Somalia has officially joined the East African Community (EAC) as a full member, completing all necessary steps for membership in the regional bloc.
The EAC secretariat announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Somalia deposited its Instrument of Ratification with the Secretary General, marking its full membership in the EAC.
The Instrument of Ratification is a formal document through which a country agrees to be bound by the terms of a treaty or agreement.
Last November, the heads of state of the existing EAC member states unanimously agreed to admit Somalia into the bloc.
With its admission, Somalia becomes the eighth member of the EAC, joining Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda.
This move is expected to stimulate economic growth in Somalia, which is still in the process of recovering from three decades of conflict and instability.
After a 10-day search and rescue operation, the US Navy has concluded efforts to locate two elite Seals navy force members who disappeared off Somalia’s coast on January 11.
The Seals were involved in intercepting a dhow carrying weapons when one of them fell into rough waters during the boarding process.
The second Seal attempted a rescue but neither resurfaced.
“We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing US Navy Seals have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased,” the US Central Command said on Sunday, adding that it was “now conducting recovery operations”.
Japanese and Spanish forces, along with ships and aircraft, aided in the search, covering over 21,000 square miles in the Gulf of Aden.
The Seals were part of a naval unit focused on intercepting illegal shipments in the region, unrelated to the ongoing operation protecting vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group.
Somalia’s government-owned media has been playing a song that some people say encourages bad behavior. The song was performed by the Somali police band.
It brings back old feelings of dislike towards Ethiopia because of the agreement they made with Somaliland on January 1st.
The song talks about a war that happened between Ethiopia and Somalia in 1977, almost 50 years ago.
The song says, “If you don’t want peace, we will give you a chance to remember what we did to you in 1977. ”
The song titled Remember What We Did to You in 1977, along with two other songs about Ethiopia, have been shared a lot on social media by Somalis.
Somaliland became its own country in 1991, but other countries do not officially accept this.
Somaliland might lease some of its coastline to Ethiopia. Somalia is upset about this because it feels like Ethiopia is trying to take its land.
Lately, the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the prime minister said that their families have fought against Ethiopia for a long time to protect their country. They feel they have to continue the fight.
President Mohamud said that the person causing division among our people is like an enemy. We have been fighting with them for a long time, but we are all still the same people. We should resist them.
The leaders of the country say that Ethiopia is a danger to its security.
Somalia said no to a plane carrying Ethiopian officials to Somaliland, making the ongoing disagreement between the countries even worse.
The person in charge of giving out information in Somalia said to the BBC that the plane was not allowed to be in the country’s sky.
The Ethiopian leaders were in Somaliland to talk about an agreement, and this has caused a big argument.
Somalia thinks that Somaliland belongs to it.
The deal, signed on 1 January, would let Somaliland rent out one of its ports to Ethiopia. In return, Somaliland would get a share in Ethiopian Airlines and might be recognized as its own independent country.
Somalia is really mad about the deal and says it’s an aggressive act.
On Wednesday, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) said that flight ETH8273 did not follow the international rules. Flights should get permission from the countries they fly over, but this flight did not.
It tried to land at the airport in Hargeisa, which is in Somaliland.
The SCAA said that normal flights between the two countries are still happening, even after the incident.
The Ethiopian government has not said anything yet, but the leader of Ethiopian Airlines said the plane had come back to the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
Somaliland used to be protected by Britain. It separated from Somalia in 1991 and now it looks like a country. They have elections, police, and their own money.
No country has accepted or approved this.
Somalia told the Ethiopian plane to leave its airspace, to show that Somaliland is not its own country.
During the argument between Somalia and Ethiopia, the US and the African Union supported Somalia’s land and asked everyone to calm down.
The U.S. Navy continues its search for two elite force members, known as the Seals, who disappeared off the coast of Somalia on Thursday night last week.
The search operation in the Gulf of Aden involves the deployment of ships and aircraft.
The Seals went missing during an attempt to intercept a dhow transporting weapons, according to U.S. defense officials.
While boarding the dhow, one Seal fell into the rough night-time waters, prompting the second Seal to jump in for a rescue attempt.
Unfortunately, neither of them resurfaced.
These Seals were part of a naval unit dedicated to intercepting weapons and combating illegal shipments in the region, unrelated to the ongoing operation to protect vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group.
The al-Shabab group in Somalia has taken a United Nations helicopter and around eight people who were on it, including passengers and crew, according to local sources.
The helicopter landed in an area in central Somalia that is controlled by a group.
Some people said the plane had to land unexpectedly, while others said the landing was a error.
Al-Shabab has power over big areas of southern and central Somalia.
The group is connected to al-Qaeda and has been fighting a violent war for almost 20 years.
The Galmudug region Security Minister Mohamed Abdi Adan told the BBC that they took control of the helicopter.
“According to Somali military official Major Hassan Ali, there were some foreigners and two local people on the helicopter. ”
“He said it was bringing medicine and was supposed to take wounded soldiers from Galgudud region. ”
The helicopter was flying to Wisil town where the government forces are fighting against al-Shabab. It landed near the frontlines of the battle.
The UN has not said anything yet.
The Somali government has been fighting harder against the group connected to al-Qaeda in the last few months.
Somalia’s president says the president of Eritrea has promised to support Somalia’s control of its own land, as there is disagreement with Ethiopia about a deal for access to the sea.
Eritrean leader Isaias Afwerki expressed his position in a meeting with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud yesterday, according to the state-run Somali National News Agency.
The story was told.
The leader of Somalia said similar things to the Eritrean media, but there was no official statement from Mr.
Mr Mohamud visited Asmara for two days. He talked to Mr Afwerki about the sea access problem.
Trouble started last week when Ethiopia made an agreement with Somaliland, a place that says it’s its own country.
The deal would let Ethiopia use a port in the breakaway region for trade and military purposes.
Somalia said the deal is aggressive. It thinks Somaliland is a part of its land and promised to protect its own control.
No other country or big group in the world thinks Somaliland is its own country.
President Mohamud said his government will ask for help from any friend who is willing to help us before going to Asmara.
The media in Somalia said that Mr. Mohamud will go to Cairo shortly because he was invited by the Egyptian leader, Abddul Fattah al-Sisi.
He got 45 votes from Puntland’s parliament members on Monday and was voted back.
Guled Salah Barre got 21 votes, and Abshir Omar Jama came in third place.
Mr Deni was quickly inaugurated for his second time in office.
In Puntland, like in the rest of Somalia, elections are held in a different way. The clan elders choose the MPs and then the MPs choose the president.
The vote happened after there were arguments and fights, and some people got hurt or killed.
In Garowe last year, 26 people died in fights between Mr. Deni’s supporters and the opposition. The fights were because of a plan to have a vote, but that plan is not happening now.
Indian navy soldiers got on a ship that had been taken over by pirates near Somalia, according to officials.
They are searching the ship after telling the pirates to go away, a statement said.
The 15 Indian crew members on the ship are reported to be safe.
They called for help from a UK marine agency and said that “five to six unauthorized armed people” had gotten onto the ship near the Somali port town of Eyl on Thursday evening.
A plane was sent to talk to them, and then a ship called the INS Chennai followed.
The ship, called MV Lila Norfolk, had the flag of Liberia and was going to Bahrain before it was hijacked.
The crew had told the UKMTO that they were hiding in a safe room on the ship to stay safe from pirates or other dangerous situations.
Recent occasional attacks on ships near Somalia’s coast have made people worried that piracy might be coming back in that area.
Pirate attacks were a big problem for ships from 2008-2011. Many countries sent warships to patrol the area to stop the attacks, which often started from Eyl.
The African Union and US want people to respect Somalia’s boundaries and land, after Ethiopia made a deal with Somaliland for access to the sea.
Somalia is upset about the deal and says it’s aggressive and is against their rights. They plan to fight it in court.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991, but other countries don’t officially accept it as a separate country.
Spokesperson Matthew Miller from the US Department of State said that the United States respects Somalia’s land and borders.
The leader of the African Union asked for Somalia and Ethiopia’s unity, territorial integrity, and full sovereignty to be respected.
The US and AU want the people involved to talk and solve the problem peacefully. They are worried that the deal could make things worse in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia‘s floods have killed 110 people so far, according to the UN humanitarian agency UN OCHA.
More than one million people have been forced to leave their homes and 2. 4 million people have been affected in 36 regions, the organization said.
UN OCHA told people that there is a big chance of sickness spreading after hearing about possible cases of cholera and watery diarrhea in Hirshabelle and Galmudug.
The agency said that only 30% of the people affected have gotten help. But they have sent out 37 boats to bring supplies to the flooded areas and rescue people who are stuck.
In the past few weeks, Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia have had very heavy rains, which have caused deaths, people having to leave their homes, and a lot of damage.
The floods happen because of a weather pattern called El Niño. It happens when the Pacific Ocean gets warmer.
Scientists say that really bad weather like floods will happen more often and be worse because the air is getting warmer from climate change.
The government of Somalia says that over one million people have had to leave their homes because of floods from El Niño. The Horn of Africa has been hit by very heavy rains, causing a lot of damage, people being forced to leave their homes, and many deaths. These are the worst rains in over 20 years.
World leaders are meeting in Dubai to talk about the climate crisis at the COP28 summit.
At least 270 people have died in Somalia, Kenya, and southern Ethiopia. The region was in a long drought, and now it is getting a lot of heavy rain.
Over 100 people have died in sudden floods in Somalia.
Entire towns have been flooded, so most people had to go find a new place to stay. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the country is in a very serious situation.
The floods from heavy rains in Somalia have killed 96 people, according to the state news agency SONNA.
“96 people have died in Somalia’s floods,” said SONNA on X (previously known as Twitter). Mahamuud Moallim, the head of the country’s disaster management agency, confirmed the number.
Somalia has been hit hard by heavy rains since October, like other countries in East Africa. These rains are caused by the weather patterns El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole.
Both are weather patterns that affect ocean temperatures and lead to more rain than usual.
The flooding is the worst in many years and has forced about 700,000 people to leave their homes, according to the United Nations.
The heavy rains caused big floods all over the country. This made people move from their homes and made a bad situation caused by fighting even worse.
In Kenya, floods have caused 76 deaths and forced many people to leave their homes. The flooding has also damaged roads and bridges and left many people without food and shelter.
The conference is a collaboration between Britain, Somalia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with groups like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
People from over 20 countries are coming.
Mr Sunak said there will be a new online center where British scientists can connect with global research about crops that can survive in changing climates.
As the summit started, the UN asked donors to quickly give more help and support long-term solutions to fix the main reasons for hunger.
The European Union has officially halted its payments to the World Food Programme (WFP) for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia.
According to Balazs Ujvari, a spokesperson for the European Commission, this action is a precautionary measure to protect EU funds.
A UN investigation has uncovered extensive theft of aid that was intended for vulnerable Somalis, with local officials, members of the security forces, and humanitarian workers implicated.
In the previous year, the European Union allocated more than $7 million (£5.6 million) to WFP operations in Somalia.
The US Agency for International Developmenthas stated that it does not currently have plans to suspend food aid to Somalia.
Reportedly, an air strike targeting Islamist militants in central Somalia has resulted in the alleged deaths of seven civilians, including a grandmother and five children.
The Somali government had previously announced the elimination of three senior al-Shabab members in El Garas village through a sophisticated operation, as reported by the Somali National News agency, Sonna.
The three al-Shabab members were tracked by government intelligence when they sought refuge in a civilian residence to evade the strike. However, the government has denied responsibility for the civilian casualties, with Deputy Information Minister of Somalia, Abdirahman Yusuf, telling the BBC that “[Al-Shabab] placed explosive devices in a civilian house, which caused the deaths of innocent people.”
Ahmed Nur Mohamud, the husband of 60-year-old Kaha Warsame, who, along with her grandchildren, reportedly perished in the strike, recounted that he was about 1km (1,100 yards) away from the house when the bombing occurred, accompanied by his second wife and their children. He expressed his anguish, stating, “I tried to call them, and their phones were off… When I tried to reach my family’s house around 03:00, there were government soldiers, and I was afraid to go in. I arrived at the house later and realized that the government had taken the bodies with them.” Ahmed Nur Mohamud also described seeing two bombs hitting his family’s dwelling, one on their hut and another on the goat’s shelter.
Witnesses corroborated that the Somali army had removed deceased individuals from the residence. Furthermore, the deputy information minister confirmed to the BBC that Somali soldiers had arrived at the scene following the bombardment.
In his quest for closure, Ahmed Nur is requesting to view the bodies of his wife and grandchildren, emphasizing, “We have never been involved with al-Shabab; we are civilians. I’m requesting the bodies of my family for burial. I demand compensation for my blood relative.”
Elmi Bile Mohamed, a 25-year-old man with albinism, reflects on the harsh stigma he faces in Somalia. He laments, “People label me as a cannibal and fear that I will harm their children. The prevailing terror surrounding me is relentless.”
Elmi has encountered immense difficulty in securing a place to live in Mogadishu, the capital city, after leaving his rural home in Hiraan’s central region. His brothers share his condition and have suffered alongside him.
“Our own community subjected us to relentless insults and torment,” he recalls. “We endured physical violence and ridicule because of the pale complexion of our skin, hair, and eyes.”
Initially hopeful for a better life in Mogadishu, Elmi’s optimism waned as he faced rejection while searching for shared housing. He eventually settled for a storage shed in the historic Hamar Weyne district, paying $30 (£23) per month for shelter.
“People perceive me as cursed,” he sighs. “They frequently toss saltwater and raw eggs onto my doorstep, believing this will shield them from me.”
Elmi managed to secure a job as a cleaner at a restaurant, earning a modest daily wage ranging from $1.40 to $4 (£3). Unfortunately, his employment was short-lived, as customers stopped visiting the restaurant, fearing they would contract albinism—a misconception, as it is a genetic condition and not contagious.
“I went from one restaurant to another in search of employment, but no one would hire me,” he recounts. “I resorted to begging on the streets, displaying a sign with my phone number for people to make mobile payments.”
Income from begging scarcely covers his basic needs, including meals and rent, let alone the essential sunblock and glasses required to shield his sensitive skin and eyes. Individuals with albinism lack or have minimal melanin, the pigment that provides natural protection from the sun and determines eye, hair, and skin color.
“I cannot afford sunglasses,” Elmi laments. “The market where I beg is filled with dust and heavily polluted traffic. My eyes are in constant pain, and my vision is deteriorating rapidly.”
“At times, people offer me their leftover food, but there are moments when I have nothing to eat.”
Mr Mohamed’s dreams of running away to Mogadishu to earn money to send back to his family, especially his albino brothers, have been shattered.
The head of Somalia’s albino association, Mohamed Abukar Abdiqadir, with his children
It is not clear how many people with albinism live in Somalia as there is no data available. The country has been affected by conflict and instability for more than three decades so it is impossible to gather reliable information.
Earlier this year, about 80 families living with albinism in Mogadishu came together to form an association, Somali Albinos, which they hope will raise awareness about their plight and help reduce stigma.
So far, they have been sent 86 bottles of sun cream from Somali women living in the diaspora.
It is recommended that people with albinism wear high-factor sunscreen, protective clothing and sunglasses to reduce exposure to sunlight.
Their lack of melanin means they are at increased risk of getting sunburn and skin cancer. It also leads to eye problems as melanin is involved in the development of the retina, the thin layer of cells at the back of the eye.
“Other Somalis with disabilities have formed organisations which lobby for help from the government and international organisations,” says the group’s chairman, 40 year-old Mohamed Abukar Abdiqadir. “They now have rights. We don’t.”
“I was elected as the leader of our association because I am a hero and I never give up,” says Mr Abdiqadir, who has six children. Like him, they all live with albinism.
He scrapes together a living by selling dried and tinned food from a trolley in Hamar Weyne market. He always wears a hat to protect himself from the harsh sun.
“The reason people hate and fear us is ignorance,” he says.
“The evil and discrimination we face must not stop us from fighting for our rights and feeding our families. If Somalis learn about albinism, they will realise we are people just like them.”
Asha Gele Mother of children with albinism
Currently, discrimination against individuals with albinism is so deeply entrenched that children with this condition rarely have the opportunity to receive an education.
Asha Gele, a mother of two sons living with albinism, shares the heartbreaking decision she had to make: “I had to withdraw my children from school because they were subjected to daily stoning incidents,” she reveals. “The delicate nature of their skin suffered extensive damage from the stones thrown at them. Now, I keep them indoors all day, every day. While they may miss out on an education and the chance to interact with other children, at least they are safe.”
The family resides in a makeshift two-room dwelling in the Huriwa district of north Mogadishu, paying $40 a month for accommodation. Their home is constructed with old fabric and weathered, rusted corrugated iron sheets, providing insufficient protection against the harsh sunlight that relentlessly burns the children’s skin.
Mrs. Gele reminisces about her previous livelihood, selling vegetables in the market, which she was forced to abandon to care for her children. The family now grapples with survival on the meager income of $4 to $6 that her husband earns daily as a rickshaw driver.
The strain on Mrs. Gele’s marriage is palpable, as her husband holds her responsible for giving birth to children with albinism, blaming her for bringing misfortune to the family.
“The people I cherish the most – my husband and my own relatives – ostracize my children,” she shares with a heavy heart. “Even my own brother keeps his distance, fearing that they might somehow transmit albinism to him.”
“But I will forever stand by their side and defend them, regardless of the circumstances,” Mrs. Gele asserts. “I will remain patient and unwavering in my commitment to them. They did not choose to live this way.”
On Sunday, the Somali government issued a directive to prohibit the use of TikTok, Telegram, and an online betting website, asserting that these platforms were being exploited by “terrorist” entities for the dissemination of propaganda.
This decision has been made in anticipation of the forthcoming second phase of the military operation against the radical Islamist group Shebab. This group has been engaged in a violent uprising against the central government in Mogadishu for over 15 years.
In an official announcement, the Ministry of Communication and Technology declared that it had instructed internet service providers to terminate access to the aforementioned three platforms by August 24th. Failure to comply would result in legal measures being taken, the specifics of which were not detailed.
As per the ministry’s statement, TikTok, Telegram, and the 1XBET website are utilized by “terrorist” entities and “entities promoting immorality” to distribute graphic images and videos that propagate violence and manipulate public perception.
According to the ministry, banning them will “speed up the war (…) against the terrorists who have spilled the blood of the people of Somalia”.
Starting from August 2022, the Somali military has been actively involved in an offensive operation against the Shebab, a group with affiliations to al-Qaeda. This operation is being conducted in collaboration with local clan militias, and it’s receiving support from African Union forces as well as American airstrikes.
Although Shebab militants were expelled from Mogadishu in 2011, they have entrenched themselves deeply in expansive rural regions. From these areas, they persistently launch attacks targeting both security forces and civilians.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud is committed to eradicating Islamist militias from the nation. It is anticipated that he might imminently unveil the second stage of the military campaign aimed at countering the Shebab in the southern parts of the country.
The Ministry of Communications and Technology in Somalia has issued an order to internet service providers to suspend access to social media platforms TikTok and Telegram, along with the gambling site 1xBet.
Minister of Communications and Technology, Jama Hassan Khalif, issued this directive in a statement released on Sunday, August 20.
The decision was grounded in concerns related to security and counter-terrorism efforts, as well as the perceived adverse influence of these platforms on the lives of Somali youth.
Khalif said Somalia has resorted to the controversial ban to ”protect the moral behavior of the Somali community when using communication and internet tools.”
The statement partly read; “In a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people, the minister of communication and technology instructs companies that provide internet services to suspend TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBET betting applications, which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips, photos and mislead society.”
The ready availability of these platforms has led to a significant increase in their usage among the younger population, sparking apprehensions regarding the potential for adverse influences and exploitation.
In Kenya, the National Assembly is presently examining a petition that calls for a TikTok ban, citing concerns over explicit content and a lack of adequate regulation.
In an explosion outside of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, at least six persons were killed.
According to the Somali News Agency, the explosion took place in the Lower Shabelle area on Wednesday.
The regional governor reported that 12 more individuals, including children, were hurt.
The bus was headed from the coastal city of Marka to the region’s farther southmost district, Qoryooley.
The perpetrators of the incident have not yet been publicly identified by any group.
Governor Mohamed Ibrahim claimed that a terrorist organisation was responsible for the explosion, although he withheld the organization’s identity.
Al-Shabab, commonly known as “The Youth,” has previously claimed responsibility for strikes of this nature.
Using suicide bombers, the organisation detonated a military installation in May that housed Ugandan personnel participating in an African Union peacekeeping mission.
Al-Shabab was also responsible for the 2013 Westgate mall siege in Nairobi, which lasted four days and resulted in 67 fatalities and 150 injuries.
The group has been engaged in combat since 2006 in an effort to overthrow Somalia’s national government and replace it with one based on a strict application of Islamic Sharia law.
The gang originally controlled substantial portions of Somalia, but government counteroffensives backed by friends like the US, Turkey, and the African Union have been pushing them back more and more.
In May 2022, with the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the Somali government declared war on the rebel group.
In a planned operation on the Hiran region earlier this week, Somali government forces killed 25 al-Shabab extremists.
Nasra Abukar Ali, aged 20, finished last at the World University Games in Chengdu, China, on Tuesday.
Her performance contrasted significantly with the winner, Brazil’s Gabriela Mourão.
A video of the race gained widespread attention online as Nasra Abukar fell far behind and barely remained in the frame, eventually crossing the finish line with a skip.
Nasra Abukar’s display attracted mockery and disbelief on social media platforms, with some users using it to criticize the Somali government’s perceived corruption and ineffectiveness.
Her time of 21.81 seconds, over 10 seconds slower than the winning time of 11.58 seconds, has been labeled internationally as the “slowest-ever” in the history of the 100m sprint.
Sports Minister Mohamed Barre Mohamud stated on Wednesday that investigations revealed Nasra Abukar Ali had no prior involvement in sports or running.
In response, he suspended Khadijo Aden Dahir, the Chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation, for allegations of “abuse of power, nepotism, and defaming the name of the nation.” Legal action is also being pursued regarding the incident.
Furthermore, Mohamed Barre Mohamud noted the absence of a registered Somali University Sports Association, without elaborating on its connection to the competition.
The Association of Somalia Universities clarified in an earlier statement that they had not sent any runners to the event.
Prior to this, Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Barre Mohamud issued an apology for the incident and indicated that his ministry was unaware of Nasra Abukar Ali’s selection for the games.
Since Somalia entered a rookie 100-meter sprinter at the World University Games in China, there have been calls for authorities to be fired.
Nasra Abubakar Ali, who completed the race in nearly twice as much time as the winner, was chosen by the nation’s sports minister, who has since apologized.
She allegedly didn’t have any prior experience competing in elite tournaments.
The racer eventually finishes the race with a cheery skip on a video of the event, but is quickly out of frame.
The amateur athlete came in more than ten seconds behind the winner, finishing the race in 21.81 seconds.
The incident was called an embarrassment by the minister of sports, Mohamed Barre Mohamud.
“What happened today was not representation of the Somali people… we apologise to the Somali people,” he said.
Some Somalis have questioned why she was ever chosen because she supposedly had no prior experience competing.
“It’s disheartening to witness such an incompetent government. How could they select an untrained girl to represent Somalia in running?” wrote one social media user, Elham Garaad. “It’s truly shocking and reflects poorly on our country internationally.”
In a press release posted to its Facebook page, the Association of Somali Universities said it had not appointed any athlete to compete in the event.
The Somali Athletics Federation has reportedly agreed to launch an investigation into how Ms Abubakar Ali was selected.
The incident is not the first time Somalia has sparked controversy with its choice of athletes at international athletics events.
In 2016, Maryan Nuh Muse ran a sluggish time of 1.10.14 in the 400m at the Rio Olympics. The average time for the event is about 48 seconds.
However, many praised the runner for seeking to take part in the race and for defying the tough conditions faced by Somali women seeking to take part in high-level sport.
At the 2012 Olympics in London, Zamzam Mohamed Farah clocked a time of 1:20:48 – some 30 seconds behind the winner.
The athlete was reportedly subjected to death threats throughout the games from some in Somalia who believed women should not participate in sport.
At least 20 soldiers were killed on Monday in a suicide bombing by an Islamist inside a camp for the Somali army in Mogadishu, according to officials and witnesses.
The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab group made the claim for the assault, which took place at the Jaalle Siyad Military Academy.
“More than 20 people died in the explosion,” Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu, a member of the Somali parliament, told AFP. “The victims are soldiers who were defending their country against terrorists,” he added.
Another parliamentarian, who asked to remain anonymous, reported 27 dead and around 60 injured.
The suicide bomber managed to enter the base where the 14th infantry brigade was about to begin a refresher course and detonated its explosive vest, witnesses said.
“I was in a nearby military camp when the explosion happened. We rushed to the scene, it was horrible,” said Mohamed Hassan, a member of the Somali army. “The investigation is still ongoing and the death toll could be higher”.
Since 2007, the Al-Shabaab organization has been fighting a insurgency of violence against the Somali government.
Despite a major offensive launched in August by forces loyal to the government and supported by African Union soldiers and US aircraft, its militants were forced out of Mogadishu in 2011 but the organization is still a strong force.
Large portions of Somalia are still under the group’s control, and it continually conducts lethal operations against civilian, political, and military targets.
On Monday, a suicide bomber carried out an attack inside a military academy in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 soldiers and leaving at least 20 others wounded, as reported by a soldier who witnessed the aftermath. The al Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Despite a military campaign launched by government forces and allied militiamen last year, which succeeded in pushing the al Qaeda-linked group out of significant portions of southern Somalia, the militants have persisted in launching deadly raids.
In recent weeks, with the military campaign against them stalled as the army readies for a second phase of the offensive, al Shabaab fighters have intensified their attacks. Notably, in late May, they killed at least 54 Ugandan peacekeepers at a base south of Mogadishu, laid siege to Baidoa for nearly two weeks, and carried out several raids in Mogadishu this month.
The recent bombing specifically targeted the Jale Siyaad military academy, and the casualties included soldiers who had traveled from the Lower Shabelle region to the capital for training. Captain Ali Farah, who knew some of the victims, reported that he was aware of at least 10 deaths thus far.
“The soldiers were being counted in the queue when the suicide bomber blew himself up,” Farah said.
In a statement, Al Shabaab claimed that the bomber had injured 124 people in addition to killing 73 soldiers. Usually, the group provides casualty estimates that are far higher than those made available by the authorities.
Since 2006, Al Shabaab has fought to overthrow Somalia’s national government and install its own system of governance based on a strict application of Islamic Sharia law.
The African Union (AU) force in Somalia has handed over three more military bases to the Somali army as part of a gradual withdrawal meant to conclude by the end of next year.
By the end of June the plan is to withdraw around 2,000 troops from Somalia.
Tuesday’s handover took place in Adale, Mirtaqwa and Hajji Ali, in the Middle Shabelle region, bases which fell under the control of the mission’s Burundian contingent.
So far this year the AU force has handed over six military bases, five of them in Middle Shabelle.
The first base, located in Heliwa district of the capital, Mogadishu, was handed over on 22 January. It was also run by Burundian forces.
It is not clear how many AU soldiers have already been withdrawn from Somalia.
Somalia has been training new soldiers in Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea to replace some 19,000 AU troops currently deployed.
This is happening as Somalia prepares for the second phase of a major military offensive against al-Shabab.
The al-Qaeda-linked militant group has released a new video showing the graduation of hundreds of new fighters.
In fighting on Tuesday outside parliament in Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in northern Somalia, between local security personnel and armed militiamen supporting the opposition, at least eight people were killed, according to police and witnesses.
The violent clashes in the state capital, Garowe, occurred during a parliamentary session to debate amendments to the local constitution, which the opposition sees as an attempt by the President of Puntland to extend his term of office.
“Eight people were killed in the clashes and around ten others were injured, including civilians”, said Abdiweli Hassan, a police officer in Garowe.
The clashes broke out when armed men loyal to opposition members clashed with security forces protecting parliament and tried to disrupt the session, he said, assuring that calm had now returned.
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called on both parties to settle their differences through dialogue “rather than arms”.
One witness, Mohamed Nur Ali, said he had seen six bodies. “The clashes were very intense, and both sides used heavy machine guns,” he added.
Another witness, Nimo Adan, said she was caught in the firefight and saw several people killed.
In May, Puntland held local elections, the first direct elections in Somalia for more than half a century, outside the breakaway region of Somaliland.
The opposition accused the President of Puntland State, Said Abdullahi Deni, of manipulating the electoral process and seeking to amend the Constitution to allow him to extend his term of office, which ends in January 2024.
An arid, oil-rich region in north-east Somalia, Puntland declared its autonomy in 1998 and relations with the central government in Mogadishu have often been strained.
Somalia has not held a national election by direct universal suffrage since 1969, when the dictator Siad Barré took power in this country in the Horn of Africa.
At the end of May, Somalia announced the signing of an agreement between the government and the federated states providing for the introduction of direct universal suffrage from 2024 and the transition to a presidential system.
The agreement is intended to put into practice the often repeated but never implemented promise of “one person, one vote” from the local elections scheduled for 30 June 2024.
Up until now, elections have been held according to a complex indirect process based on the clans that structure Somali society.
But opposition figures have denounced the overhaul of the political system, rejecting the new electoral timetable which provides for elections to the parliaments and presidencies of the federated states on 30 November 2024, which would mean a de facto extension of the terms of office of some presidents, including Said Abdullahi Deni, due to expire before that date.
Eritrea has re-joined the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), the regional organization for East Africa after 16 years of absence.
Information Minister Yemane Meskel tweeted on Monday that Eritrea “resumed its activity” and took its seat at the ongoing Igad summit in neighbouring Djibouti.
The regional grouping’s executive secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, said he was “delighted to welcome Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh” as he joined the meeting.
Eritrea suspended its membership of the body in 2007 in protest against Ethiopia’s military intervention in Somalia and alleged manipulation of the organisation by external forces.
Igad is made up of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
The UPDF found something when they took back control of a base in Buulo Mareer. It’s about 120 kilometers away from Mogadishu. The government of Uganda announced this on Twitter.
During that mission, the UPDF found 54 dead soldiers. One of them was Lt Col Edward Nyororo, who was the leader.
After Ugandan troops reclaimed the base, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced that two commanders who ordered their soldiers to retreat during the May 26 militant attack would face a court martial.
“The mistake was made by two commanders, Maj. Oluka and Maj. Obbo, who ordered the soldiers to retreat. They have been apprehended and will face charges in the Court Martial,” the president said via Twitter.
Ugandan soldiers are stationed at the forward operating base as a peacekeeping force.
Al-Shabaab launched the deadly attack on the military base using Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices and suicide bombers, the African Union said last week.
Unverified images shared on jihadi media channels showed about a dozen Ugandan troops, with arms restrained behind their backs, being captured by the militants.
The militant group’s move has drawn condemnations from the US and the European Union.
“We express our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and friends and wish a full recovery to those injured. The United States commends the bravery and sacrifice of the troops participating in this important mission. We stand with our Somali and African Union partners in the fight to defeat terrorism and to advance peace and stability for the Somali people,” the US State Department said.
In an earlier statement, the European Union said the attack only reinforces its commitment “to stand with the region and to hold to account those responsible for these continuously heinous assaults against Somali citizens and those seeking to stabilize the situation in the country.”
Explosions occur as Ugandan forces combat militas.On Friday morning, the extremist al-Shabab organization launched an attack on a Ugandan soldier post of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) in Bulla Mareer district, Lower Shabelle region, Somalia.The attack began immediately after morning prayers.
It started with a large explosion, believed to be an explosives-laden vehicle.Buulo Mareer is about 110km (68 miles) from the capital, Mogadishu.
Residents reported that after the big explosion, two more explosions occurred in the camp, before a fight started between the Ugandan troops and the attackers.Al-Shabab said they captured the camp and killed dozens of ATMIS soldiers, but there has been no independent confirmation of the group’s claim.
ATMIS says its forces are currently assessing the security situation in the area but no word yet from the Somali government regarding the attack.Ugandan army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye told Kenya’s Daily Nation that the military was probing the attack. He blamed “foreign insurgents” for the raid without giving further details.
The actual damage caused by the attack is not yet known. Civilians have remained inside their houses and though some of the bullets being fired hit their houses, no damage has been reported.
Some residents in Bulo Mareer told the BBC that they could hear the sound of helicopters hovering over.
Almost 250,000 people in central Somalia have had to flee their homes after a river flooded the town of Beledweyne.
People had to shelter under trees after the Shabelle river burst its banks, meaning 99% of those living in the town and surrounding areas are now homeless, Hirshabelle State Interior Minister Abdirahmaan Dahir Gure told BBC Somali.
The UN is warning that the floodwaters could also hit Bulo Burde town, some 110 km (68 miles) away.
Climate change is believed to have played a large role. According to Somali government officials, heavy downpours in Somalia and upstream in the Ethiopian highlands triggered flash floods that washed away homes, crops, and livestock.
Somalia is just starting to recover from the worst drought in several decades after almost five successive rainy seasons failed, triggering a near-catastrophic humanitarian situation.
According to the UN, the rains are recharging water sources and helping vegetation to grow but it will take much more sustained rainfall to alleviate the impact of the recent drought.
Following a devastating flood in the town of Beledweyne, central Somalia, nearly 250,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes.
The overflow of the Shabelle river resulted in the town and surrounding areas being submerged, rendering approximately 99% of the population homeless, as reported by Abdirahmaan Dahir Gure, the Interior Minister of Hirshabelle State, in an interview with BBC Somali.
There are concerns that the floodwaters may also affect Bulo Burde town, located approximately 110 km (68 miles) away, prompting warnings from the United Nations (UN).
Floodwaters in central Somalia left thousands of families displaced in Beledweyne, the most densely populated city in the region.
Rising water levels forced a number of important facilities to close including government offices and the main hospital. pic.twitter.com/y2lcOtg5ka
Climate change is believed to have significantly contributed to this disaster. Heavy rainfall in Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands upstream triggered flash floods, causing extensive damage to homes, crops, and livestock, according to Somali government officials.
Somalia has been gradually recovering from one of the worst droughts in decades, which resulted in nearly five consecutive failed rainy seasons and a near-catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
While the recent rainfall is helping to replenish water sources and promote vegetation growth, sustained and substantial rainfall will be required to mitigate the impact of the previous drought, as stated by the UN.
US ambassadors in Somalia have frequently sparked controversy. Indeed, nearly three decades after Somalia succumbed to warlords, diplomats did not return to Mogadishu until after 2012, having managed’relations’ with Mogadishu from Nairobi.
But Mr Larry E André, the departing US Ambassador to Mogadishu, has often tried to do things differently. This week, he began bidding farewell to the locals, just over 16 months after he reported to duty back in January 2022.
Although both Washington and Mogadishu have often pledged strong ties, Americans hadn’t always been of the likeable type here. Mr Andre, arriving during the tense election season had to walk a tight rope, but still had to push through the usual ailments of Somalia: conflict, drought, repressed media and al-Shabaab.
“Amb André enjoyed, while in Somalia, the boundless appreciation and confidence of both journalists and the media freedom community at large,” said the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) in a statement on Monday.
“Ambassador André has consistently been a staunch ally and defender of journalists’ rights and tireless in his efforts to protect these freedoms.”
On Monday, NUSOJ paid the envoy a rare visit to his offices inside the city’s highly guarded airport perimeter wall in Mogadishu where they honoured him with a plaque.
The envoy, in his year-long stay, was critical of press repressions and often granted interviews to media outlets.
“A free, responsible and effective media is essential to Somalia’s full revival,” the US Embassy in Mogadishu said on Monday.
According to him, transparent and trustworthy governance must be based on a free media which critiques every step or decision by government officials.
Somalia has many problems and lack of proper press freedom is among them. Since he set up the first Somali Affairs Unit, there have been 80 journalists killed in Somalia, mostly targeted by militants
This week, he received praise for trying to cut that trend.
“The US embassy, in its capacity acted as a voice for journalists and journalism profession both in an out of Somalia,” said NUSOJ Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman.
Many other sectors in Somalia equally appreciated the envoy’s seeming honest and straightforward interventions.
During a major investment conference arranged by Somalia Investment Promotion Office (SOMINVEST) in Mogadishu in early December last year, Amb André’s talked of reforms as a first step for long-term prosperity was noted for his argument that Somalia must build institutions for international lenders to want in.
“As the World Bank’s largest shareholder, we (the United States) support the partnership between Somalia and the International Financial Institutions,” he argued then.
During the visit to the US Embassy, NUSOJ officials and Ambassador André discussed the importance of a free press to transparent & trustworthy governance.
Some, including NUSOJ officials have asked him to take up local residence. But not everyone was always happy with his speeches. Somaliland, the breakaway region north-west of the country often picked up a fight with him. In March, the administration of Muse Bihi in Hargesia lampooned him for ‘indignifying’ Somalilanders after he called theirs a ‘region’ of Somalia.
In truth, in spite of trying to go its way in 1993, no other country has ever recognised Somaliland as independent. Washington policy, Andre told a local outlet in Somalia last year, is to work with Somalia’s Federal Government and all its regional administrations.
At 62, Mr André may probably be retiring, having toured most parts of Africa and the Middle East throughout his diplomatic service. Yet it may be in Somalia where he could have left an impact and little controversy. His predecessors routinely ran into trouble with federal states in Somalia, and the federal government itself.
He replaced Donald Yamamoto, who served in Somalia from 2018 to 2021, leaving before Somalis could hold the much-delayed elections whose planning also saw him routinely battered by local politicians for interference. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was later elected in May last year, after months of haggling over format.
When Mr André was nominated Ambassador in 2021, he seemed to have found a familiar place. He was once in charge of Somali Affairs while he served as Political Counsellor at the US Embassy Nairobi from 2006 to 2008, becoming a familiar representative for the US at Somali conferences. He would, in 2007, set up the Somali Affairs Unit, which eventually became US Mission Somalia.
“Ambassador André arrives at a crucial time for Somalia’s federal elections,” said the US Embassy in Mogadishu in January last year.
“He is eager to work in partnership with the Somali people and their state and federal governments to advance our shared objective of Somalia’s revival as a secure, prosperous, and democratic nation.”
Mr André will be replaced by Richard Riley, another veteran diplomat in the State Department.
As a result of the River Shabelle’s breaching its banks in Beledweyne, thousands of people in central Somalia have been forced to abandon their homes.
Heavy rain has led to flooding in the area, causing damage to towns and villages and the UN’s humanitarian response agency (OCHA) warned of an increase in diseases such as cholera as local infrastructures are affected
Local resident, Abdihafid Mohamed Yusuf, shared his experience:
“We fled from the flash floods that submerged the city like so many others,” he said.
“People ran out of the city to safety. For four days, the floods poured massively into the city.”
Shopkeeper, Nur Abdulle Hassan, added that the heavy rains had impacted on trade.
“Our businesses have been badly affected by the massive flooding in Beledweyne and the movement of people. This has resulted in a reduction in the presence of our customers.”
The flooding comes as international figures show a record number of internally displaced people worldwide with natural disasters accounting for 32.6 million such movements last year.
Deputy Governor of the Hiran Region, Hassan Ibrahim Abdulle, said almost the entire population of some regions have had to move out.
“Most of the inhabitants of the four districts of the town of Beledweyne are displaced because of the flash floods,” he explained.
“90 per cent of the local towns have fled. 10 per cent are still in the town because they have been stranded or they live in the highlands.”
The flooding comes in sharp contrast to months of drought which has killed tens of thousands of people and wiped out crops and livestock.
It is feared the rains could force many families into destitution.
The US says it has killed five al-Shabab fighters in Somalia during a joint operation with the Somali army.
The US command in Africa (Africom) said the air strike was conducted in Bacadweyne in central Somalia, about 460km (285 miles) from the capital Mogadishu.
It said initial assessments showed that five militants were killed but further investigations were continuing. There has been no reports of civilian casualties.
On Thursday, Somali authorities said they had killed more than 300 al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia.
It comes as Somali federal troops, backed by the US, clan militia and African Union troops, continue a counter-insurgency against the al-Qaeda affiliate.
This has turned the tide in favour of Somali forces, which have in recent months retaken huge territories that had been held by al-Shabab for years.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has made the fight against al-Shabab his top priority as he bids to end the 15-year insurgency by the group.
The US claims that during a combined operation with the Somali government, it killed five al-Shabab fighters in Somalia.
The air strike, according to the US command in Africa (Africom), was carried out in Bacadweyne, a town in central Somalia, roughly 460 kilometers (285 miles) from the capital Mogadishu.
Initial evaluations indicated that five extremists had been killed, but it added that additional inquiries were ongoing. No reports of civilian injuries have been made.
More than 300 al-Shabab extremists were reportedly slain in southern Somalia on Thursday, according to Somali authorities.
It comes as Somali federal troops, backed by the US, clan militia and African Union troops, continue a counter-insurgency against the al-Qaeda affiliate.
This has turned the tide in favour of Somali forces, which have in recent months retaken huge territories that had been held by al-Shabab for years.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has made the fight against al-Shabab his top priority as he bids to end the 15-year insurgency by the group.
The Somali government has ordered telecommunication firms, money transfer banks and other business entities to register their businesses and clients with the authorities to curb money laundering and terrorism financing, state-owned Somali National TV has reported.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Information Minister Daud Aweis also asked mobile service providers to register clients and collect their personal details including fingerprints and photographs.
The minister said the government’s National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Committee has also warned the public against aiding militants.
“The public are asked to avoid any steps that may aid terrorism – particularly the crimes of money laundering and financing of terrorism, which are major criminal acts,” Mr Aweis said.
He asked all businesses to register with the government and warned that any business or properties found to be associated with the militants will seized.
The minister added that licences would be revoked for any company that violates the government directives.
He said the move was aimed at cutting the revenue streams of militants and prevent terrorism-related money laundering.
On Tuesday, the spy agency warned traders against travelling to al-Shabab-controlled areas in response to summons from the militant group.
Somalia has reopened its embassy in the UK after 32 years, in a ceremony attended by ambassador Abdulkadir Ahmed Kheyr, Olympic champion Mo Farah and Somali-Canadian model Sabrina Dhowre, among others.
The embassy in London is expected to provide consular services to the nearly 500,000-strong diaspora community in the UK who are eligible for Somali citizenship, and other services including travel documentation and marriage certificates.
It will also host cultural and other informative events.
Ambassador Kheyr said that reopening the embassy was a positive step in strengthening UK-Somali relations.
The Somali embassy in London was officially closed in 1991 following the collapse of the central government. However, diplomatic relations have strengthened in recent years.
Britain reopened its embassy in Mogadishu in 2013 after a 22-year absence.
After 32 years, Somalia’s embassy in the UK reopened in a ceremony featuring ambassador Abdulkadir Ahmed Kheyr, Olympic champion Mo Farah, and Somali-Canadian model Sabrina Dhowre.
The embassy in London is expected to provide consular services to the nearly 500,000-strong diaspora community in the UK who are eligible for Somali citizenship, and other services including travel documentation and marriage certificates.
It will also host cultural and other informative events.
Ambassador Kheyr said that reopening the embassy was a positive step in strengthening UK-Somali relations.
The Somali embassy in London was officially closed in 1991 following the collapse of the central government. However, diplomatic relations have strengthened in recent years.
Britain reopened its embassy in Mogadishu in 2013 after a 22-year absence.
Her memory of her home country Somalia is all about her family desperately running to save their lives from the war in 2007. They landed in the city of Hargeisa in Somaliland, which was not internationally recognized.
Nujuum Hashi Ahmed enrolled in a nursing school and began her professional practice at the Hargeisa General Hospital. However, her heart was in painting, according to Anadolu Agency.
Her father was an anesthetist but she still held fond memories of his paintings. Now a famous painter, Ahmed believes her love for painting stems from her dad painting and drawing in their compound.
Ahmed said as much as her father loved to paint, he never showed the world his works. It was all kept in the closet. When she perfected her art, she wore a hat that enabled her to attend to the sick during her working hours and when she got home, she wore another that enabled her to place her cherished memories of Somalia in art.
Today, her painting is about the everyday dreams and shared aspirations of the people of Somalia. Her artistic themes are about peace and a rallying cry for the war in Somalia to end. She believes when the conflict is over, the people will have enough to eat and the youth will be able to chase their dreams.
She started her paintings as murals on the road and anywhere that yearned to learn about the plight of Somalia and the devastating impact of the war on women and children. Inspired by her work, the European Union diplomatic office in Somalia engaged her to make murals for them.
Aside from preaching peace, the Somali artist campaigns for women’s rights and political representation in her art. She also maintains that it is expedient for generations to know about their culture and past, and she is undaunted in this pursuit.
Ahmed said that given a choice to pick between nursing and painting, she will opt for the latter because it has been her passion since childhood. She said instead of people opposing the ideals she stands for, they should look beyond her paintings and appreciate the positive image she is weaving around her country.
She also has other dreams which include teaching others to empower them with skills to become functional members of society. A COVID-19 survivor, she recently used art to spread awareness about the disease in Somalia.
Many of the Somali artist’s paintings can be found at the Hargeisa Cultural Center.
Regional leaders meeting in Somalia have agreed on a joint offensive operation against Islamist militant group al-Shabab.
The “search and destroy” operation will boost the momentum built up by government forces who have made huge gains over the past few months, including recovering territory controlled by the al Qaeda-affiliated group.
“The time sensitive campaign will prevent any future infiltrating elements in the region,” said the communique signed by the leaders of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya
It did not provide any details about the operation.
The leaders have endorsed H.E @HassanSMohamud’s multi-faceted fight against terrorism militarily, financially & ideologically while expressing a unified stance against the Khawaaij. They expressed support for Somalia’s quest to assume full responsibility of Somali security forces pic.twitter.com/sK3UB705I4
Al-Shabab, which launched mortar shells in Mogadishu ahead of the leaders’ meeting, has not responded to a request for comment, news agency Reuters reports.
The militant group has been fighting since 2006 to topple Somalia’s central government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
It occasionally attacks hotels, military bases and government establishments in Somalia and in the region.
While regional leaders are gathered in the city to discuss their coordinated offensive against the al-Shabab militant group, mortar shells have exploded in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The presidential palace is closely guarded, and the four shells struck nearby areas.
There have been no reported casualties.
Following recent military successes by the Somali government against the Islamist militants, the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti will meet there on Wednesday.
Al-Shabab still controls large areas of Somalia and is continuing to carry out regular attacks.
But they have lost territory since the government, backed byUS and African troops,launched a new offensive last August.
The United States says its special forces have killed a senior figure in the Islamic State group in Somalia, along with 10 of his associates.
Bilal al-Sudani is alleged to have been a key figure in the funding and expansion of the Islamist militant group across Africa and beyond.
Officials say he was killed during a gunfight after troops raided a remote mountainous cave complex in northern Somalia, hoping to capture him.
In a statement the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said no civilians were harmed in what he described as “a successful counterterrorism operation.”
Analysts say the fact that troops were sent to kill or capture Mr Sudani, rather than using a less risky drone strike, indicates his significance.
Washington says that it is impossible for citizens to return safely due to the armed conflict and humanitarian crisis in Somalia.
According to President Joe Biden’s administration, the humanitarian crisis and armed conflict in the African nation have created a situation that is too dangerous for them to return home, so the United States has temporarily lifted its ban on deporting Somali nationals living in the country.
The US Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday that Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would be extended for another 18 months.
As a result of the change, the TPS status of about 430 Somali nationals will remain in effect until September 17, 2024, according to the department. Another 2,200 people who have lived in the US continuously since January 11 of this year are also qualified.
“Through the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status, the United States will be able to offer safety and protection to Somalis who may not be able to return to their country, due to ongoing conflict and the continuing humanitarian crisis,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement.
Washington grants TPS to nationals of countries where conditions temporarily make it too dangerous for them to return – such as in cases of armed conflict or environmental disasters, including earthquakes and hurricanes.
The US has extended TPS to people from Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Cameroon and Ukraine, among other nations.
In December, a group of legislators from Biden’s Democratic Party urged the administration to extend and re-designate TPS for Somalia because the country is facing “a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by protracted armed conflict”.
“The security situation in Somalia remains extremely fraught, as [the armed group] al-Shabab continues to threaten the stability and safety of Somalia. Violence is rampant, with the highest number of recorded civilian casualties since 2017 according to the UN,” the legislators, who included Somali-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, said in a letter.
The United Nations said in December that, while famine had been narrowly averted in Somalia, the situation remained “catastrophic” amid widespread and severe food insecurity.
A report by UN officials and other experts, released last month, said more than 8 million people face “an unprecedented level of need” after five consecutive failed rainy seasons and “exceptionally high” food prices.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab has intensified its attacks in recent months as it fights government forces.
The al-Qaeda-affiliated group’s fighters were driven out of thecapital Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011 but they still control parts of Somalia’s countryside.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who took office in May of last year, had pledged an “all-out war” against the group. Government troops and allied militias have made some battlefield gains against al-Shabab, recapturing territory long held by its fighters.
Last week, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for two car bomb blasts that killed at least 15 people in central Somalia’s Hiraan region.
Oil has been discovered in the Sallahey area of theMarodi-Jeh region, the self-declared republic of Somaliland has announced, according to a statement on Facebook from its ministry of energy and mineral resources.
After a black liquid leaked from a nearby waterwell drilling site, the ministry claimed it had launched scientific investigations, and the findings had supported the oil discovery.
The region’s first verified oil discovery was made here.
The statement added thatUK firm Genel Energy would start further oil exploration and production.
The discovery comes two weeks after the Somali federal government warned Genel Energy against oil exploration in Somaliland without authorisation from Mogadishu, saying the firm was undermining its sovereignty.
Somaliland, which declared independence from the south in 1991 and has since been unsuccessfully seeking international recognition, said thestatement from Mogadishu was meaningless.
At least nine people were killed and several others wounded in twin car bomb attacks in a town in central Somalia on Wednesday, the AFP news agency reports quoting a local security official.
The official said the attackers used vehicles loaded with explosives to stage the attack in Mahas town.
Militants have continued to carry out attacks in central and southern Somalia despite recent government troops backed by African Union forces and local militias retaking areas previously captured by the al-Shabab group.
UN humanitarian coordinator for Somalia has declared “catastrophic emergency” in the country as a result of the severe drought.
Speaking on Tuesday at a joint meeting between the UN and the League of Arab States, the coordinator said Somalia was suffering from its fifth consecutive failed rainy season.
“The end to the emergency is nowhere in sight. As we gather here today, approximately 7.8 million Somalis, and that is nearly half of its population, have been affected by the drought and nearly 1.3 million people have been displaced since January 2021, 6.7 million people are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity. That is by the end of this coming year”, said Adam Abdelmoula, UN Humanitarian coordinator for Somalia.
The Arab League secretary-general stressed the risks for the security situation in the country.
“Statistics indicate that the numbers of people who are living in pre-famine or near famine conditions in Somalia have increased five times since the beginning of the year and internal displacement is still ongoing. the conflict for scarce resources is dangerously affecting peace and security for society and the political situation in Somalia”, said Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Nearly half of Somalia’s 15 million people are affected by food insecurity.
Since January 2021 that 1,3 million people have been forced to abandon their homes.
Leadersof the Federal Government of Somalia, its international partners, and a cross-section of Somalis gathered in the capital on Monday and Tuesday for the country’s first-ever International Investment Conference–an opportunity for the world to appreciate the progress being made by Somalia on the political and economic front.
President Mohamud highlighted the efforts of his government to create a favorable investmentenvironment to attract foreign direct investment through constitutional governance and stability based on the rule of law and democracy as the country rebuilds after years of conflict.
Held under the theme: ‘Unlocking Sectoral Investments to Accelerate Economic Growth,’ the conference is organised by the Federal Ministry of Planning, Investment, and Economic Development, in partnership with the private sector and development partners, and is supported by the United Nations in Somalia.Potential for investment.
In his remarks at the opening day of the conference, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Somalia, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Adam Abdelmoula, noted that the investment conference was in line with the objectives of the UN in Somalia to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030, and was aligned with the Sustainable Development cooperation framework between the UN and Somalia (2021-2025).
The United States Ambassador to Somalia, Larry E. André Jr., who was one of the keynote speakers during the opening of the conference, expressed confidence in Somalia’s full economic revival and noted that the United States supports the partnership between Somalia and international financial institutions.
In recent years Somalia has normalized its relations with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and other international financial institutions after 30 years outside the international financial system.
The US Ambassador said that ongoing reforms to have Somalia qualify for debt relief through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, will ensure the flow of significant resources to support reconstruction efforts.
The Somali diaspora continues to play an important role in providing much-needed financial remittances, which are key to boosting economic growth in the trade, hospitality, banking, fishing, and real estate sectors. In the recent past, Somalia has focused on improving infrastructure, regulating import and export standards, accession to international and regional trade mechanisms such as the World Trade Organisation, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The gathering heard that Somalia’s strategic location with the longest coastline in Africa for trade and market access and its endowed natural resources makes the country a prime investment destination with opportunities in priority sectors of energy, ICT, banking and finance, fisheries, and agri-business.
In his address at the closing day of the conference, the Prime Minister of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre expressed the government’s commitment to implement legislative, economic, and security reforms to enhance the ease of doing business and create a favourable investment climate.
Somaliahas launched a new TV channel named Daljir to counter al-Shabab’s propaganda as the government intensifies its media campaign against the al-Qaeda-allied militant group.
The state media reported that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud inaugurated the SNTV Daljir (Somali National TV Daljir) channel – which “will focus on anti-Khawarij (al-Shabab) operations”.
Days earlier, the government said it had shut down over 500 social media accounts spreading al-Shabab’s ideologies.
Al-Shabab has a sophisticated media machinery that includes several affiliated media outlets and dozens of accounts across social mediaplatforms.
On 8 October, the government banned local media from disseminating “extremist ideology messages” that would “endanger national security”.
The information ministry said the crackdown on pro-militant media was part of “an all-out war” against al-Shabab that President Mohamud declared in August.
Somali militant group Al-Shabaab is targeting telecommunications infrastructure in areas where a concerted military effort is removing them from the villages, officials said on Tuesday.Somalia’s biggest telecom firm Hormuud said its infrastructure in Galmuduug, Central Somalia, had been destroyed in an apparent futile bid to limit communication and coordination against the terror group.
Hormuud Telecom said the incident at Qaayib settlement on Monday was a result of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) which destroyed the centre and tower. The fall of the mast cut off crucial communication services, the company announced on its Twitter page.
“It’s with great sadness to inform our customers that a VBIED attack destroyed our site in Qaayib, a village in Galgudud region today. Almost 14,000 people lost access to the company’s services including EVC Plus, the only payment method in the area,” Hormuud stated, referring to its mobile money transfer service.
It said a “a car filled with explosives destroyed the area’s telecom centre, including the telecom masts, leaving the area and its surroundings out of reach”.
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Hormuud did not state the costs incurred but said it will rebuild the destroyed infrastructure and restore services.
In Somalia, where the value of the local Somalishilling has depreciated over the years, traders prefer using mobile money services denominated in the US dollars to ease transactions.
Mobile money services are also the easiest way of remitting cash to poor villagers where infrastructure like roads are underdeveloped. But Al-Shabaab know how communication channels are also useful to authorities in seeking reinforcement and coordination between agencies and with civilians.
Somali army and Galmudug State officials confirmed that the militants used a truck bomb, adding that troops defeated the militants who attacked the Qaayib base.
Attackers repelled
Mr Ahmed Shire Falagle, Galmudug State’s information minister, told the media that Al-Shabaab fighters had lost Qaayib settlement at the end of September and wanted to retake it.
“Our forces repelled the Monday attackers with heavy casualty,” said Falagle.
Government forces claimed to have killed 20 Al-Shabaab militants.
It is the first time that companies have expressed concerns of damages caused by the jihadist group. Many people believe that the business community is encouraged by the advances made against the jihadists by government forces and local vigilantes.
Since September, the Somali National Army and volunteering vigilantes have been coordinating battles against Al-Shabaab, routing them from villages they had controlled for years in central parts of Somalia. The programme has received public endorsement from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who recently termed Al-Shabaab as a “morally bankrupt” gang of criminals.
Throwing bombs in cities
Yet the militants have also resorted to a scorch-earth policy. While fleeing villages, they have been throwing bombs in cities. Last week, a twin explosion in Mogadishu killed more than 100 people and wounded 300 others.
The destruction of communication masts now means they also want to leave a trail of damage while fleeing villages.
This mode is also new because the Shabaab initially targeted communication infrastructure where African Union Transition Mission forces operated. In an earlier trend, the militants also destroyed crucial infrastructure by Kenyan telecom company Safaricom in a bid to limit communication between authorities and civilians on the Kenyan side near the border with Somalia.
The latest attack comes just days after al-Shabab carried out a suicide bombingnear a military base in Mogadishu, the capital.
According to the defense ministry, suspected al-Shabab fighters attacked a Somali military base in the central Galgaduud region on Monday, just days after the area was captured by government forces.
The army repelled an attack on a base housing national and local troops in Qayib, a village recaptured from al-Shabab last week, according to defense ministry spokesman Abdullahi Ali Anod, who spoke to the state-run news agency SONNA.
The attack began around 5 a.m. local time (02:00 GMT), followed by hours of heavy fighting, according to Ahmed Hassan, a military officer in the nearby town of Bahdo.
It was not immediately clear how many people had been killed in the raid, Hassan said.
In a statement, al-Shabab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab said the group launched the assault in Qayib using suicide car bombs before its fighters attacked from different directions. The fighters killed several soldiers and stole weapons and military vehicles, Abu Musab said.
Government forces, supported by clan militias, have made a number of battlefield gains against al-Shabab in the last three months, regaining territory long held by the group.
In response, al-Shabab killed at least 100 people in twin car bombings at the education ministry in the capital, Mogadishu, on October 29, the deadliest blasts in five years.
A suicide bomber also killed at least five people and wounded 11 others in an incident near a military training camp in Mogadishu on Saturday.
Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-allied armed group fighting in Somalia for more than a decade, is seeking to topple the country’s central government and establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Its fighters were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 by the African Union peacekeeping forces. But it still controls swaths of Somalia’s countryside and has stepped up attacks since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May and pledged an “all-out war” against the group.
