Wednesday April 15, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — With Somalia already navigating deep political strains, the Somali Future Council on Tuesday raised the alarm over delays in the next round of national elections, accusing top government officials of abandoning constitutional deadlines and risking a wider crisis. In a statement, the council said the country’s Provisional Constitution is explicit: the mandates of federal institutions expired on April 14, 2026. Without an election process that follows constitutional requirements, it…

Wednesday April 15, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s opposition Himilo Qaran party on Tuesday raised alarm over the country’s political and constitutional direction after the federal parliament’s term expired. In a statement, the party said the House of the People’s mandate officially ended on April 14, 2026, in line with Article 60 of the Provisional Constitution, describing the date as a defining test for governance and respect for the rule of law. “Protecting the term limits of government institutions is the most…

Somalia: Ex-President Warns of Leadership Vacuum as Parliament Mandate Expires MOGADISHU, Somalia — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Tuesday said the Federal Parliament’s constitutional mandate expired on April 14, 2026, warning that Somalia is sliding into a period of "rising political uncertainty." Farmaajo said parliamentary business "can only resume after new elections are held," pushing back against a one-year extension announced by the leadership of the House of the People. His intervention gives…

MOGADISHU, April 13, 2026 — Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Monday issued a stark warning that the country’s natural wealth, including its prospective oil reserves, could be vulnerable to outside pressure unless Somalia develops a military strong enough to protect it. Barre, speaking in the context of shifting global power and rising rivalry over strategic resources, said the erosion of confidence in international institutions and the weakening of the traditional rules-based order have made resource competition…

Monday April 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council on Sunday issued a sharp warning against politicizing the Somali National Army, saying the country’s security forces must be protected from clan rivalry and partisan pressure if they are to remain effective and credible. In a statement released to coincide with the 66th anniversary of the army’s founding on April 12, the council congratulated servicemen and women and praised their role in defending the nation, preserving unity and helping maintain public…

Monday April 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council on Sunday warned that the Somali National Army must be shielded from political manipulation, saying any effort to pull the force into partisan or clan disputes could erode its neutrality and weaken the country’s security architecture. In a statement issued to coincide with the army’s 66th anniversary on April 12, the council congratulated soldiers across the ranks and praised their service in defending Somalia, preserving national unity and helping maintain…

Iran warns of 'firm response' to military transit through Strait of Hormuz TEHRAN - Iran said any military vessel attempting to move through the Strait of Hormuz would meet a "firm and decisive response," in a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. The IRGC said it exercises "full and intelligent control" over the strategic waterway, adding that passage is allowed only for non-military ships and only under defined regulations. It also rejected reports that US vessels had crossed the strait,…

A stark new warning from President Donald Trump has raised the temperature in an already dangerous conflict, as he threatened to unleash “hell” on Tehran if it failed to strike a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline, while also hailing US special forces for extracting an airman from deep inside Iran in a risky rescue mission. For more than five weeks, the United States and Israel have battered Iran with missiles and airstrikes in a campaign they say is aimed at eliminating an imminent threat posed by…

by Frankline OduorThursday April 2, 2026 Flood-hit streets in Nairobi’s CBD and waterlogged grounds in Parklands are a stark preview of what could lie ahead as Kenya’s long rains gather pace. Kenyans.co.ke Ma3Route Kenya’s ongoing long rains are forecast to persist across most parts of the country through April, with rainfall expected to start off slightly lighter before strengthening later in the month and raising the risk of flooding, the latest Kenya Met outlook shows. People living in Rift Valley counties, the Lake…

A stark new warning from Washington has raised the stakes in the Middle East conflict, with US President Donald Trump saying the United States would destroy Iran's energy plants and oil wells unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. The threat came after Iran dismissed US peace proposals as "unrealistic" and launched fresh waves of missiles at Israel. The Israeli military said two drones launched from Yemen were intercepted today, while Lebanon's Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel. Israel, meanwhile, said it struck…