undermining

Saturday April 18, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia sharpened its warning Friday to outside powers wading into the country’s internal disputes, with its ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union saying interference could trigger consequences tied to the vital Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Ambassador Abdullahi Warfaa delivered the message in a post on X after Israel appointed an ambassador to North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared breakaway region in northern Somalia. “Any country interfering in Somalia's internal affairs…

Tuesday April 14, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State’s Minister of Interior, Abdi Hirsii Ali Qarjab, accused Somalia’s federal government on Monday of mounting a political and security offensive against the semi-autonomous state. In remarks to reporters, Qarjab said Puntland State is watching developments in the country closely and is ready to defend its territory if the need arises. “Puntland State has always stood for strengthening the unity and cooperation of the Somali people,” he said. “We expected development, security…

Wednesday April 8, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni on Tuesday sharply criticized Somalia’s federal government, accusing it of pursuing a course that would erode the country’s federal model and concentrate power in Mogadishu. Addressing residents in Qardho district, Deni pointed to comments attributed to Sheikh Ali Wajiis, an adviser to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, saying they amounted to a push for the federal government to take direct control of regional states — a move he described as…

QARDHO, Somalia — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni on Tuesday accused Somalia’s federal government of trying to erode the country’s federal system, warning that proposals linked to officials around President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud could splinter the nation along regional lines. Addressing army officials in Qardho, Deni said comments attributed to presidential adviser Sheikh Ali Wajiis pointed to a plan in which the federal government would take direct control of Somalia’s regions, a course he said would amount to…

Somali traders dominate entire swaths of commerce across East and Central Africa—fuel distribution, cross-border transportation, cement imports and wholesale food supply. Their shops are busy, warehouses stacked high, and trucks constantly on the move. Yet beneath this visible dynamism lies a quieter, more consequential truth: a set of habits that quietly erode margins, breed fragile businesses, and undermine the very institutions entrepreneurs depend on. At its core, the Somali trading model thrives on speed, trust networks…

Somalia’s Olympic Committee accuses sports minister of interference, escalating power struggle in Mogadishu MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Olympic Committee on Wednesday accused the country’s sports minister of attempting to disrupt its work and interfere in the administration of national sports, deepening a public rift between two institutions at the heart of Somali athletics. In a statement, the Olympic body alleged the minister orchestrated “fake contacts” to undermine its operations and tried to take control of its…

Kismayo, Somalia — The Jubbaland regional administration on Saturday accused Somalia’s federal government of unconstitutional interference in the affairs of federal member states, warning that the moves threaten the country’s federal system and national unity as Parliament debates sweeping constitutional changes. In a statement issued by the Jubbaland presidency, the regional authority said Mogadishu lacks the mandate to unilaterally amend the Provisional Constitution or restructure the system of governance. Somalia’s…

Saudi Arabia backs Somalia’s unity as region pushes back against Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any attempts to undermine the country’s unity or create parallel entities — a stance that underscores growing regional opposition to Israel’s recent recognition of North Western State of Somalia. In a Cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman, the Kingdom voiced support for the outcome of an…

Somalia reaffirms support for Yemen’s unity, backs Saudi role and regional security Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 MOGADISHU — Somalia has reiterated “firm and principled” support for the sovereignty, unity, security and territorial integrity of Yemen, rejecting any attempts or interventions that undermine the country’s constitutional legitimacy or state institutions, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Tuesday. In a statement, the government renewed its backing for Yemen’s internationally recognized authorities and emphasized that…

Somalia’s Senate: How the Upper House Lost Its Grip on Federalism MOGADISHU — Somalia’s experiment with federalism, long touted as a path out of decades of central rule and clan rivalry, now faces a painful test. The country’s Upper House — the Senate — was created to be the bulwark of regional interests and a mediator between Mogadishu and the federal member states. Instead, critics say, it has been reduced to a largely ceremonial body as the executive consolidates power and regional grievances harden into open…