0
Somali militant group Al-Shbaab has denied reports that it’s leader Ahmed Dirie Abu Ubeyda.
The Al-Qaeda linked group affiliated website quoted a senior commander saying that Abu Ubeyda is alive despite a death announcement by the Somalia National Army.
The Somali National Army (SNA) Radio had on Tuesday reported the death of the supreme leader of the Al-Shabaab jihadists Ahmed Dirie Abu Ubeyda.
The broadcaster run by the military, reported that Abu Ubeyda died in Jilib District in Middle Shabelle, about 410km south of Mogadishu.
The report could not be independently confirmed, but the local media outlets have been reporting about the ill-health of Abu Ubeyda and the infighting within the jihadist group over his succession..
Credible information
A southern Somalia military officer, Mr Ismael Sheikh Isaq, reportedly told the SNA Radio that the army received credible information that the Al-Shabaab leader died of kidney failure.
He gave no date for of the death.
Abu Ubeyda assumed the leadership of the Al-Shabaab in December 2014, three months after his predecessor Ahmed Abdi Godane alias Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, was killed in a US drone attack.
The jihadist group has neither confirmed nor denied the alleged death of its supreme leader.
Enemies of Islam
The US is known to have placed $6 million bounty on the head of the Al-Shabaab leader.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab emerged as the armed wing of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which later splintered into several factions after its defeat in 2006 by the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Ethiopian military.
The group describes itself as waging jihad against "enemies of Islam”, and is fighting against the Federal Government and the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom
Somalia's Foreign Minister Abdisalam Omer Dhaay has quickly become one of the most promising and effective young diplomats to emerge in recent years. In a political landscape too often dominated by internal disputes and inconsistent foreign policy, Dhaay stands out for his professionalism, clarity, and modern diplomatic approach. Full Article
Mogadishu – Somalia's Military Court has officially begun the trial of a senior al-Shabaab official, in a case that is being viewed as one of the most significant legal proceedings against the militant group in recent years. Full Article
Mogadishu – Former Somali President and opposition leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has strongly condemned the arrest of Nabadoon Cabdirisaaq Nuur Xalane, who was detained today in the Somali capital after speaking out on land-grabs in Mogadishu. Full Article
The International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged the European Union (EU) to play a more proactive role in ending Somalia's escalating political standoff, warning that prolonged instability could undo years of fragile progress and allow Al-Shabab to regain strength. Full Article
Waagacusub.net - Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday mourned the death of Namibia President Hage G. Geingob and sent condolences to the government of the African country. Full Article
The Associated Somali Journalists is deeply concerned that journalists were today barred from covering the meeting of the leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States (FMSs) as well as the Governor and Mayor of Mogadishu. Full Article
Hormuud's Assault on African Peacekeepers Figure 14: African Peace Keepers Hormuud launched a scorching public campaign against the Kenyan military forces in AMISOM in late August 2019. Full Article
But Al-Shabaab derives the bulk of its funding for its operations from taxing business people and most lucrative companies in Mogadishu and control of most businesses in rural Somalia. 51 -Over the years, the terrorist group has established a well-structured and oiled taxation infrastructure supported by courts, road tolls, and loyal revenue payers. At the edge of the knife, the group's operatives demands that all business people and companies pay tax to its agents. Full Article
Al-Shabaab is more than just a terrorist group. In 2011, its annual revenue was in the region of $70–100 million per year. In 2018, the President of the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) confirmed that Al-Shabaab collected an estimated $20 million dollars from South Somalia alone. Full Article
"Hormuud pays an estimated $200,000 every month to the Al-Shabaab", said a former head of Amniyat and now a top official of Somali government intelligence agency tracking Al-Shabaab movements. Full Article
The Federal Republic of Somalia has issued a strong diplomatic condemnation following an unauthorized visit by Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs to Hargeisa, declaring the move a grave violation of Somalia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity.
Washington – U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the immediate cancellation of deportation protections for Somali nationals living in the state of Minnesota, sending shockwaves through one of the largest Somali diaspora communities in the world. In a strongly worded post shared online, President Trump stated: "Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It's OVER!" The message has triggered widespread fear among Somali immigrants and families in Minnesota, many of whom have lived in the United States for decades and built stable communities.
By Dahir Abdulle Alasow – Investigative Sports Journalist Amsterdam – 18 November 2025 =The Dutch national football team is celebrating a historic achievement after officially qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a dominant 4–0 victory over Lithuania in Amsterdam on Monday night.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – In a move highlighting Ethiopia's growing focus on Gulf partnerships, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed Ambassador Jamal Bakar, a senior diplomat from the Somali Regional State, as the country's new Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
By Dahir Alasow – Investigative Journalist, Waagacusub Media Mogadishu | Waagacusub.net | November 2025 A new political alliance is taking shape in Somalia as nine influential political figures — drawn from different parties, civic movements, and government backgrounds — have united under one banner known as the Union for National Dignity (Midowga Haybad Qaran). The coalition, announced through a joint press statement in Mogadishu, aims to create a unified political front capable of "restoring national cohesion, governance integrity, and public confidence in Somalia's democracy."
SOLDA Safety Network has submitted a comprehensive evidence-based report to the Government of Egypt detailing how Cairo has emerged as a key transit hub in human trafficking routes used to smuggle Somali migrants toward North Africa and Europe. According to the organization, the dossier contains testimonies, field intelligence, communication records, and documented trafficking patterns showing that Somali youth are routinely transported from Somalia to Egypt before being moved onward to Libya and other transit countries. Full Article
Minneapolis, Minnesota — Minneapolis police have identified and charged a 55-year-old man after he sprayed an unknown liquid at U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar during a public town hall meeting focused on immigration and federal enforcement policies. Full Article
Mogadishu, Somalia — An investigation by SOLDa Safety Network has uncovered a large-scale human smuggling network operating in Mogadishu, trafficking Somali youth through an organized system involving corrupt facilitators and international transit routes. According to SOLDa's findings, some senior Somali officials are allegedly linked to the trafficking network, having reached agreements with smuggling groups to enable the movement of victims and prevent arrests. Full Article
A Facebook photo posted by Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro) has triggered widespread speculation among Somalis online, with claims that the President is preparing for an overseas trip — including rumours linking the visit to Israel. Open-source aviation assessment of the aircraft visible in the image indicates the helicopter is Swiss-registered, bearing registration HB-ZYI, and identified as a Bell 429 (B429) — a type commonly used for VIP charter and private rental services. The photo appears to have been taken on an airport apron, consistent with charter helicopter operations. While Switzerland is strongly indicated through the aircraft registration prefix HB, the exact airport location cannot be confirmed from the posted image alone. Additionally, claims circulating online suggesting Cirro has entered security "wanted lists" remain unverified and unsupported by official documentation. Full Article
LAS ANOD, Somalia/Somaliland contested area — Somali Police Force Commander General Asad Diyaano has emerged as a nationally respected security figure, praised for professional leadership, discipline, and measurable reforms within the Somali Police Force, while also maintaining close operational coordination with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud amid heightened security challenges. Full Article
Hormuud's Assault on African Peacekeepers Figure 14: African Peace Keepers Hormuud launched a scorching public campaign against the Kenyan military forces in AMISOM in late August 2019. Full Article
Former Intel official stripped from NISA membership Full Article
PM KHEYRE USELESS AND COSTY OVERSEAS TRIPS. Full Article
Abiy says 'New Year' will be celebrated in Eritrea, Ethiopian Airlines to resume flights Full Article
Massive rise in Islamist militant attacks in Africa Full Article
Al-Shabaab Denies Leader Is Dead
Al-Shabaab Denies Leader Is Dead