US President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit US Steel’s Irvin Works facility in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania on Friday in Washington D.C., on May 30, 2025. [Celal Güneş – Anadolu Agency]

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre have extended warm Eid al-Adha greetings to the Somali people and Muslims around the world, calling for national unity, forgiveness, and continued resolve in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Twin Cities, MN (HOL) – Members of the Somali community in Minnesota have expressed frustration and concern over the latest travel ban announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which targets citizens from 12 countries, including Somalia, restricting their entry to the United States starting next month.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has issued a strong statement criticizing the management and inclusivity of the upcoming National Consultation Forum called by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Mogadishu, June 3, 2025 – Premier Bank is proud to announce the launch of its enhanced direct SWIFT payment platform, transforming international money transfers by enabling businesses and individuals in the country to send and receive funds globally — faster, simpler, and more secure than ever before.

The warm welcome I received in Nairobi this past week is a testament to the enduring spirit of African solidarity and the potential of regional partnership.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali police arrested several suspected Al-Shabaab members on Thursday after an explosion at a house in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district revealed an apparent bomb-making operation.

Getting a job in a new factory in Harfo, in central Somalia’s Mudug region, has meant that Ahmed Abdikhayr Jama can provide fully for his family of eight and has dropped the idea of migrating overseas in search of work.

Beledweyne (HOL) – At least 20 Al-Shabaab militants were killed on Wednesday during heavy fighting between Ma’awisley local militia forces from the Hawadle clan and the militant group in the El-Hareri area of the Hiiraan region.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somalia’s Independent National Electoral Commission has strongly denied recent allegations circulating on social media that residents in Mogadishu are being forced to collect their voting cards under threat of arrest.

On May 4, 2025, the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS) achieved a historic milestone by launching a modernized Consumer Price Index (CPI). This was the first nationally representative CPI. A few weeks later, on May 22nd, the Bureau released the first quarterly CPI report under this new framework. The report provided rich information and analysis about price dynamics across the country. This achievement represents an imperative shift from a CPI that focused only on Mogadishu (Banadir region) to a comprehensive national and state-level price monitoring system. Puntland and Somaliland previously conducted CPI separately, though with outdated methodologies. The move towards integrated national CPI will lead to enhanced data quality, transparency, and relevance in national planning and policymaking.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened a high-level meeting on Wednesday with leaders of registered political parties at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu as part of preparations for the National Consultation Forum scheduled for June 15, 2025.

Bosaso (HOL) – Puntland's elite Dervish forces have killed more than 35 ISIS militants, including several foreign fighters, during a major military operation carried out Tuesday in the rural area between Miraale and Balade in the Bari region, officials said.

Billionaire Elon Musk has renewed his criticisms of United States President Donald Trump’s signature budget bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” in a series of social media posts.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened a high-level meeting with representatives from a broad cross-section of civil society at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, marking a key step toward the National Consultation Forum scheduled for June 15, 2025.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Al-Shabaab militants have displayed a helicopter that crash-landed near their territory in the Middle Shabelle region, following a technical malfunction during an evacuation mission by Burundian troops under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

NAIROBI, Kenya (HOL) —Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro has concluded a diplomatic visit to Kenya, calling the trip a success and reaffirming his commitment to strengthening Somaliland’s regional presence while upholding democratic principles.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s military court on Tuesday sentenced a key Al-Shabaab operative to life in prison for manufacturing vehicle-borne explosive devices as part of a broader crackdown on militant support networks.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (HOL) — A 20-year-old man has been charged after allegedly shooting two people outside Wayzata High School’s graduation ceremony at the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena, including a Somali-American father who was attending to celebrate his child’s milestone.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has killed a senior Al-Shabaab operative during a targeted operation conducted Tuesday in the Lower Shabelle region, the federal government announced.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan to enhance cooperation in the field of renewable energy, marking the latest step in Somalia's efforts to reform its energy sector.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Turkey will deploy 500 additional special forces to Somalia in a significant escalation of its military support for the Horn of Africa nation, as international peacekeeping efforts face budget constraints and rising threats from Al-Shabaab.

Mogadishu (HOL) — In a modest classroom on the edge of Baidoa, 13-year-old Ifrah Mohamed stands confidently before the chalkboard, solving math problems with ease. Her transformation from a struggling student to a budding mentor is one example of how tailored instruction is reshaping education for displaced children across Somalia.

Nairobi (HOL) – Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has once again thrown his weight behind Somaliland’s quest for international recognition during a high-profile meeting with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro in Nairobi.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a phone conversation with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Monday, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations.

Bosaso (HOL) – At least ten ISIS militants were killed in new US airstrikes targeting militant hideouts in the mountainous areas between Balade and Miraale valleys, according to a statement released Tuesday by Puntland's anti-ISIS operation command.

Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland’s Coast Guard has warned of high winds and dangerous sea conditions expected to affect parts of the Gulf of Aden coastline, urging fishermen, tourists, and coastal residents to avoid unnecessary exposure as the region experiences soaring temperatures and rough waters.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Puntland government employees have gone unpaid for up to 10 months, with civil servants warning that prolonged salary delays are paralyzing state institutions and eroding public trust in the administration’s financial management.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s federal government launched a two-day national conference in Mogadishu on Monday to address the growing threat of illicit arms, unregulated ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by insurgent groups.

The people of Somalia endured painful historical misfortunes consisting of mockery of one-person-one-vote political elections that resulted in a military coup, a long period of dictatorship that was ousted with armed rebellion, an internecine civil war and complete disintegration of the Somali state replaced by foreign and clan dependency. Those misfortunes deeply affected the livelihood, perceptions, and conscience of the Somali people in multiple ways and undermined the foundations, values, perceptions, and social cohesion needed for rebuilding the Somali State.

A wise saying states, “Whoever desires to raise a high building must strengthen and perfect its foundation.” This principle, though originally intended to describe physical structures, applies powerfully to the realm of politics and diplomacy—particularly in the case of Somaliland. As a self-declared state striving for international recognition and broader global engagement, Somaliland’s foreign policy must be rooted in solid internal foundations. The success of its international outreach depends not just on external lobbying, but on the strength, unity, and integrity of its domestic systems.

Djibouti City, DJIBOUTI (HOL) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre met with Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Monday to strengthen bilateral cooperation and address growing regional security concerns in the Horn of Africa.

Garowe (HOL) — The Puntland regional administration has officially banned the administration of the Somaliland certificate examination in the Badhan district of Sanaag region, a territory claimed by both Puntland and Somaliland.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government, in coordination with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), has carried out two separate airstrikes targeting the Islamic State (ISIS) group in the Bari region of Puntland.

Mogadishu (HOL) – The Somali Salvation Forum, a coalition made up primarily of opposition members, has laid out preconditions for participating in the national consultation conference announced by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, set to open on June 15, 2025, in Mogadishu.