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Somalia beach attack kills 37 civilians, minister says

Mogadishu, Somalia Reuters At least 37 civilians were killed and 212 were injured in an explosion at a popular beach restaurant in the Somali capital late on Friday, the health minister said, an attack the government blamed on militant Islamist group al-Shabaab. Ali Haji told a press conference that 11 of those injured in the […]

In surprise move, Somalia asks UN to end political mission

Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Somalia’s government has requested the termination of a UN political mission that has advised it on peace-building, security reforms and democracy for over a decade, according to a letter the foreign minister wrote to the Security Council. The request for the departure of the 360-member United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) […]

Explainer – How Ethiopia’s quarrel with Somalia could destabilise Horn of Africa

Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Ethiopia’s deal to lease a port in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland has infuriated the government in Mogadishu and prompted concern it will further destabilise the Horn of Africa region.  Under a memorandum of understanding signed on 1st January, landlocked Ethiopia would lease 20 kilometres around Somaliland’s port of Berbera for 50 […]

Ex-Somali leader Mohamud wins presidency to face war and drought

Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed

Mogadishu, Somalia Reuters Former Somali leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud won the presidency again in voting by parliamentarians on Sunday in an airport hangar protected by blast walls from Islamist insurgents whom he must now fight for a second time.  The 66-year-old, who ruled from 2012 to 2017, reversed the previous election to defeat incumbent President […]