visits

U.S. Praise in Bosaso, Local Anger in Sanaag: A Test of Counter‑ISIS Strategy in Somalia BOSASO, Somalia — In a carefully choreographed visit this past weekend, senior U.S. officials flew into Puntland State’s bustling port city of Bosaso to laud the region’s role in combating Islamic State fighters and protecting Somalia’s northern maritime approaches. The delegation — led by Ambassador Richard Riley and including Major General Claude Tudor and the head of U.S. special operations in East Africa, Colonel Benander — met with…

Kenya’s new army chief tours volatile northeast as al‑Shabaab tests the border NAIROBI — Kenya’s new army commander, Lt. Gen. David Ketter, has made his first inspection swing through the country’s northeastern frontier, a scrubland expanse where the line between Kenya and Somalia blurs and al‑Shabaab’s shadow lingers. His tour of forward operating bases in Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa was part morale boost, part fact-finding — and a clear signal that Nairobi wants to steady the front at a time of shifting dynamics…

Somalia Defends Diplomatic Moves Amid Regional Tensions By Ali Musa Axadle Times International–Monitoring. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud shakes hands with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan during a meeting in Mogadishu on August 27, 2025. CREDIT/ SONNA In the midst of a tempestuous geopolitical landscape, Somalia finds itself at the heart of swirling online discussions, with its recent diplomacy under intensified scrutiny. The arrival of notable delegations from…

Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Lands in Mogadishu: Special Reception for Oil Research Ship MOGADISHU - With a watchful eye on new horizons, Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Musa Heybet touched down in the buzzing hub of Somalia's capital. His arrival heralds the imminent docking of an oil exploration vessel, primed to set sail into the depths of the Indian Ocean for seismic surveys. This vessel, recently launched from Turkey under the watchful command of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is on a dual mission: to map…

Mogadishu (AX) – Pulling in like a breeze on a Sunday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud landed in Djibouti as he continued his whirl through nations backing the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). As the jet touched down, President Mohamud received a warm welcome from Djibouti’s Prime Minister, Abdikadir Kamil Mohamed, alongside a crew of top officials. It was a moment brimming with diplomacy and friendship. On this pit stop, he’s slated to chinwag with Djibouti’s big cheese, President Ismael Omar…

Justice Minister Helen McEntee is currently in Abu Dhabi, where she is poised to finalize crucial bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates focused on extradition and mutual legal assistance. These two treaties, which received the green light from the Government just last Friday, are poised to significantly bolster cooperation between Ireland and the UAE in their collective efforts to combat crime and streamline the extradition process. Last year, Minister McEntee embarked on negotiations with the UAE, engaging in…

NBA Icon Fisher Lands in Kenya for Basketball Coaching Event Amid NBA Africa Focus Derek Fisher, a titan in the basketball world and former NBA standout, touched down in Kenya to share his expertise with budding hoops stars. The NBA's broader mission to unearth and cultivate emerging talent in Africa underpins Fisher's visit. Reporting from the scene, our intrepid correspondent Olivia Bizot gives us the scoop.

In Asmara, Eritrea, on October 9, 2024, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki held bilateral meetings to discuss enhancing military cooperation and strengthening their relationship amidst regional shifts. Credit: Villa Somalia Somalia's leader, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, touched down in Asmara, Eritrea, this past Wednesday for a formal visit. Since taking the helm in 2022, this marks his fourth voyage. It's likely geared toward boosting a developing alliance among Somalia,…

On a sunny Sunday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly of Egypt touched down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for an official visit. Tagging along with him were Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk and Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib. Mohamed El-Homsani, the spokesperson for the Cabinet, remarked that the visit exemplifies the strong bond and mutual interests between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. As both nations navigate a time of heightened collaboration, they look to bolster their strategic alliance and tackle regional…

PM Hamza's Visit to Baidoa Amid Ethiopian Troop Controversy BAIDOA, Somalia - On Wednesday, amidst growing discord over the Ethiopian military presence, Somalia's Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, embarked on a significant trip to Baidoa. The trip comes in the wake of worsening ties between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. Somalia's government remains firm that Ethiopian forces will not participate in the new endeavor named the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). However, this decision faces…