Five suspects arrested in Bardali blast killing of senior officer

Reports from Bay region in South West Somalia say five suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of Yusuf Mohamed, the Dervish militia commander in the area, who was killed in a landmine explosion in Bardale town.

Security forces conducted extensive investigations, which resulted in the arrest of these individuals, who were transferred to the city of Bedoua, the temporary capital of the state, to complete investigations into their involvement in the incident.

No party has claimed responsibility yet, but Al-Shabaab carries out such operations repeatedly in different parts of the country

 Somali security forces destroy al-Shabab courts in Lower Shabelle operation

Somali security forces dismantled several al-Shabab courts during a military operation in the Lower Shabelle region on Saturday, targeting the group's illegal checkpoints and fake judicial systems.

The joint operation, conducted by Somali military, police, and intelligence forces, took place in Ali Mahdi Park, Balad Amin, and nearby areas where al-Shabab had established their courts. According to security officials, these courts were used by the militant group to summon and extort local residents.

"We have destroyed the fake courts the group had set up in these areas. From today, it will no longer be possible for them to establish such courts again," a government official told state media. 

The government urged residents to rely on official judicial systems, reassuring them that justice would be served through the legitimate courts. 

"The Khawarij will not be able to reopen their false courts here. I encourage the people to seek justice in government courts," an officer said.

The operation follows a similar crackdown last year by the Somali National Army's 14th October Brigade, which dismantled al-Shabab checkpoints and courts in the Lower Shabelle region where the group had been extorting civilians.

 Three people killed in car bomb explosion in Mogadishu

At least three people were killed and five others wounded in a car bomb explosion near the National Theater in Mogadishu's Hamarweyne district on Saturday, eyewitnesses reported.

The blast occurred in a busy area, causing widespread panic and damage. 

Security forces have cordoned off the scene, and investigations are underway.
It has been confirmed that three people, one of whom is a woman, were killed in the explosion, and some reports say that a car filled with explosives was used. 

Security forces and emergency vehicles have arrived at the scene of the explosion, and are working to rescue the victims of the explosion. 

There has been no news from the security agencies of the federal government regarding the official loss caused by the explosion.

 Somali government appoints General Asad Osman as new police commissioner

The Somali Council of Ministers appointed General Asad Osman Abdullahi as the country's new police commissioner on Thursday, replacing Major General Sulub Ahmed Firin.

The Ministry of Internal Security proposed his appointment during the council's weekly cabinet meeting.

General Abdullahi previously served as the Puntland Security Force (PSF) Commander from 2007 to 2018.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud promoted Major General Sulub Ahmed Firin to Major General on Wednesday during an event in Mogadishu. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre appointed him the new Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation on Thursday.

Jubbaland forces kill nearly 10 al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba battle

Jubbaland forces kill nearly 10 al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba battle 

Jubbaland security forces killed nearly 10 Al-Shabaab militants during a military operation on the outskirts of Janaay Abdalla, a village near Kismayo, officials reported Tuesday.

The fighting erupted when Jubbaland's Darawish forces launched a preemptive strike against Al-Shabaab fighters suspected of planning an attack on the town. The militants had been preparing to retake Janaay Abdalla, which has seen repeated assaults since the group was expelled from the area.

"We successfully neutralized close to 10 militants and injured several others during the operation," a Jubbaland officer told the national media, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Janaay Abdalla, located in the volatile Lower Juba region, is considered vital for the defence of Kismayo, the capital of Jubbaland. Al-Shabaab, which once controlled large swathes of the area, has launched numerous attacks in an effort to reclaim it.

While Jubbaland forces, supported by Somali federal troops and international allies, have managed to hold onto the town, the insurgents continue to pose a significant threat in the region. The ongoing conflict is part of a broader struggle between Somali government forces and the Al-Qaeda-linked group, which has waged an insurgency for more than a decade.

Despite gains in recapturing key territories from Al-Shabaab, officials warn that securing these areas and preventing future attacks remain critical challenges.

 

Four members of the same family sentenced to prison for financing terrorism

Mogadishu – The Banadir Regional Court has sentenced Hassan Osman Adam to 13 years in prison and imposed a fine of $20,000 for his involvement in facilitating money laundering activities for Al-Shabaab.

Adnan was convicted of creating multiple bank accounts in the names of his family members and conducting illegal transactions totaling $12,615,109.90 over a period of 4 years.

These fraudulent operations involved an advanced scheme to conceal the origins of funds and direct them to support Al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities.

The court also sentenced the accused's wife, daughter and ex-wife to two years in prison for their involvement in the same scheme.

Special Security Forces Commander's vehicle attacked in Bosaso

 

Special Security Forces Commander's vehicle attacked in Bosaso

A vehicle belonging to the commander of the counter-terrorism unit in Puntland State, Mohamed Osman, came under fire in the coastal city of Bosaso.

The attack came days after regional authorities, who are at odds with Osman, received a shipment of weapons from Ethiopia, a move that angered the Somali federal government.

In an interview with a local television station, Osman confirmed that he was not in the car during the attack, but declined to provide further details

 Egyptian medical team arrives in Mogadishu to offer surgeries for Somali citizens

An Egyptian medical delegation has arrived in Somalia to perform various operations and treatments for Somali citizens, reported DSEE NEWS on Friday.

The Somali Minister of State for Health Maryam Mohamed Hussein welcomes the Egyptian delegation upon their arrival at Aden Abdullah International Airport 

This team of surgeons and medical consultants will conduct orthopaedic surgeries, tumour removals, and heart surgeries at De Martino General Hospital in Mogadishu to benefit 700 patients in the Horn of Africa.

In recent years, Egypt and Somalia have strengthened ties, signing multiple memorandums of understanding in 2022 focused on health, higher education, media and cultural and religious cooperation.

In July, Egypt launched its first direct flights between Cairo and Mogadishu to enhance relations with the Horn of Africa. And, in August, Egypt announced the opening of a new Egyptian embassy headquarters in the Somali capital.

 Somali forces and Jubbaland troops destroy al-Shabaab strongholds in Lower Jubba

Somali National Army (SNA) forces, backed by Jubbaland State's Darawish troops, have intensified their offensive against Al-Shabaab militants in Lower Jubba. The operation, which began earlier this week, is aimed at dismantling key insurgent strongholds near Bulo Haji. The focus has been on the dense bushland of Lagta Anole, where military officials report that several Al-Shabaab hideouts have already been destroyed.

Jubbaland Darawish Commander Ismail Sahardid confirmed that Somali and Jubbaland forces have made significant gains in driving militants from their bases. "We've dismantled several important positions used by the militants for staging attacks," Sahardid said in a statement to government media.

According to reports, the area has long served as a refuge for Al-Shabaab leaders, including both Somali and foreign fighters, who have used the location to plan and launch attacks against Somali and Jubbaland forces stationed in the region.

Clashes between the two sides have been ongoing since the operation began earlier this week. While casualties, including deaths and injuries on both sides, have been reported, no official figures have been released.

These ongoing operations in Jubbaland builds on recent military successes in the region. Just last Sunday, Somali National Army (SNA) forces and Jubbaland security units clashed with Al-Shabaab militants in Janay Abdalla, Lower Jubba. The militants launched an attack on a military base, but government forces repelled the assault, killing at least five Al-Shabaab fighters.

Earlier operations in July also saw Somali forces and Jubbaland troops make considerable progress, killing scores of militants— including top leaders and capturing key areas like Lagta Qubbi, Golhadamo, Biibi, Harboole, and Miido. These offensives reopened strategic routes between Kismayo and Afmadow, further weakening Al-Shabaab's grip on the region. Lower Jubba remains a critical focus for the Somali government's military campaign, as securing the region is vital for ensuring the stability of Kismayo, the interim capital of the Jubbaland administration.

 A devastating tribal war erupted again on the border of Hiran and Middle Shabelle

Reports coming from the border between Hiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, especially from the Jalalaqsi district, say that there has been a resurgence of a communal war that has caused damage.

The battle was said to be very intense and both sides used different types of weapons, which caused casualties including death and injuries. 

It has been confirmed that four people from both sides have died in the fighting that took place in areas under the city of Jalalaqsi, and there are more injuries on both sides. 

There has been no news from the security agencies of the Federal Government regarding the re-emergence of the tribal war on the border of Hiran and the Middle Shabelle, and there is still tension in the areas where the two tribal militias from Hiran and the Middle Shabelle fought. 

These two tribal militias from Hiraan and the Middle Shabelle have fought many times on the border of these two regions, and many people have died in those wars, some of them innocent.

 Somali forces and militias recapture key al-Shabaab stronghold in Mudug

Somali government forces and local militias have recaptured the key Al-Shabaab stronghold of Baraag Ali-Gaduud in southern Mudug. Situated 50 kilometres west of Harardhere, the village had been an Al-Shabaab hub for coordinating attacks.

Military officials overseeing the operation reported that they dismantled fortified positions and destroyed key hideouts within the village, effectively disrupting Al-Shabaab's ability to launch assaults in the surrounding areas. They added that the capture marks a key moment in the two-year campaign to expel Al-Shabaab from Mudug.

Somali forces have engaged in ongoing efforts to liberate territories under Al-Shabaab's control. The capture of Baraag Ali-Gaduud represents a tactical win and a strategic advancement in the broader objective of securing Mudug. By uprooting Al-Shabaab from this critical base, Somali authorities are working to disrupt the group's operational network.

The operation's success also highlights the growing cooperation between government troops and local militias, a collaboration that has become increasingly vital in the fight against Al-Shabaab. 

In December 2023, Somali forces, in coordination with international partners, conducted an airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab militants in Baraag Ali-Gaduud. The strike, carried out approximately 31 kilometres south of Harardhere, targeted vehicles carrying Al-Shabaab leaders and fighters. It resulted in the destruction of two vehicles, though the exact number of militants killed was not disclosed at the time.

 Members of the Al-Shabaab group surrendered to the government forces today

The army and local residents in the towns of Ruunirgood and Harardhere in the Middle Shabelle and Galgaduud regions have surrendered members of Al-Shabaab.

The members of Al-Shabaab who defected from the presented three members, two of them were presented in Ruunirgood, whose names were given as Aden Ali Hassan Dhuhulow and Ahmed Maalin Abdulle who was known as Bukabuka in the group. 

The two men who were presented in Ruunirgood told the national media that they joined Al-Shabaab from the Bay region where they are from, and indicated that they participated in various battles in the country's regions, and now they are separated. They have taken advantage of the amnesty offered by the government. 

Among the members who surrendered is Maslah Mohamed Adan who surrendered to the government forces and local people in Harardhere district of Mudug region. 

This man, who is also from Burhakaba district, said that he joined Al-Shabaab in the Jubbaland region, and he has been a member of the group for two years and decided to leave Al-Shabaab. 

Finally, in recent times, there has been an increase in the number of Al-Shabaab members surrendering to the government forces, after the group faced intense pressure from the government forces and the local people who redoubled the fight against the group.

 President Guudlawe meets military leaders in Bal'ad to intensify anti-al-Shabab campaign

A delegation led by the President of Hirshabelle, Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe, arrived in Bal’ad district in the Middle Shabelle region on Sunday to strengthen anti-al-Shabab military operations.

President Guudlawe held meetings with senior military officials, including the Deputy Commander of the Somali Army Infantry, the Commander of the April 12 Division, the Commander of the 3rd Battalion, the Commander of the Training School, and other key officers.

The discussions focused on plans to liberate areas still under al-Shabab control in the Middle Shabelle region, and how to alleviate the challenges faced by the Somali people traveling along the road connecting Bal’ad and Jowhar.

President Guudlawe commended the Somali National Army, local forces, and the people for their efforts in liberating several strategic areas in the Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions over the past two years.

Roadside explosions in Somali capital Mogadishu kill 5

Roadside explosions in the Somali capital killed five people and wounded eight others Saturday, according to a city official.

An explosive device had been planted at a spot in a street where many young people had gathered to take photos, Abdullahi Sheikh Abdirahman, district commissioner of Mogadishu's Kahda district, told reporters.

“I saw several people lying on the street minutes after the first explosion, and when rescuers came to assist, another blast happeneed, causing most of the casualties,” witness Abdisamad Osman told The Associated Press.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack. But the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, which opposes Somalia’s federal government, frequently carries out such assaults.

The attack comes just weeks after a similar explosion at a beach where more than 30 people were killed and over 60 others wounded. That attack, one of the deadliest in recent months, raised concern over the increasing frequency of violent attacks in Mogadishu.

 Somalia’s NCA, IFC launch regulations to boost telecom competition and improve submarine cable landings

Somalia's National Communications Authority (NCA) has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to introduce new regulations to improve submarine cable landings and boost competition in the telecommunications sector.

During a two-day workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, the NCA and IFC gathered with telecom operators, industry experts, and government officials to develop a regulatory framework to shape Somalia's future digital infrastructure. The new regulations will address licensing for submarine cable landings, environmental impacts, infrastructure sharing, and fostering competition among telecom companies. These efforts aim to align Somalia's telecommunications standards with global norms while supporting its economic development goals.

NCA Director General Mustafa Yasin Sheikh emphasized that collaboration between private sector stakeholders and regulators is crucial for advancing Somalia's digital connectivity. Sheikh added that Somalia's telecom sector can better serve consumers and contribute to the nation's broader economic recovery by creating a competitive environment.

Opening the workshop, Somalia's Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, praised the private sector for playing a key role in Somalia's recovery from decades of conflict. He noted that technological and economic advancements are helping drive the country's progress.

The workshop is a key component of the NCA's comprehensive strategy to bolster Somalia's telecommunications network. The plan aims to position the country as a frontrunner in the region's digital infrastructure. With the backing of the IFC, Somalia is striving to establish a more competitive telecom market that encourages innovation, generates employment, and fuels economic growth.

 Mogadishu police arrest ten suspects in connection with violent crimes

Police in Mogadishu have arrested ten male suspects linked to acts of killing, robbery, and other security offences during recent operations.

The Banadir regional police said in a statement that the suspects will be presented before the relevant courts; however, their identities have not been disclosed.

"An operation conducted by the Banadir regional police force, in collaboration with other security agencies in the capital, resulted in the arrest of ten individuals who have committed acts of killing, wounding, and robbery in various districts of Mogadishu," the statement said.

The police command urged residents to report any individuals involved in security-related activities to their nearest police station to maintain safety in the city.

 

Somali PM calls on people to protect unity, independence

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has made a fervent appeal to the Somali people to protect their unity and independence.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Somali Ministry of Interior building, Prime Minister Hamza stressed that defending the nation and the unity of society is of utmost importance and non-negotiable.

Responding to misleading messages from some regional Somali leaders, the Prime Minister urged communities across Somalia to reject any support for Ethiopia’s ambitions to Somali territory.

He called on leaders, politicians and elders to refrain from spreading divisive rhetoric and prioritising personal interests over national unity, warning that such actions could lead to the disintegration of the nation.

Prime Minister Hamza also highlighted the importance of taking pride in Somalia's history and heritage, and stressed Somalia's sovereign right to establish relations with any country that serves the interests of its people, noting the recent restoration of cooperative relations between Somalia and Egypt.

In his speech, Prime Minister Hamza pointed out the urgent need for unity and collective effort to ensure the stability and progress of the nation

 Mudug youth combat drought with modern farming techniques

 In Galdogob, Mudug, young people are using modern farming techniques to lift their families out of poverty and combat the devastating effects of drought. These youths have found steady employment through skills learned in greenhouse agriculture and irrigation systems, providing much-needed financial relief to their drought-stricken families.

Abdifatah Amin Khalif is one of the young workers who is transforming his life through modern farming. He earns $30 a day working on two farms, allowing him to send $100 to $200 a month to his family in rural Mudug, who lost most of their livestock to the drought.

"I can now provide for my family's needs. In the past, I had to rely on others for help, but now I'm self-sufficient," Abdifatah said.

His journey began in February 2024, when drought decimated his family's livestock, leaving them with only 30 surviving goats. Unable to continue supporting his family, Abdifatah moved to Galdogob in search of work. After weeks of homelessness and hunger, he found shelter with relatives and eventually secured a low-paying job on a farm. His fortunes changed when a local engineer offered him free training in advanced irrigation systems, a skill that has since made Abdifatah financially independent.

Like Abdifatah, Adan Abdi Deerow also turned his life around with modern farming techniques. Once a farm labourer earning just $5 a day, Adan now installs irrigation systems for clients, making between $15 and $20 daily. He now earns $450 a month, sending $150 to his family in Baidoa and supporting his younger brothers' education.

"My life has completely changed. I used to rely on friends when work dried up, but now I can support myself and even help others," Aadan said.

Abdirisaq Ibrahim Mohamud, a Zamzam University engineering graduate, has been instrumental in this transformation. Recognizing the need for skilled agricultural workers, Abdirisaq began offering free training in modern farming techniques to local youth in Galdogob. Over the past two years, his training has empowered numerous young people to become self-sufficient and contribute to their families' well-being.

"The people we've trained leave with valuable skills that allow them to find employment or create their own opportunities, contributing to Somalia's agricultural sector," Abdirisaq said.

The rise of modern farms and greenhouses in Galdogob is providing job opportunities for young people and skilled workers, offering a potential lifeline to families devastated by drought. Experts believe these new farming techniques could boost the region's agricultural productivity, helping alleviate the economic hardships caused by recurring droughts.

The success of Abdifatah, Aadan, and others underscores the importance of modern farming skills in building resilience for Somali families in the face of increasingly harsh climate conditions.