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Zakariya Ismail Hersi, who was al-Shabab's intelligence chief, called for reconciliation Tuesday while speaking to the media for the first time since his surrender last year. Hersi surrendered to Somali authorities late December.
Some analysts say Hersi defected fearing for his life due to friction with colleagues loyal to Ahmed Godane, the al-Shabab leader who was killed in a U.S. air strike last year.
Hersi was one of seven top al-Shabab officials the Obama administration offered in 2012 a total reward of $33 million for information leading to their capture. It's not clear who gets the bounty.
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
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
Waagacusub.net - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said his country will protect Somalia against any threat in what can be described as an indirect response to recent Ethiopia's move to access the seaport of Somaliland. 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
Waagacusub.com - Huge explosions have rocket the Somali capital. They became incontrollable, as they occur at least twice, while targeting government officials and their offices. Al Shabab terrorists seem to be recapturing the control of Mogadishu after the government troops and police vacated their bases in the front lines in lower and middle Shabelle regions. Full Article
Waagacusub.net - Somalia is mired in out of control political and security situation created by broken electoral promises, egregious abuses, and foreign policy blunders committed by the federal government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. The Gulf crisis, the moratorium of the Federal Member States (FMS), and the surrender to the manipulations of divide and rule of Ethiopia have elevated public pessimism and stoked intense acrimony between federal and state leaders, which have exacerbated Somalia's vulnerability and relapse into chaos. Federal Government could soon be isolated for directionless. Full Article
Former Al-Shabaab deputy leader to seek elected office Full Article
Waagacusub.net Somalia's five regional leaders accused central government of interfering regional issues, amid on-going political rifts. 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."
A new report by Human Rights Watch warns that civilians across the Horn and East Africa are facing escalating war crimes, widespread abuses, and shrinking civic space as governments and armed groups act with near-total impunity. In its World Report 2026, Human Rights Watch documents grave violations in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, and other countries, where conflicts and political repression have severely undermined civilian protection, free expression, and democratic processes. Full Article
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
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
Somalia:Video Al-Shabab leader says he has quit al-Qaida-linked terror
A leader with the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab with a $3 million bounty on his head has announced he has quit the insurgency and renounced violence perpetrated by the al-Qaida-linked group.