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Letter from Mogadishu: Democracy takes shape in Somalia as capital swears in new leaders

Somalia has held its first direct local elections in decades, marking progress toward democracy despite security and political challenges.

By David Okwembah 25 days ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Rebellious South West State President ousted

Laftagareen banned FGS officers in South West State from travelling to Mogadishu or having contact with their bosses.

By David Okwembah 29 days ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Resignation leaves President Mohamud 'naked'

The resignation comes at a time the president is facing a big fight on his hands with the opposition.

By David Okwembah 1 month ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Relations with regional states sour, South West State rebels

South West State suspended cooperation with FGS, escalating an already fragile relationship and signaling deepening divisions within the country's federal system.

By David Okwembah 1 month ago

Letter from Mogadishu: President extends his tenure for one year

The signing into law of the document adopted by the legislators extended the life of both the parliament and the president's tenure by one more year. And herein lies the problem.

By David Okwembah 1 month ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Somalia joins EAC to launch Customs Bond

Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will join heads of state from the East African Community (EAC) for their 25th ordinary summit this Saturday, March 7 in Arusha.

By David Okwembah 1 month ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Are we looking at a constitutional crisis in Somalia?

The diplomatic community in Mogadishu has been in a frenzy as they try to salvage what little remains of the high-level talks between Somalia's federal government and the opposition.

By David Okwembah 2 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Somalia integrates into EAC as electoral talks resume

The signing of the MoU made Somalia, the EAC's newest partner state, to transition from accession milestones to practically implement the regional systems.

By David Okwembah 2 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Rush to finalise constitution as polls beckon

Somalia is rushing to align the country's Provisional Constitution ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for May.

By David Okwembah 2 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Security scuppers Somalia polls consultative talks

The country woke up to a stand-off after President Mohamud ordered planes carrying Puntland and Jubaland presidents to turn back mid-flight, denying them permission to land in Mogadishu.

By David Okwembah 2 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Constitutional dialogue on elections set for Sunday

Somalia is preparing this weekend for make-or-break talks on constitutional reforms as the country gears up for general elections expected to be held in May.

By David Okwembah 3 months ago

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Letter from Mogadishu: Government meets opposition on forthcoming polls

Somalia's full participation in EALA is considered a cornerstone of that membership, giving Mogadishu a direct voice in shaping regional laws and policies

By David Okwembah 3 months ago

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Letter from Mogadishu: Powerful lesson from region for upcoming Somalia's poll

The election fever in the region has also hit some of the member states in Somalia with Puntland and Jubaland particularly unhappy with developments in Mogadishu.

By David Okwembah 3 months ago

Top Israeli Minister jets into Somaliland, rubberstamps deal

During his visit, Saar was pictured meeting Somaliland's President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, as he declared in an official statement that, "unlike 'Palestine', Somaliland is not a virtual state."

By David Okwembah 3 months ago

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Israel rattles Somalia as it assumes UN security Council chair

Somalia's president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has warned that recognition of Somaliland could export regional conflicts to the Horn of Africa.

By David Okwembah 4 months ago

Ballots replace bullets as Mogadishu elects local leaders

Mogadishu was virtually under lockdown on Thursday as thousands of Somali nationals turned out in their numbers to exercise their democratic right to pick representatives to the regional council.

By David Okwembah 4 months ago

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Somalia enters unchartered waters as election disputes intensify

Attempts to mend ties between the Federal Government and key states, specifically Puntland and Jubbaland, have largely collapsed.

By David Okwembah 4 months ago

Letter From Mogadishu: Somalia in the throes of drought and hunger

The drought conditions in the country are spreading fast, compounding an already serious humanitarian situation with affected areas facing critical water and food shortages, among other needs.

By David Okwembah 5 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Somalis in the US on edge as Trump frets

The Somali community in the United States is on the edge.

By David Okwembah 5 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: The e-visa glitch and high stakes 2026 presidential race

The electronic visa platform that the Somalia government put in place last month and touted it as the panacea to its immigration and citizenship problem came down tumbling last week.

By David Okwembah 5 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Qatari leaning alliance and piracy are back

The new alliance will hopefully take on the one fronted by the incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud known as the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP).

By David Okwembah 5 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Universal suffrage vis a vis the Tanzanian election

The Tanzanian election was boycotted by key opposition leaders after the candidate for the leading opposition party Tundu Lissu was imprisoned and barred from participating in the polls.

By David Okwembah 5 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: The new e-visa controversy sours relations

While rolling out the system, Somalia's internal security minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag it will make it easier for foreigners to apply for a visa from anywhere in the world.

By David Okwembah 6 months ago

Somalia races to deepen integration with East African Community

Somalia's integration into the East African Community has gathered momentum with last week's election of nine members to join the legislative arm that sits in Arusha.

By David Okwembah 6 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Somalia President in shuttle diplomacy

While Mohamud described his visit as aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between his country and Ethiopia there was a deeper reason for him to make this undisclosed trip.

By David Okwembah 6 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Somalia scores diplomatic coup as it embraces Swahili

The Swahili language got a major boost when Somalia announced plans to accelerate its introduction into the country's curriculum for schools and universities.

By David Okwembah 6 months ago

Letter from Mogadishu: Election fever in the region as Somalia debates about which system

Three member states of the East African Community (EAC) are in the throes of a general election that will either birth a new president or give the incumbents a new mandate.

By David Okwembah 7 months ago

Multi-million oxygen plant in Kilifi to employ 3,000 people

The construction of two mega medical oxygen plants at the cost of Sh2.8 billion in Kenya and Tanzania by MedAccess has begun. It was not clear how much each plant will cost.

By David Okwembah 9 months ago

Somalia's Sufi sect transforms into party, eyes 2026 presidency

One of Somalia's leading Muslim sects has transformed into a political party and plans to contest for presidential elections set for May 2026.

By David Okwembah 11 months ago

Somalia training special armed unit to face off with al-Shabaab

The Somali army is training a special force skilled in asymmetrical warfare to deal with terror gang, al- Shabaab, which has held the country under a stranglehold for the past 20 years.

By David Okwembah 11 months ago

Somalia trains special force to battle Al Shabaab as AU pulls out

The Somali army is training a special force armed with skills on how to engage in asymmetrical warfare to deal with the terror gang, Al Shabaab.

By David Okwembah 11 months ago

Somalia rolls out voter registration after 56 years of electoral drought

More than 56 years since Somali nationals last cast their vote, the country's National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has embarked on a massive process of registering voters.

By David Okwembah 11 months ago

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Mogadishu's renewal: Where bombs once fell, skyscrapers rise

Sleek skyscrapers now stand defiantly against the Mogadishu skyline, while glitzy shopping malls line the capital's streets, interspersed with modern office blocks and elegant cafes.

By David Okwembah 11 months ago

PS Omollo: Shakahola operation to end soon

Makenzi has denied any involvement in the existence of mass graves. Kenyans urged to exercise patience, perpetrators to be brought to justice through legal proceedings.

By David Okwembah 2 years ago

Farmaajo stands on shaky ground as Somalia goes to the polls on Sunday

On Sunday, May 15, 2022, Somalia presidential elections will take place, as announced by the Presidential Election Committee.

By David Okwembah 3 years ago

Somalia’s Farmaajo faces tough battle to break jinx of one term

President Mohamed Farmaajo goes into this year’s election knowing that the country has a history of not having re-elected an incumbent since some...

By David Okwembah 4 years ago

Somalia polls have been marred by graft and outright thuggery

Unlike in many elections conducted through universal suffrage, the Somali elections are conducted through an indirect electoral process

By David Okwembah 4 years ago