The scourge of military take over in October 1969 was not a bolt from the blue; the threat had been a Sword of Damocles hanging on the head of the civilian administrations at every moment since the Somali Republic was created in 1960. It was an open secret that the military had always a plan...
Toronto’s TikTok teacher reconnects with her Somali heritage
Zahra Hassan moves to the front of her classroom, her blue-and-white Somalia jersey a not-so-subtle hint about the day’s lesson. Hassan, 29, began teaching three years ago. Last year she generated headlines by going viral on TikTok for her 1990s-inspired oversized tops, baggy jeans, and chunky sneakers. Now, she’s hoping she can use her fashion...
ALERT: TV director killed in Mogadishu suicide bombing
The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly denounces the suicide bombing attack that killed our colleague journalist, Abdifatah Moalim Nur (Qeys), on Monday evening in Mogadishu.
Ugandan police foil plot to bomb churches – Museveni
Ugandan police foiled a bomb attack on churches by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group in central Butambala district, President Yoweri Museveni has said. The Islamic State-linked militants were on Sunday planning to plant two bombs in churches in Kibibi, about 50 km (30 miles) from the capital Kampala, Mr Museveni wrote on X,...
Mudavadi, Juma to lead second assessment team to Haiti ahead of police deployment
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and National Security Advisor Monica Juma are scheduled to leave for Haiti for a second assessment mission. The team is set to meet the Haitian authorities and sign various agreements ahead of the planned deployment of Kenya police to combat gangs in the Caribbean...
PRESIDENT DENI’S DILEMMA: THE PATH TO PUNTLAND’S FUTURE
President Said Abdullahi Deni spoke to the Puntlanders on October 13, 2023, two days after he returned from a trip during which he was out of the state for over 55 days. President Deni’s intention in that speech was to maintain the support of his followers, who seemed to have doubts about Puntland’s direction. His...
Feature: “A population of 150 million can’t live in a geographic prison” – PM Abiy Ahmed
Addis Abeba – In a televised speech addressed to Ethiopian law makers, and in what appears to be his first ever open comment on the issue of the Red sea, PM Abiy Ahmed said access to the port is an existential matter for Ethiopia and that Ethiopians should at least start discussing the red sea....
Somalia’s violin novice to TV orchestra triumph in four years
Born at the start of Somalia’s civil war, Maryan Ali Mohamed dreamt of one day performing live on stage. She spent hours impersonating musicians on TV and always hoped to master an instrument. In 2019, she picked up her first violin. Now, the 33-year-old is one of 40 musicians forming a Somali orchestra. The East...
Desert locust swarms detected in parts of Ethiopia
Desert locust swarms have been detected in five regions and one city administration across Ethiopia, an official said Saturday. Speaking at a press conference to state media outlets, State Minister for Ethiopia Government Communication Service Selamawit Kassa said desert locust swarms have been detected in Afar, Amhara, Somali, Tigray and Oromia regions as well as...
Bad Strategies Boost Al-Shabab – OpEd
There is not much left to debate on the dangerous aspect of al-Shabab’s demonic doctrine that proclaims Islamic values and functions as mindless terrorists or bloodthirsty hoodlums, at best. At its core, al-Shabab is what it is. However, in recent years it has been transforming away from its original monolithic nature. Aside from becoming decentralized...