft accidents involving its planes in Somalia and South Sudan, with Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir appointing a special investigation team to dig into the incidents. CS Chirchir gazetted the Aircraft Accident Investigation Team in a notice dated April 24, relying on the…

By  ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL BALSAMOMonday April 27, 2026 Minutes before gunfire erupted outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the man accused in the attack sent family members a message that read less like a note and more like a manifesto — one that blasted Trump administration policies, called himself a “Friendly Federal Assassin” and now stands out as a possible clue to a politically charged motive, according to a message reviewed by The Associated Press. The writings, sent…

Ben SmeeSunday April 26, 2026 A night meant to celebrate Washington’s political press corps was abruptly thrown into chaos when gunfire broke out outside the White House correspondents dinner, prompting global concern and swift condemnation from world leaders. US president Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, officials and journalists were hurried out of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday after shots were heard from the hotel lobby. An armed man later tried to force his way into the event. Canadian prime…

Sunday April 26, 2026 FC Barcelona tightened its grip on the La Liga race on Saturday, grinding out a 2-0 victory at Getafe to stretch its lead over Real Madrid to 11 points with just 18 still on offer. For long spells, the match offered little in the way of clear chances. That changed in first-half stoppage time, when Fermin Lopez pierced the Getafe back line and finished past David Soria to break the deadlock. Barcelona then managed the contest with composure after the interval against a Getafe side that had lost much of…

Sunday April 26, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali met with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, in Muscat on Saturday for talks aimed at broadening bilateral ties and deepening cooperation in several priority areas. The discussions, held at the Omani Foreign Ministry headquarters, came during Abdisalam’s official visit to Oman and centered on shared interests spanning diplomacy, development and regional security. The two ministers also reviewed developments in the Horn…

Saturday April 25, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s push to shore up its digital defenses moved a step forward on Saturday when the National Communications Authority (NCA) brought together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss a proposed Cybersecurity Risk Management and Compliance Framework. The national consultation drew representatives from government institutions, the private sector, education, civil society, and the technical community, all tasked with helping shape a framework designed to strengthen the country’s…

Sundus AbdiSaturday April 25, 2026 Ifrah F Ahmed turned to Somali community members around the world to research her book, Soomaaliya: Food, Memory and Migration. Photograph: Khadija Farah On a video call from Brooklyn, with a book tour stretching between cities, Ifrah F Ahmed sips ginger-root tea. The aroma pulls her back to a childhood kitchen where her mother would often bake fragrant cardamom cake. “That’s a core childhood memory for me,” she said. For Ahmed, food has never been only about eating. It carries memory,…

Saturday April 25, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Friday unveiled a new initiative in Doolow designed to bolster urban resilience for internally displaced people and the communities that have taken them in, as Somalia grapples with the twin pressures of displacement and economic hardship. Addressing the launch ceremony in Mogadishu, Barre said the project seeks to strengthen livelihoods and lay the groundwork for longer-term stability in areas strained by conflict and repeated drought. The project,…