Despite repeated attacks from President Donald Trump, a federal investigation and an intensely polarized political environment, the Somali-American congresswoman secured a fifth term, while her Republican challenger struggled to command comparable national attention. MINNEAPOLIS (WDN) — President Donald Trump has spent years making Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar one of his most prominent political targets. But...
The confrontation in Beledweyne is exposing the political costs of the Federal Government’s handling of Hirshabelle’s leadership transition. A disputed election in Jowhar, opposition from influential local figures and growing armed mobilisation have turned a regional political dispute into a serious security challenge. Mogadishu (WDN) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has held a sensitive...
By publishing detailed annual crime statistics, Somaliland’s police have demonstrated a degree of institutional transparency and public accountability that remains conspicuously absent in Somalia’s Federal Government. The contrast goes beyond policing, exposing deeper differences in governance, professionalism and political legitimacy. Hargeisa (WDN) — Somaliland’s Police Force has released its annual crime report for 2026, providing...
An Iranian fishing vessel seized off Puntland’s coast was recovered after a 48-hour Indian naval operation more than 3,000 kilometres from Mumbai, underscoring the continued reach of pirate networks operating in the Indian Ocean. Mogadishu, Mumbai (WDN) -India has announced the rescue of an Iranian fishing vessel, the Azini, which had been hijacked by suspected...
With its 2027 budget down by nearly 34 per cent compared with 2025, Puntland faces mounting questions about its financial management and ability to fulfil basic state responsibilities. Civil servants reportedly go unpaid for an average of six months a year, while security forces continue to face irregular salaries. Mogadishu (WDN) – Puntland’s approved budget...
The Somali president’s meeting with three traditional leaders from Somaliland highlights Mogadishu’s efforts to strengthen community ties with the region. But can engagement with traditional authorities advance national reconciliation, or is its political impact limited without dialogue with Hargeisa? Mogadishu – (WDN) Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has received three traditional leaders from Somaliland—the self-declared...
Abdi Farah Shirdon, the former prime minisiter of Somalia, says a negotiated constitution, genuine reconciliation, lasting security, national unity and effective state institutions are essential to rebuilding Somalia’s Third Republic as disputes over elections and constitutional changes deepen. Mogadishu – (WDN) – Presidential candidate and former Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, widely known as...
BOSASO, Somalia –(WDN) — Puntland has begun assembling a new force of around 100 security personnel for specialized training by the United States, signaling a deepening security partnership as Washington adapts its strategic priorities in the Horn of Africa against al-Shabaab and Islamic State militants According to Puntland security officials, the recruits have been drawn...
GANDHINAGAR, India (WDN)—In a startling ruling, an Indian court has sentenced three Muslim men to life in prison for cow slaughter in a case involving 277 kilograms of beef worth just 55,400 rupees, raising questions about the extraordinary severity of Gujarat’s cattle-protection laws. The court in Kalol, in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district, sentenced Vasim Qureshi, Mohammad...
HARGEISA (WDN) — Israel has moved to translate its unprecedented recognition of Somaliland into a formal diplomatic partnership. Its newly appointed ambassador, Michael Lotem, has arrived in Hargeisa and presented his credentials to President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro), marking a new phase in relations that could heighten tensions with Somalia and reshape strategic calculations around...