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Somalia, Pakistan sign visa-waiver pact for diplomatic passport holders MOGADISHU — Somalia and Pakistan have signed an agreement abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, marking a bid to accelerate high-level engagement and deepen political cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was concluded during a meeting in Pakistan attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Somalia’s Minister of Interior, Ali Yousuf, underscoring renewed momentum in bilateral ties. Pakistan’s Special Secretary at…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s main opposition alliance, the Somali Future Council, says it will attend a federal government–led consultative conference in Mogadishu, a move the bloc casts as essential to averting a constitutional vacuum and breaking the country’s escalating political and electoral impasse. In a statement issued Saturday, the alliance framed its participation as a bid to secure an inclusive political settlement that preserves the unity and statehood of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The Somali Future…

MOGADISHU — Somalia has canceled its defense and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates, a move the government said Friday was necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and public safety while keeping broader diplomatic ties intact. Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Daud Aweys Jama said the termination applies strictly to military and security cooperation frameworks between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. He argued the arrangements had become more harmful than helpful to Somalia’s…

North Western State of Somalia leader meets Eric Trump in Davos as recognition push and investment pitch intensify DAVOS, Switzerland — Jan. 23, 2026 — North Western State of Somalia’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, met Eric Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum as the unrecognized East African territory seeks both international recognition and private investment, according to people familiar with the encounter. The discussion, held Wednesday in a hotel conference room steps from the Davos Congress…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has welcomed an appellate ruling that clears the way for the country’s elected representatives to take their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly, ending months of legal uncertainty over Somalia’s participation in the regional body. In a statement issued Tuesday, the ministry congratulated the nine lawmakers chosen by Somalia’s Federal Parliament to represent the country in EALA, calling the court’s decision a key step toward…

NEW DELHI/DUBAI — India signed a $3 billion liquefied natural gas supply deal with the United Arab Emirates on Monday, elevating India to the UAE’s top customer and deepening ties as the two countries pledged to expand trade and pursue a strategic defense partnership. Under the agreement, Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC Gas will supply 0.5 million metric tons of LNG annually to Hindustan Petroleum Corp. for 10 years. ADNOC Gas said the contract lifts the total value of its agreements with Indian buyers to more than $20 billion,…

LAS ANOD, Somalia — Senior traditional elders from the Darood community on Tuesday endorsed the Somali federal government’s decision to cancel security and port agreements with the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi of undermining the country’s unity, sovereignty and national independence. The position, announced after a large gathering of clan leaders in Las Anod, came as the elders convened to witness the inauguration of Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known as Firdhiye, as president of Somalia’s Northeastern Regional…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has invited the Somali Future Council, a leading opposition alliance, to a multi-day national conference in Mogadishu beginning Feb. 1, aiming to speed up talks on the country’s political direction with a particular focus on the electoral roadmap. The invitation, issued late Monday by the Office of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, signals a tentative step toward dialogue amid rising tensions over electoral rules and the broader governance framework. The move follows President…

NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — A regional appeals court on Monday cleared Somalia’s representatives to take their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly, overturning earlier rulings that had blocked their participation and ending a months-long legal dispute over the country’s nomination process. The decision paves the way for Somalia’s full engagement in the East African Community’s legislative body and removes a significant obstacle to Mogadishu’s regional integration efforts since joining the bloc. Somalia’s ambassador to…

Senegal conquered Africa again on Sunday night, defeating host Morocco 1-0 after extra time in Rabat to win the Africa Cup of Nations and ignite raucous celebrations from the Atlantic shore to the Sahel. Fireworks crackled above Dakar, horns blared and flags waved as the Teranga Lions claimed their second continental crown in four years behind a dramatic winner from Pape Gueye and a performance that withstood a chaotic finish. What to know: Score: Senegal 1, Morocco 0 (after extra time) Match-winner: Pape Gueye for Senegal…