Somaliland gets a new President
Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo, an opposition candidate, has won the presidential vote held in the self-declared republic of Somaliland. International observers are hailing what may be the first democratic handover of power in the Horn of Africa. The chairman of Somaliland’s National Election Commission Issa Mohamud declared Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo as the winner of the June [...]
Defence Minister Resigns in Somalia
The Defence minister in Somalia’s Transitional Gogernment who is leading the fight against Islamist insurgents, has resigned. Yusuf Mohammed Siad, who is a close ally of Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, said he was leaving as the government had failed to restore order. Two other ministers tendered their resignation letters from London and another [...]
Kenya Will Respond With Force to Any Attack by Al-Shabaab
Security forces in Kenya are ready to tackle any threats from rebel group al Shabaab in neighbouring Somalia, a senior regional administrator has said. The rebel fighters crossed into Kenya from south Somalia on May 27 while pursuing rivals from the Somali Hizbul Islam group. It has been reported that they wounded five Kenyans and [...]
Al-Shabaab Dealt a Big Blow as Somali Government Troops Recapture Key Towns
There have been serious clashes between Somali government forces and Islamist militants. And the fighting has left at least 17 people dead and about 60 wounded in the capital Mogadishu. The fighting appears to be the start of a government offensive using troops trained in Ethiopia, analysts say. The government controls only a few parts [...]
Somali Troops Rescue Panama-flagged Cargo Vessel from Pirates
Troops from the Puntland region in Somalia stormed a Panama-flagged cargo vessel held by pirates, but gang members killed the captain in the operation, a minister said on Thursday. Mohamed Raage, Minister of Ports and Marine Transport said “Our troops stormed the Panama-flagged vessel and engaged the pirates. There was brief fighting before they defeated [...]
Al-Shabaab Attacks Presidential Palace in Somalia
Somalia based rebel insurgents, Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda proxy in the region, have fired mortars at Somalia’s presidential palace, sparking deadly battles in which at least 14 people have died. The government’s forces, backed by African Union peacekeepers, returned fire in a bid to repel the advance by the al-Qaeda-inspired group in Mogadishu. The President, Sheikh [...]
Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke Reappointed as Somali Prime Minister
Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke and his cabinet have been reinstated by Somalia’s president on Thursday after days of uncertainty following a parliamentary vote of no confidence in them. The President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, asked Sharmarke and his ministers to step down after the vote on Sunday. A total 280 MPs had chosen to [...]
Somalia Cabinet Shake-up as Prime Minister is Dropped
The Somali president, Sharif Ahmed, has said he will appoint a new prime minister in an attempt to resolve a bitter power struggle between the current premier and the speaker of parliament. Sheikh Aden Madobe, the speaker, said that parliament had passed a vote of no confidence in the government, but this was disputed by some [...]
24 Killed as Fighting Erupts in Somalia
At least 24 people have been killed and dozens wounded as heavy shelling pounded Somalia’s capital on Sunday. This fighting comes as parliament’s first sitting this year triggered a call by the speaker for a new government. The speaker, Sheikh Aden Madobe, told reporters he had asked the country’s president to form a new government [...]
Somalia is in Desperate Need of International Protection
According to the UNHCR, Somalia is in desperate need of international protection. The United Nations refugee agency is appealing to all governments to grant asylum to people fleeing from central and southern Somalia. The UNHCR warns Somalis face many risks at home and are in need of concerted efforts to end the misery faced by [...]
