First Independent Mena Newspaper
In a growing diplomatic rift, Sudan is urging Somalia to help cut off what it calls a dangerous flow of foreign mercenaries and weapons — allegedly routed through Puntland with backing from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sudan’s intelligence chief, Lt-Gen Ahmed Ibrahim Ali Mufaddal, met Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu this week, […]
Ethiopia and Somalia have reached an agreement on the deployment of Ethiopian forces as part of the newly established African Union (AU) Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The deal, outlined in a joint communiqué released on 22 February, follows a visit by Ethiopian officials, including Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, chief of staff of […]
As the Horn of Africa is facing multiple and complex challenges, two important forums have recently brought together experts, politicians, diplomats and traditional leaders to discuss ways to strengthen regional stability and security. The Horn of Africa is currently experiencing high levels of instability and political violence, from the civil wars in Ethiopia and Sudan, […]
A devastating attack on a popular beach restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, has left at least 37 civilians dead and 212 injured. The explosion, which occurred late Friday, marks the deadliest assault in the country since the October 2022 car bombings that claimed over 100 lives. Authorities have blamed the attack on the militant Islamist […]
The defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkey signed earlier this month (8 February) aims to achieve several objectives, experts say, including Ankara’s helping Mogadishu secure its maritime interests and serving as a counterbalance against the recent Ethiopian controversial deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland. The defense cooperation agreement Somalia inked with Turkey last […]
The Ethiopia-Somalia feud continues as Mogadishu has called on Addis Ababa to retract its deal with Somaliland, ruling out on Thursday (18 January) any possible mediation until a controversial agreement with the breakaway region is cancelled. Claiming its territorial integrity has been violated by the agreement, Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated there was […]
Somalia has vowed to defend its territorial integrity by “all legal means possible” after a destabilizing deal inked on Monday (1 January) that has seen its breakaway region of Somaliland gain Ethiopia’s recognition in exchange for the latter’s access to the Red Sea. Following an emergency meeting on Tuesday (2 January), the Somali cabinet said […]
Armed factions in Somalia’s northern semi-autonomous state of Puntland have agreed to a ceasefire after dozens of people had been killed after the state’s parliament voted to change the region’s voting system. At least 26 people were killed and 30 injured on Tuesday (20 June) in clashes outside parliament in Garowe, the Puntland capital, between […]
Somali security forces have brought an end to a six-hour siege of a beachside hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, during which at least six civilians were killed and 10 wounded. Responsibility for the Friday evening’s attack on the popular, upmarket Pearl Restaurant was claimed by the armed group al-Shabab, the Somali Police Force said on […]
Kenya and Somalia have agreed to reopen their common border crossings after more than a decade, amid warming ties between the two neighbors following years of tensions. Kenya has decided to reopen its border crossings with Somalia at Mandera, Lamu, and Garissa, effectively ending a 12-year barricade that began in 2011, Kenya’s interior minister said […]