Headlines

Exclusive: Somaliland president says recognition of state โ€˜on the horizonโ€™ following Trump talks

Mark Townsend in HargeisaSaturday May 31, 2025 The breakaway territoryโ€™s independence has never been internationally recognised. Insiders say recent US overtures are encouraging โ€“ 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…

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Kenyaโ€™s Engagement with Somaliland Raises Somali Sovereignty Concerns

NAIROBI, May 30 โ€“ Kenyaโ€™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…

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US, Somalia Pledge Deeper Security Cooperation in Fight Against Extremist Groups

MOGADISHU, May 30  โ€“ 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 Somaliaโ€™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…

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Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi opens Somaliland Mission in Kenya

The Republic of Somalilandโ€™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…

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Opposition Leadersโ€™ Summit in Mogadishu Enters Second Day, Focuses on Somaliaโ€™s Political Future

Mogadishu, Somaliaย โ€“ The second day of a major opposition leadersโ€™ 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 countryโ€™s broader political trajectory. In his opening remarks, Sheikh Sharif emphasized that while the…

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The former U.S. Ambassador warns that clan divisions pose a threat to peace and stability in Somalia.

Larry Andrรฉ, 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, Andrรฉ cited the election-related violence that occurred in 2022 as a clear example, describing…

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General Morgan โ€” Former Defense Minister of Somaliaโ€™s Last Central Government Dies in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya โ€”General Mohamed Said Hersi โ€œMorganโ€, the last Defense Minister of Somalia under the former central government and a key figure in the countryโ€™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…

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President Mohamud appoints Hassan Muungaab as Mogadishu Mayor amid political tensions

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 Muungaabโ€™s prior experience and track record in public service, noting his previous tenure in the same role in…

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Somaliaโ€™s President Signals Willingness for Talks with Opposition amid International Pressure

Mogadishu, Somalia โ€” 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 countryโ€™s most contentious political issues, including constitutional amendments, disputed electoral processes, and…

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