Mark Townsend in HargeisaSaturday May 31, 2025 The breakaway territory’s independence has never been internationally recognised. Insiders say recent US overtures are encouraging – but the consequences could be inflammatory in the tinderbox region. The new president of Somaliland says his state, which broke away from Somalia in 1991, is on the brink of securing…
NAIROBI, May 30 – Kenya’s recent actions, including allowing the self-declared Republic of Somaliland to open a liaison office in Nairobi and facilitating a meeting between President William Ruto and Somaliland leader Abdirahman Irro, have drawn criticism from Somalia, which views these moves as violations of its sovereignty. Somaliland said the meeting between Ruto and Irro…
MOGADISHU, May 30 – The United States and Somalia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening joint efforts against extremist groups, following a high-level meeting in Mogadishu between US Ambassador Richard Riley and Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, officials said Thursday. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fight against Al-Shabaab and ISIS, and…
The Republic of Somaliland’s Mission office was opened in Nairobi on Thursday, May 29, during a ceremony presided over by the de facto state’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro). The event was attended by senior Kenyan government officials and members of the international community, including those from Somaliland. Among Kenyan leaders who attended the event…
Mogadishu, Somalia – The second day of a major opposition leaders’ conference is underway in Mogadishu, with former Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed chairing the meeting. The gathering aims to address pressing political issues facing Somalia, including electoral reforms and the country’s broader political trajectory. In his opening remarks, Sheikh Sharif emphasized that while the…
Larry André, the former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia from February 2022 to May 2023, has warned that clan rivalry and internal political conflicts are major obstacles to achieving lasting peace and stability in Somalia. In an interview with The Washington Post, André cited the election-related violence that occurred in 2022 as a clear example, describing…
NAIROBI, Kenya —General Mohamed Said Hersi “Morgan”, the last Defense Minister of Somalia under the former central government and a key figure in the country’s military history, has passed away in Nairobi, Kenya. His death was confirmed by an official from the Puntland State Presidency, where Morgan had most recently served as a Senior Security…
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appointed Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab as the new Governor of Banadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu, replacing Mohamed Ahmed Amiir, according to a presidential decree issued Wednesday. The decree highlighted Muungaab’s prior experience and track record in public service, noting his previous tenure in the same role in…
Mogadishu, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh has expressed readiness to engage in direct talks with opposition leaders as international partners intensify calls for an inclusive political dialogue, informed sources close to Villa Somalia said. The proposed talks aim to address some of the country’s most contentious political issues, including constitutional amendments, disputed electoral processes, and…
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalan Abdi Ali, met on Sunday with United Nations Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the UN Transition Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), Ambassador James Swan. During the meeting at the Foreign Ministry headquarters, Ambassador Swan congratulated Abdisaalan on his recent appointment, expressing the…