Union

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Somalia was elected Wednesday to the African Union Peace and Security Council for the 2026–2028 term, a diplomatic milestone that positions the Horn of Africa nation at the center of decision-making on the continent’s most urgent security challenges. In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vote reflects renewed confidence in Somalia’s role and its growing contribution to Africa’s peace and security agenda. The government thanked AU member states for their support, with…

AU peace and security council rejects North Western State of Somalia recognition, reaffirms Somalia’s territorial integrity, condemns external meddling in Sudan The African Union’s Peace and Security Council on Thursday reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejected any recognition of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, and condemned external interference fueling Sudan’s war, following a ministerial-level meeting in Addis Ababa. In a strongly worded communique, the council said it…

CAIRO — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egypt’s defense minister, Gen. Abdel Mageed Saqr, on Wednesday attended a military formation ceremony for Egyptian troops preparing to deploy to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The event, held in Egypt, was also attended by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa and senior commanders, according to a statement from the Egyptian military spokesman. During the visit, officials received a detailed briefing on the preparation…

MOGADISHU — Somalia has won a seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council for the 2026–2028 term, a diplomatic milestone that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday cast as proof of the country’s renewed standing on the continent and beyond. In a national address, Hassan Sheikh said the election reflects Somalia’s growing credibility and the reemergence of its voice in regional affairs after years of rebuilding state institutions. “This victory demonstrates the significant progress of Somalia’s diplomacy and…

Strategic Alliance: Somalia and Egypt solidify military ties ahead of AU mission deployment CAIRO — Somalia and Egypt deepened their military partnership Tuesday as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egypt’s defense minister reviewed Egyptian troops ahead of their deployment to a new African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia, according to Cairo’s military spokesperson. The inspection by Mohamud and Gen. Abdel Mageed Saqr, Egypt’s commander in chief and minister of defense, signals a significant step in the…

Analysis: EU audit warning exposes risks at the heart of planned CAP overhaul The European Court of Auditors has fired an early warning shot over the European Commission’s plan to fold agricultural policy into a wider, performance-driven budget in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, saying the redesign could delay farm payments, heighten uncertainty and weaken the “common” in the Common Agricultural Policy. The critique goes to the core of how the EU intends to fund farming, rural development and cohesion from 2028 to…

The African Union is facing a legitimacy test. Across social media and public forums, Africans are asking whether the AU has moved beyond symbolism to deliver the integration and security it promises. The recurring questions are blunt: If the AU cannot advance a single currency, a unified military or a common passport, what, exactly, is the union for? Those questions may sound harsh, but they capture a growing frustration. In one widely shared post, commenters joked that the AU should be rebranded “Western Union,” a jab at…

Somalia, EU sign €102 million budget-support deal to sustain reforms MOGADISHU — Somalia and the European Union on Friday signed a €102 million ($110 million) financing agreement that provides direct budget support and development funding to help stabilize public finances and keep reforms on track, Somali officials said. The deal, finalized in Mogadishu after high-level talks, signals continued European confidence in the government’s state-building agenda after decades of conflict and institutional collapse. EU officials…

Egypt Assumes AU Peace and Security Council Leadership, Vows to Prioritize Sudan and Somalia CAIRO — Egypt on Sunday took over the rotating monthly leadership of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, pledging to prioritize efforts to address the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia. The one-month presidency, which began Feb. 1, comes as the continent confronts overlapping crises, including armed violence, fragile political transitions, food insecurity and climate-related pressures, according to Egypt’s Ministry of…

Egypt takes helm of AU Peace and Security Council, puts Sudan and Somalia atop agenda CAIRO — Egypt on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, pledging to focus its one-month term on the crises in Sudan and Somalia while advancing a broader agenda linking peace, security and governance across the continent. The presidency, which began Feb. 1, comes amid what Cairo described as escalating and overlapping challenges in Africa — from protracted armed conflicts and fragile…