Somali News

Despite regional and international calls for an end to the fighting, Somaliland forces reportedly shelled a neighborhood in the battle-scarred town of Laas'anod early on Saturday. According to local sources, buildings in the SSC forces' controlled areas were destroyed by shelling. The Somaliland government in the area is opposed by the Sool Sanaan and Cayn (SSC) faction, which is primarily made up of the Dhulbahante clan, which is allied with Puntland.  Fighting between militia from the Dhulbahante clan in northern Somalia and forces from the self-declared state of Somaliland has been going on in the disputed city of Las Anod since February 6. The city, also known as Laascaanood, is situated between the neighboring semi-autonomous regions of Puntland and Somaliland in northeastern Somalia. The city is under dispute between the two regions. Since the start of the conflict, 299 people have died, 1,913 have been injured, and more than 200,000 have been displaced, according to information gathered from hospitals in Las Anod. The military bases on the outskirts of Las Anod are where Somaliland's forces have retreated about 50 kilometers (31 miles) further west from their military base in Tukaraq, reportedly planning to launch attacks from there .         

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called on the United Nations Security Council to lift the long-standing arms embargo on...

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) head and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union...

In a bid to enhance peace and stability in the region, the Federal Government of Somalia and the Republic of...

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has ceased food aid to Ethiopia due to allegations of donation misuse, leaving the Somali regional government in Ethiopia worried about the impact on over two million displaced people. The group is part of a  larger  population of over 20 million Ethiopians who are in desperate need of food assistance and depend on humanitarian aid. Working with the Ethiopian government, USAID discovered evidence of a "widespread and coordinated campaign" to channel aid away from its intended beneficiaries  . According to a USAID spokesperson, the agency intends to resume assistance as soon as it can ensure the system's integrity. This suspension could jeopardize the Somali...

On Thursday, a Chinese envoy urged Somalia's political process to move forward. During Security Council briefing on Somalia, China's permanent representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, said China calls on Somalia's federal government to strengthen  mutual trust through dialogue with federal member states in order to find solutions for long-term peace and stability in the country. According to him, the international community must respect Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold the Somali-led and Somali-owned rule, and provide productive support. Somalia's security transition is currently in a critical phase. In consonance with the Chinese envoy, the federal government should accelerate the capacity-building of its security forces and strengthen its independent counter-terrorism capabilities. He praised the initiative by Somalia,  Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation in order to protect common security. Zhang stated that, given all the advancements in the matter, the Security Council should review,  and adjust the arms embargo measures imposed on Somalia as well as assist the country in strengthening its defense capabilities.  Zhang asserted that the humanitarian situation in Somalia is dire, with half of the population in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and 6.6 million people facing food insecurity....

The Somali government has disclosed  over one million  goats have been exported from Somalia to  Arab countries. The increase in exports is primarily due to improved trade relations and the repeal of COVID-19 travel restrictions,  which has resulted in tenfold  increase in number of pilgrims this year. Hassan Hussein Elaay, Somalia's Minister of Animal Husbandry, revealed on Thursday that a substantial number of the exported goats—over one million—were shipped to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj period, particularly during the Arafat days. The majority of these animals were shipped from the ports of two major cities, Berbera and Bosaso.  The Minister reiterated that export operations...

The United Nations Security Council is convening today to address the ongoing political, security, and humanitarian crisis in Somalia. The...

Nafiso Idle Yusuf Sheikh Ahmed, six, was tragically killed by her cousin, purported to be  suffering from mental illness. The unidentified suspect killed the young girl with a knife. The horrifying incident occurred on Wednesday in Mogadishu's Darussalam neighborhood. Idle Yusuf Sheikh Ahmed, the girl's distraught father, confirmed that his daughter's killer was his nephew, who lived with them in their home. "My daughter is the victim of this tragedy. The boy who committed...

Tragedy struck Mandera County yet again as at least four passengers lost their lives and six others were injured in...

Two explosions in Somalia's southwestern town of Bardhere in the Gedo region on Wednesday has claimed the lives of at...

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, was welcomed to the Pentagon today by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, who praised the Somali leader for making significant strides during a highly risky period. Austin noted that the meeting between the two men comes as Somali forces are stepping up and the African Union is beginning to withdraw from the country, which is a crucial point in Mohamud's presidency. "This period will be especially important given the ongoing hostilities — including instability in Sudan — and the...