warns

Somali Army Warns Civilians: Don’t Wear Uniforms, Don’t Touch Military Vehicles, After Militant Attack MOGADISHU — Somalia’s army has issued a sweeping warning forbidding civilians from wearing military uniforms, displaying insignia, or using vehicles tied to the armed forces, an emergency measure meant to choke off a well-known loophole exploited by militants and common criminals alike. The Somali National Army (SNA) said Saturday that anyone caught using military gear or vehicles without authorization will face “legal…

Somalia’s army in pieces: Cowsweyne defeat still reverberates, former president warns When Al-Shabaab overran Cowsweyne in 2023, it did more than seize a strategic town in central Somalia. The militants’ victory cracked open the fragile architecture of the Somali National Army (SNA), scattering frontline units, exposing command fractures and — according to former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed — setting back efforts to rebuild a professional force for years. A rout with consequences “Osweyne was where Somali forces were…

No democracy without a free press: Somalia’s fragile transition under threat On the International Day of Democracy this year, Somalia’s journalists — battered, detained and censored — were given a blunt reminder of what is at stake. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) recorded 59 incidents of assaults on media freedom across the country in 2025 alone, and warned that Somalia’s long-promised democratic transition will be hollow if those who inform the public cannot work without fear. That message should…

EU’s €2.95bn fine on Google exposes a new fault line: regulators vs. politicians The European Commission’s decision to fine Alphabet’s Google €2.95 billion over alleged anti‑competitive behaviour in its ad‑tech business has landed in the middle of a transatlantic tug-of-war — and now risks spilling into trade politics. The penalty, the fourth major sanction handed to the search giant by Brussels over the past decade, prompted an unusually blunt response from the United States: former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth…

Abiy’s Red Sea Declaration Raises the Stakes in an Already Volatile Horn of Africa When Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared on national television that “the mistake made 30 years ago will be corrected tomorrow,” he was doing more than rekindling a long‑smoldering grievance about access to the sea. He was signaling a willingness to contest borders and partnerships in a part of the world where history, water and trade routes are tightly braided — and where small shifts can cascade into wider confrontation. Abiy’s…

Wars of Words: The Perils of Peace Talks in Ukraine The geopolitical chess game unfolding in Ukraine finds its latest moves defined by the stark statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the collective determination of Western nations. These two forces are now at odds, revealing the complexities of an unsolved conflict where peace seems a distant mirage. Putin's Stark Warning In a compelling declaration at an economic forum in Vladivostok, President Putin issued a strong warning: any Western troops deployed to…

At the UN-led COP29 climate summit taking place in Azerbaijan, global leaders are presenting contrasting visions to confront climate change, while a new report emphasizes the urgent need for the world to achieve carbon neutrality sooner than anticipated. As delegates convene to negotiate vital agreements for climate funding, the focus is on supporting developing nations in their efforts to adapt to climate-related challenges. This pivotal conference aims to secure an extensive climate financing framework to unlock trillions…

The coastal city of Kismayo is buzzing with political uproar after Somalia’s Jubbaland state opposition factions took a firm stand. They’re giving the thumbs down to a freshly minted regional electoral commission put together by Jubbaland’s head honcho, President Ahmed Madobe. If they don’t see some changes, they’re talking about throwing their own election bash right there in Kismayo. These opposition groups are flipping the script on Madobe’s clout, calling his appointment of the seven-person crew for the Jubbaland…

Taoiseach Simon Harris has indicated that the chances of a transatlantic trade disruption are on the rise, but he characterized the US president-elect, Donald Trump, as "transactional" and expressed confidence that he would recognize the mutual nature of US-EU trade. Harris made these comments upon his arrival at the European Political Community summit in Budapest, which includes leaders from 47 European nations, among them the 27 members of the European Union. This gathering comes at a critical moment, as Trump's recent…

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un asserted that his nation would not hesitate to deploy nuclear weapons if provoked by South Korea and its ally, the United States, as reported by state media. The relationship between the Koreas has plunged to a remarkably low ebb, with South Korea recently showcasing its military prowess in a parade that featured the formidable "monster" missile designed for penetrating bunkers. During this event, President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a stark warning to Kim, suggesting that any nuclear…