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Mogadishu launches first one-person, one-vote municipal polls in more than 50 years Thursday December 25, 2025 MOGADISHU — Voting began Thursday morning across all 16 districts of Mogadishu in the Banadir Regional Local Council elections, marking the capital’s first one-person, one-vote balloting in more than half a century. Thousands of residents formed early lines at neighborhood polling stations, underscoring the historic nature of the vote in Somalia’s largest city. Election officials said turnout was steady as polls…

Sunday December 21, 2025 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia and China on Tuesday marked the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a ceremony in Mogadishu, pledging to elevate cooperation and pursue shared interests across infrastructure, public services and state-building as both countries reaffirmed long-standing political support. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called the milestone “a testament to enduring friendship” rooted in mutual respect and sovereignty. “We gathered to celebrate a truly historic milestone,…

Liverpool parade crash: Driver who mowed through crowd jailed for 21 years A driver who plowed through crowds at Liverpool FC’s victory parade, injuring 134 people, was jailed for 21 years and six months after a judge said he acted in “inexplicable and undiluted fury.” Paul Doyle, 54, drove his Ford Galaxy directly into fans making their way home from the Premier League title celebrations on May 26, accelerating down Water Street — closed to traffic at the time — at about 6 p.m., according to dashcam footage played in court.…

Eritrea Announces Withdrawal from IGAD, Citing Long-Standing Grievances ASMARA, Eritrea — Eritrea has formally notified the Intergovernmental Authority on Development that it is withdrawing from the regional bloc, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday, accusing IGAD of failing its mandate and being used against certain member states, particularly Eritrea. In a statement, the ministry said Eritrea’s decision follows years of disillusionment with the Horn of Africa organization, which it claims has “reneged on its…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is preparing to relaunch Somali Airlines in the coming months, marking the national carrier’s first return to service since it was grounded more than 30 years ago during the civil war, the country’s transport minister said Sunday. Government says management, regulation and fleet plans are in place as the carrier enters final operational planning. Two Airbus A320s have been acquired; additional jets are slated from 2026. IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan access is being reinstated after 33 years, a…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Somali court has sentenced a woman to six years in prison for financing the militant group Al-Shabaab, part of a broader government push to sever the insurgents’ money networks. In a separate overnight raid, security forces said they killed a senior Al-Shabaab commander in the central Galgaduud region. Key developments: Maryan Mohamed Nur was sentenced to six years after the court found she had direct links to Al-Shabaab and helped move funds to the group, prosecutors said. Investigators…

Arsenal Ends Sponsorship Deal with Visit Rwanda English Premier League club Arsenal has decided to conclude its eight-year sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda effective at the end of the 2025-26 season. The announcement underscores the partnership's initial goals of enhancing tourism, conservation, and Rwanda's sporting aspirations. Arsenal's collaboration with Visit Rwanda began in 2018. The deal is valued at over $13.3 million annually. The partnership aimed to position Rwanda as a premium conservation…

After the Ruins, a Campus Rises: Hormuud University at 15 When the central government in Somalia collapsed in 1991, so too did the institutions that had supported generations of Somalis — hospitals, civil services, and classrooms. For more than two decades, many of the country’s best-educated professionals left. “It felt like the nation’s memory was walking away,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdi Omar Shuriye, who today oversees Hormuud University as it marks its 15th year. Founded in 2010 by senior figures at…

Somalia’s Skies Welcome a New Captain — and a Revival of Possibility At dawn in Mogadishu, when the ocean breeze carries the call to prayer over the runway and the heat hasn’t yet settled on the tarmac, a young captain strides toward her aircraft with the calm of routine and the knowledge that nothing about this is ordinary. Headset in hand, checklist tucked under her arm, Captain Yasmin Abdi Farah powers up the cockpit of a Maandeeq Air jet bound for Nairobi. A familiar route, yes—but the story it tells is new. Yasmin,…

A Cautious Celebration: Nigeria's 65th Independence Anniversary Approaches As Nigeria gears up for its 65th independence anniversary on October 1, a palpable tension simmers beneath the surface of anticipation. The government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has publicly committed to commemorating this momentous occasion with "dignity and enthusiasm." Yet, the absence of the traditional parade—a cornerstone of the festivities—sends a clear signal that this year’s independence day will be anything but a typical celebration.…