The United States is deploying “a few dozen” troops to Somalia to assist the national army and conduct unspecified security operations, a US military spokeswoman said Saturday. The soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, a light infantry unit trained for air assaults, will mainly train and equip Somalia’s army “to better fight Al-Shabab,” an Al-Qaeda … Read more
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the international community to take action to avert famine in Somalia where a biting drought has left three million people going hungry. Somalia is facing its third famine in the 25 years that it has been embroiled in civil war and anarchy. A 2011 famine left 260,000 … Read more
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in Somalia Tuesday to discuss a hunger crisis which has pushed the country to the verge of famine with new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. “The combination of conflict, drought, climate change, diseases and cholera is a nightmare,” Guterres told journalists during the flight to Mogadishu. “It’s essentially a visit … Read more
He was sworn by Prez of Supreme Court in front of legislators A little more on the opening of the Somali parliament: Hassan Ali Kheyre has been confirmed as prime minister and sworn in. Mr Kheyre will now work on putting together a cabinet. #BREAKING The Somali Parliament approved the the new prime minister, Hassan … Read more
Hassan Ali Kheyre, a former aid worker and oil executive, was named prime minister of Somalia on Thursday by the country’s new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. Mohamed, popularly known as Farmajo, made the announcement on Twitter. After his nomination Kheyre — also spelt Khaire — promised to “tirelessly work with the president and try to … Read more
Somalia’s capital Mogadishu was under security lockdown Wednesday, with roads closed and commercial flights cancelled ahead of the inauguration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. Widely known by his nickname Farmajo, the president will be sworn-in at a ceremony held in the highly-secured airport zone to avoid an attack by the Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab group which … Read more
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo, the new President of Somalia officially took over the reigns at the presidency, Villa Somalia, today. The ceremony was attended by the former president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who handed over noted in a blue file to his successor. Farmaajo described it as a historic day for all Somali people. The former … Read more
Somalia’s Parliament elected former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, a dual US-Somali citizen, as the country’s new president Wednesday. Farmajo was declared victorious after incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dropped out of the contest following the second round of voting. Amid rising security concerns, the 328 members of Parliament met at an air force hangar … Read more
Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud has outlined his top priorities if the country’s parliament grants him another term, in presidential polls to be held on February 8. In an interview, the leader vowed to focus on establishing security and political stability if he is re-elected. The 62 year old former academic and activist from the … Read more
As far as presidential positions go, Somalia must rank as one of the toughest in the world. The Horn of Africa country has been mired in conflict, poverty and Islamist insurgency over the past two decades. Somalia only established its first federal government in 2012 after more than 20 years of political vacuum, following the … Read more