Lifting the arms embargo is seen by some observers as a means to address the force capacity of Somali security forces and to reassert Somalia’s sovereignty. However, the internal and strategic factors limiting the effectiveness of Somali security forces and… Read More ›
On 29 January 2013, an al-Shabaab “defector” made it through a series of checkpoints in the heavily guarded Villa Somalia government compound and detonated himself near Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon’s home. The attack killed the bomber, two other people,… Read More ›
One issue that stuck out during President Mohamud’s largely successful first visit to the United States was the future of federalism in Somalia. After a warm reception in the Washington, D.C. area, Mohamud encountered significant protests in his subsequent visit to… Read More ›
This is the first in a multi-part series about Somalia in 2013. In 2012, the Somali National Army and its partners in AMISOM and Ethiopia retook major al-Shabaab strongholds–including the lucrative port of Kismayo–and essentially confined al-Shabaab to the southern… Read More ›
Against all likely odds, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emerged as victorious in Somalia’s presidential selection on 10 September 2012, held in Mogadishu’s Aden Adde airport. The results from the first round of voting seemed to favor the controversial incumbent Sheikh Sharif… Read More ›
After weeks of delays and controversies, Somalia’s new parliament successfully elected 66-year old Afgoye native Mohamed Osman Jawaari as the new Speaker of Parliament. Jawari, who hails from the Digil/Mirifle (Rahanweyn) clan, served as Minister of Transport and Minister of Labor… Read More ›
On 21 August 2012, Somalia’s new parliament met in Mogadishu’s police headquarters at the School Polizio to organize the commission that will oversee the selection of the upcoming Speaker of Parliament. The meeting was chaired by interim Parliament Speaker General Musa… Read More ›
The process to select Somalia’s new 275-member parliament from a list candidates submitted by 135 traditional elders has been delayed because the list contains at least 50 former warlords and candidates with insufficient educational qualifications. UN Special Representative to Somalia… Read More ›
Supporters of Somalia’s former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo) held a welcome rally today in Mogadishu at the Sayidka monument grounds to support his bid for presidency. Farmajo was formerly PM from 31 October 2010 – 19 June 2011. Reports… Read More ›
Updated as of 19 July 2012 11:42 PM (EST). On 19 July 2012, attackers in Mogadishu reportedly assassinated Maxamed Ali Hussein, who served as the Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Finance in the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Reports indicate that… Read More ›
Al-Shabaab has deployed “hit squads” in all 16 districts of Mogadishu, Somalia, according to an article at Warqaad.com. Sheikh Mohamed Abdi Rahman, al-Shabaab’s regional administrator of Banadir region, stated on a pro-al-Shabaab radio station that the group’s special forces will… Read More ›
Dayniile Online is reporting* that on June 26, 2012, troops from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AMISOM have moved into the town of Balcad, about 30 km north of Mogadishu in the Middle Shabelle region. Sources cited in the… Read More ›
After al-Shabaab’s suicide bomber penetrated security and detonated herself at the National Theater, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) began an investigation to address suspicions that members of the Prime Minister’s (PM) security team worked in cahoots with al-Shabaab to target… Read More ›
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