West-Africa

Tuesday March 31, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) took formal control of Operating Base (OB) SHAND from British forces in Mogadishu on 28 March 2026, marking a fresh phase in the mission’s support structure in the Somali capital. First established in 2017 as the main military operating site for the United Kingdom Mission Support Team (UKMST) in Somalia, OB SHAND is now set to function as a key platform for strengthening AUSSOM’s operational reach. At the handover…

Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, backed by the national government, has appealed for calm after violent unrest erupted in KuGompo over an alleged coronation of a Nigerian “Igbo king.” Protesters clashed with police amid looting and arson, leaving multiple businesses in ruins—most of them owned by foreign nationals. The upheaval followed a viral video purporting to show the coronation, which local traditional leaders denounced as an affront to their authority. The Nigerian government called the act illegal,…

Tuesday March 31, 2026 Türkiye’s drilling fleet is moving into a busier phase, with new exploration and production campaigns lined up for the Black Sea and Somalia in April as Ankara steps up efforts to tap domestic and overseas hydrocarbon resources. Türkiye's drilling ships are seen at the Filyos Port, northern Türkiye, March 15, 2026. (AA Photo) Over the past decade, the country has invested heavily in an offshore energy armada designed to trim its dependence on imported fuel by finding more oil and natural gas at…

In a significant political shift, Yusuf Tuggar has officially resigned as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, signaling his intent to seek the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the governorship of Bauchi State. In a heartfelt resignation letter delivered to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Tuggar expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, thanking him for the privilege of serving the nation and playing a role in the execution of the administration's Four-D foreign policy strategy. The…

Faisal Ali - Tuesday March 31, 2026 The Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Photograph: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images A wave of misleading coverage has falsely suggested that North Western State of Somalia’s government was seeking the extradition of Ilhan Omar, after several outlets leaned on a social media post from an account that is not an official state channel. Fox News, the New York Post, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s the National News Desk and the Independent all published stories focused on the US…

Tuesday March 31, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Monday that Somalia’s federal government will not accept indirect elections, making the declaration just hours after the Somali National Army seized control of Baidoa following clashes with forces loyal to the Southwest regional administration. Speaking in Mogadishu, Hamza said the security situation in Baidoa was now “fully under the control” of federal forces and drew a hard line against any return to clan-based or indirect voting arrangements in…

Monday March 30, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Southwest State on Sunday accused the federal government of turning Turkish-trained troops and military hardware donated by Türkiye against its own regional administration, a claim that adds fresh fuel to an already volatile political and security standoff. In a statement, the Southwest State presidency said forces trained by Türkiye for counterterrorism missions had been deployed in an operation directed at the regional leadership. It also alleged that Turkish drones were…

Monday March 30, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Federal government forces, reinforced by armed groups linked to opposition factions in Southwest State, moved into Baidoa on Monday after intense clashes with the Southwest regional administration. Witnesses said gunfire broke out heavily on the town’s outskirts earlier in the day as the rival sides fought for control of strategic points in the interim administrative capital. The death toll was not immediately known, and neither side had issued official casualty figures. Footage…

A recent report from the International Press Institute (IPI) unveils a troubling trend: a growing repression of journalists across the Sahel region. This investigative piece elucidates how local authorities are increasingly utilizing cybercrime and national security legislations as tools to intimidate, arrest, and incarcerate journalists who delve into sensitive issues, particularly concerning human rights violations and security shortcomings. Niger is quickly establishing itself as a significant detention hub for…

Monday March 30, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen stepped down Monday, just hours after federal government troops and armed groups aligned with regional opposition leaders entered Baidoa following fierce fighting that killed at least two people and injured 25 others. “Effective today, March 30, 2026, I, Mr. Abdicasiis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, resign as President of the Southwest State,” Laftagareen said in a post on his official Facebook page, offering no explanation for…