By Faisal A. Roble While this op-ed piece does not comprehensively appraise Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s rule in the last seven years, it does provide a cursory look at the missteps and dashed hopes that worsened the country’s structural problems. Seven years ago, millions of Ethiopians, including the influential Diaspora community, welcomed Abiy Ahmed’s arrival...
Mogadishu (WDN) – In the grand tradition of Somalia’s government neglecting its own, General Sheegow Ahmed Ali, a man once at the heart of the country’s security apparatus, now finds himself abandoned, battling liver cancer with no medical support. According to HirShabelle’s Deputy Minister of Information, Abdishakur Shasha, the federal government has shown zero interest...
By Abdulkadir Mohamed Osman Fahad Yasin, a prominent figure in President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s administration, held influential roles as Chief of Staff and Head of Intelligence. His immense influence within the government earned him the nickname “Milkeeleh Villa Somalia,” meaning the de facto owner of the government. Fahad’s central role in decision-making and his proximity...
Mogadishu (WDN) – There are numerous allegations and counter-allegations between Federal MPs, former officials from Somalia’s Federal Member States and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration. These allegations center on accusations of political interference, security failures, and the alleged destabilization of regional administrations. Former HirShabelle Parliament Speaker Sheikh Osman Barre has accused the Somali government of...
By Mohamed Gabobe; Freelance Journalist based in Mogadishu, Somalia.The New Humanitarian “Cases of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and excessive use of force have fostered deep-seated resentment among much of the Somali population.” A new African Union peace enforcement mission, known by its acronym AUSSOM, was launched at the beginning of the year to support a...
By The Maritime Executive Ethiopia and Somalia are on a path for renewed cooperation after the two sides agreed to end the Somaliland port dispute. Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed toured Mogadishu and held talks with Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Top on the agenda of the meeting was Horn of Africa security as...
Kismayo (WDN) – Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) has taken a sharp jab at Somalia’s National Electoral Commission, calling it a “shady backroom deal” rather than a legitimate institution. In a fiery interview with Abdijalil Show, Madobe didn’t hold back, ridiculing the electoral process championed by Villa Somalia, which he claims is less...
By Ahmed A. Yusuf The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a crucial role in shaping a nation’s diplomacy, navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, and safeguarding national interests through strategic policymaking. Given the high stakes of this position, it demands a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in international relations, negotiation, and global affairs. However, since his appointment,...
Washington — U.S. airstrikes killed 16 militants affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist group in northern Somalia, officials there said Monday. A spokesperson for security operations in the Puntland region, Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, disclosed the death toll in an interview VOA’s Somali Service. “The strike carried out by our international security partners killed...
BALIDHIDIN, Somalia — The dead Islamic State fighter was sprawled out on the ridge, bloodstains darkening in the sun, as a line of heavily armed Somali soldiers snaked down the mountainside to a fortified cave — their camouflage uniforms marking a new front line in the fight against the global terrorist group. The Somali branch...