Thousands of people are trapped in flooded areas following heavy rains in Somalia’s Jubbaland state, the UN’s humanitarian agency says. The heavy rains that started last month have elevated the water levels on Juba river, causing flooding in riverine areas of the state, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said in a...
Induction programme equips newly rotated ATMIS officers for mission readiness
Twelve staff officers recently deployed to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) have successfully completed a rigorous five-day induction and are fully prepared to contribute to the mission’s goals. The induction, a collaborative effort by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) ensured a deep...
Same Minneapolis mosque in flames for second time in less than one year
Muslim leaders and worshippers are on edge after a fire at the property of the Mercy Islamic Center. The same mosque was set on fire less than a year ago. Investigators say Jackie Little was behind the fire intentionally set on the third floor. Little was also tied to burning down the mosque inside the...
Two killed as flooding hits Kenya
NAIROBI, KENYA — Heavy rains and flooding ravaged parts of Kenya on Friday, sweeping away homes and livestock and destroying roads and electric transmission lines, authorities said. At least two people were killed and at least one was missing. One of the victims died after a house collapsed under heavy rains in the coastal city...
CS Duale urges Lamu leaders to preach peace among communities
Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on the leaders in the Coast region to take the leading role in advocating for peaceful co-existence of the communities rather than fanning conflicts. Duale was speaking on Saturday in Lamu’s Kizingitini area, where he accompanied President William Ruto on a four-day tour of the region. He stressed...
Why Immigration offices remain shut in Garissa despite state promise
When Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki visited Garissa town on June 2, he told a crowd that had gathered at Farmers Training College grounds that the immigration offices would re-open July 1. Six months later, there is no sign of activity at a facility that was once a beehive of activity as residents of the...
The Latest Blunder of the Speaker of the Somali Parliament
Recently we have witnessed Somalia’s latest blunder at the IPU election that took place in Luanda, Angola. The Inter-parliamentary union (IPU) fosters cooperation among nations. It provides for lawmakers a space to discuss and find a consensus on pressing matters such as human rights, sustainable development, and peace-building efforts. Furthermore, IPU provides technical assistance to...
ICRC assists Somali Red Crescent to prepare for potentially devastating El Niño rains
For weeks, forecasts have warned of increased rains due to El Niño this season, with a 90 per cent chance it will trigger severe flooding in the Horn of Africa. In Somalia, where the planting season just started, farmers have barely recovered from one of the harshest droughts in years and yet again find themselves...
ATMIS intensifies joint offensives with Somali security forces against al-Shabaab
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has intensified its joint military offensives with Somali Security Forces, continuing the robust fight against Al-Shabaab. The ATMIS Force Commander, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, at a press briefing on Wednesday said that following the technical pause in the phase two drawdown, ATMIS has reorganised its troops. He...
Uganda court tries army officers over peacekeepers attack in Somalia
The Ugandan military on Thursday said a court martial temporarily sitting in Mogadishu, Somalia, has begun the trial of two of its senior army officers accused of “cowardice” following the deadly attack on peacekeepers by the militant group Al Shabaab in Somalia in May. The General Court Martial (GCM) chaired by Brig Gen Robert Mugabe...