By Osman A. Hassan Every morning there is a ritual known only to those who live inside power too long. Before advisers arrive, before guards clear the corridors, before ministers rehearse their praises, before citizens line up with their grievances, there is the mirror. The mirror hangs quietly on the wall, but it is more dangerous than an army and...
May 20, 2026
Prosecutors seek 50-year sentence for Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock
Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock to 50 years in prison, arguing that she led a fraud scheme that was “brazen and staggering” and “deliberately exploited a public program designed to feed children during one of the most vulnerable periods in a generation.” Bock, 45, is among 65 people convicted since late...
Shock in Bosaso as Former Puntland Lawmaker Stabbed to Death by Son
Bosaso (WDN) – Shock and grief swept through the port city of Bosaso on Tuesday morning after former Puntland lawmaker and former deputy minister Yusuf Bootaan Ciise was brutally killed in what authorities describe as a tragic domestic incident. According to initial reports, the killing was allegedly carried out by the deceased’s son, Mohamed Yusuf Bootaan, who relatives and local...
Reassessing Somaliland: A Rebuttal to Lord Ashcroft’s Misguided Narrative
By Eng Mohamed Ali Mirreh Lord Ashcroft’s recent article on Somaliland has attracted international attention, but it presents a selective and deeply incomplete picture of the political realities in the region. His portrayal of Somaliland as a unified, democratic, and historically justified statehood project overlooks essential historical facts, regional dynamics, and the lived experiences of communities outside Hargeisa. A more...
UN Raises Alarm as Somalia’s Political Crisis Deepens Following Collapse of Talks
Mogadishu (WDN) – The United Nations Secretary-General’s Office has expressed growing concern over Somalia’s deepening political crisis following the collapse of internationally mediated talks between the Federal Government and opposition leaders grouped under the Council for Somalia’s Future. In a statement, the UN said it had been closely monitoring recent negotiations between the two sides, including the latest round of...
Opposition Rejects Hassan Sheikh’s Call for Renewed Talks Amid Deepening Somali Political Crisis
Mogadishu (WDN)– Somalia’s opposition coalition, the Council for Somalia’s Future, has reportedly rejected a request for renewed political dialogue from former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose mandate expired amid an escalating constitutional and political crisis. Opposition leaders, dismissed the proposal, accusing Hassan Sheikh of using dialogue merely as a political tactic aimed at buying time and prolonging his hold on...
Macron visits Ethiopia as France deepens Horn of Africa engagement
ADDIS ABABA- French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Wednesday for an official visit expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and regional issues in the Horn of Africa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed Macron, describing the French leader’s third official visit to Ethiopia since 2019 as a reflection of the “strong friendship” between...
Official Press Statement: Awdal State movement (ASM)
Categorical Rejection of the May 18th Charade and Condemnation of any celebration taking place in Awdal region. Declaration of Non-Participation and Rejection of May 18th Hegemony. The Awdal State Movement (ASM), representing the collective consciousness, political will, and historical aspirations of most of the inhabitants and communities of the Awdal and Salal regions, hereby issues this formal declaration: We categorically...
Opposition Declares Djibouti Ambassador’s Credential Ceremony “Illegal” Amid Somalia’s Escalating Constitutional Crisis
Mogadishu (WDN) – Somalia’s deepening political crisis intensified further after opposition figures condemned the accreditation ceremony in which former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud received the credentials of Djibouti’s newly appointed ambassador, describing the move as unconstitutional and legally invalid. Oppositions stated that Hassan Sheikh is now a former president. After May 15, he no longer has the constitutional authority to...
Puntland Delegation Attends Somaliland’s 18 May Celebrations in Unprecedented Political Development
Hargeisa (WDN)- In a development that would trigger intense political debate across Somalia, a delegation from Puntland has arrived in Hargeisa to participate in the 18 May celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Somaliland’s declaration of self-rule. In a symbolically sensitive visit, the delegation is being led by Yasin Muse Boqor, a member of the Darood royal lineage, who made...