Young reporter Amanda Lindhout was aware of the risks, but three days after entering Somalia, she and her friend were seized. She told Andrew Denton of her 15-month ordeal. Source: Hiiraan Online

Somalia's electoral officials and stakeholders met in Nairobi on Tuesday to sharpen their knowledge on elections management, organizers said. Source: Hiiraan Online

For the second consecutive quarter in 2018, the global maritime report on piracy has put Nigeria on the spot, occupying number one position in the number of recorded attacks against vessels in the second quarter 2018, Q2’18. Source: Hiiraan Online

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held a telephone conversation with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. Source: Hiiraan Online

Uganda’s fledgling national airline will be a candidate for an initial public offering and closer cooperation with other carriers if the launch goes as planned. Source: Hiiraan Online

The United Nations and foreign powers claim they are dedicated to building up the Somali National Army. Instead, they have become complicit in its dysfunction. Source: Hiiraan Online

The August 7, 1998, bomb attack on the US Embassy in Kenya killed 213 people and injured more than 5,000 others. Source: Hiiraan Online

The U.N. refugee and migration agencies have helped 116 Somali refugees return home from war-torn Yemen, although conditions in parts of Somalia remain unsafe. Source: Hiiraan Online

The Bulgarian Navy will commit the frigate Drazki to NATO's Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea in November. Source: Hiiraan Online

The Russian Baltic Fleet’s frigate Yaroslav Mudry has left the port of Djibouti to start an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, Fleet Spokesman Roman Martov said on Tuesday. Source: Hiiraan Online

China has successfully tested a new hypersonic aircraft, a potential "hypersonic strike weapon" that could one day be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and evading all existing defence networks like the US missile shields, according to Chinese state-run and state-affiliated media, citing experts and the domestic designers. Source: Hiiraan Online

Xukuumadda Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya waxa ay si dhow ula socotay xaaladihii ugu dambeeyay ee ku soo kordhay xiriirka Dowladda aanu walaalaha nahay ee Boqortooyada Sucuudi Carabiya iyo Canada. Iyadoo laga ambaqaadaayo arrinkani, Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya waxa ay adkeyneysaa taageeridda mowqifka diidmada ee Dowladda aanu walaalaha nahay ee Boqortooyada Sucuudi Carabiya ee faragelin dibadeed oo lagu sameeyo arrimaheeda gudaha, iyadoo la tixgelinayo mabda’a aan oggolaanayn faragelin ee lagu caddeeyay Axdiga Qaramada Midoobay, oo ay ku jirto gobonnimadeeda iyo madax bannaanida go’aan gaariddeeda iyo waxa ay jideyso oo ah siyaasado ama habab garsooreed oo xiriir la leh shuruucdeeda qaran. Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya waxay rajeyneysaa Riyadh iyo Ottawa inay ka gudbaan khilaafaadkooda si xiriirkoodu u sii socdo oo saldhig u ah kalsooni iyo xushmad is dhaafsi. PUNTLAND POST The post Soomaaliya oo war ka soo saartay khilaafka Sacuudiga iyo Kanada appeared first on Puntland Post.

Asmara (Caasimadda ONline) – Dowladda Itoobiya ayaa heshiis nabadeed la saxiixatay jabhadda hubeysan ee Oromada OLF, heshiiska ayaa lagu saxiixay magaalada Asmara ee caasimadda dalka deriska ah ee Eritrea oo saldhig u ah jabhaddaasi, iyadoo uu goobjoog ahaa madaxweynaha Eritrea Isaias Afwerki. Wasiirka warfaafinta ee dalka Eritrea Yemane Gebremeskel ayaa shaaciyey in hadda wixii ka dambeeyay jabhadda OLF ay si nabad ah hawlaheeda siyaasadeed ugu qabsan karto gudaha dalka Itoobiya. Jabhaddani ayaa bishii la soo dhaafay ku dhawaaqday xabbad joojin kaddib muddo sanado ah oo ay dagaal ba’ani kula jirtay dowladda Itoobiya. Waxaa heshiiska dhinaca Itoobiya u saxiixay madaxweynaha dowlad Degaanka Oromada, halka uu Jabhadda Oromada ee OLF u saxiixay Guddoomiyaha Jabhadaasi Dawd Ibsa, waxana heshiiska qeyb ah, xabad joojin, in OLF ay noqoto xisbi siyaasadeed oo si nabad ah dhaqdhaqaaqiisa siyaasadeed u wata gudaha Itoobiya iyo inay labada dhinac sameeyaan Guddi wadajir ah. Wasiirka Arrimaha dibadda Itoobiya Workneh Gebeyehu ayaa ka qeyb qaatay wadahadalka. Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) ayaa dooneysay in gobolka Oromia ee ay degto qowmiyadda ugu tirada badan dalkaasi Itoobiya ee Oromo uu ka tashado aayahiisa. Baarlamaanka dalka Itoobiya ayaa dhawaan jabhaddani ka saaray liiska kooxaha argagixisada ahi. Arrintan ayaa timid kaddib markii ra’iisal wasaaraha cusub ee dalkaasi Abiy Axmad uu la yimid isbadal siyaasadeed oo xal loogu raadinayo dhibaatada dalkaasi Itoobiya. Caasimda Online Xafiiska Asmara Caasimada@live.com

Qarmada Midoobay iyo dalalka reer Galbeedka waxa ay marwaliba sheegaan iney ka go’antahay dhisida Ciidamada Qaranka Soomaaliyeed, balse waa waxba kama jiraan, sidaasi waxaa lagu yiri Maqaal lagu daabacay Wargeyska Foreignpolicy. Todobaad ayaa laga joogaa markii Golaha Qaramada Midoobay ay isku raaceen in muddo kordhin loo sameeyo ciidamada Howlgalka Midowga Africa ee AMISOM ilaa bisha May sanadka 2019-ka. “ Doofaarka sidiisaba daahir ma noqdo, Soomaaliyana waa sidaas oo kale” waxaa sidaasi yiri Colonel Katirsan AMISOM gaar ahaan guutada Ciidamada Uganda ee ka howlgala Soomaaliya, wuxuuna sidoo kale la barbar dhigay Soomaaliya dalka Afghanistan isagoo sheegay in Taalibaan ay la wareegto meel walbo oo Ciidamada Afghnaistan ay baneeyaan. Xaaladda amni ayaa sii xumaaneysa maalinba maalinka ka sii dambeysa qaraxyo iyo dilal aan kala joogsi laheyn ayaa ka dhaca Magaalada Muqdisho iyo deegaano kala duwan oo dhaca Soomaaliya. Markii ugu horeysay AMISOM waxaa Soomaaliya laga howlgeliyay 2007-dii waxyna dagaal la galeen Al Shabaab oo dowladda ka soo horjeeda, wixii intaas ka dambeeyayna waxaa loo sii kordhinayay sharciga ay ku joogayaan Soomaaliya, hada waxaa lagu qiyaasaa in kabadan 22,0000 oo askar kuwaa oo ka socda dalalka kala ah Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, iyo Sierra Leone. In xiligan AMISOM loo kordhiyo howlgalka Soomaaliya waxaa laga leeyahay ujeedooyin kale iyo in la marin habaabiyo waqtiga saxda ah ee Soomaaliya ka baxeyso taa oo meesha ka saareysa rajada ah in Soomaaliya ay ku tashato ciidamadeeda. Ciidamada Soomaaliya waxaa loo aqooni jiray “Libaaxyada Africa” waxaana taageero siin jiray Midowgii Suufiyeet, waxaa aad u qalabeysnaa xarumaha Militry-ga waxaana ciidamada tababar ku qaadan jireen Taangi iyo hub culus iskaba daa iney ku dagaalamaan. Burburkii kadib ciidankii ayaa burburay mana jirin taageero ku filan oo ay heleen xitaa ma aysan heysan Fooneeyaha iyo qalabka isgaarsiinta ee ciidanka ku xeriiraan, waxey isticmaali jireen shirkado isgaar-siineed oo si qaas ah loo leeyahay, ciidanka qaarkood waxey ku howlgalaan dacas. “Reer Galbeedku waxey tababareen ciidamadii ugu xumaa aduunka waana ciidamada Ciraaq, Afghanistan iyo Soomaaliya” professor Stig Jarle oo xeriirka caalamiga ka dhiga Jaamacada Norwegian University of Life Sciences ayaa sidaasi u sheegay Wargeyska Foreign Policy. Dowlado kala duwan ayaa taageera Ciidamada Soomaaliya, saldhigyo Military ayeyna ku leeyihiin dalka ujeedo ahaan iyo siyaasad ahaan waa ay kala duwan yihiin, dal walbana xulufo gooni ah ayuu hoos ku wataa iyo Istaraatiijiyad gaar ah, waxaa kamid ahTurkiga, Mareykanka iyo Britain, Imaaradka Carabtana wuu joojiyay maadama khilaaf kala dhaxeeya dowladda wuxuu lahaa saldhig sidoo kale Mareykanka wuxuu hakiyay taageeradii cunnada iyo shidaalka uu siin jiray CXD isagoo sabab uga dhigay musuq. La-taliye ajnabi ah oo la shaqeeya wasaaradda Gaashandhigga ayaa sheegay in Ciidamada Dowladda laga dhigo karo kuwo awood leh balse aan loo diyaarsaneyn, wuxuuna la taliyahan diiday in magaciisa la daabaco isagoo la soo shaqeeyay in kabadan 20 wadan. Qof walbo oo Soomaali ah wuu ogyahay in AMISOM aysan rabin iney ka tagto Soomaaliya, waxeyba noqon doonaan hay’ado amni oo si gaar ah loo leeyahay oo calooshood u shaqeysta. Jawaab cad looma hayo cida Ciidamada Xoogga dalka siisa hubka, -Mareykanka, UK iyo Midowga Yurub waxey bixiyaan hub yaryar, lakiin wadamada Khaleejka iyo Masar ayaa si furan Soomaaliya ugu iibiya hubka iyagoo soo marsiiya badda ama hawada, waxaana loo diiwaan geliyaa Ciidamada Dowladda laakiin waxey u gacan galaan maleeshiyo beeleed iyo in lagu kala iibsado suuqa madoow. “ Wax shaki ah kama qabo in Al Shabaab ay xeriir leeyihiin hay’adaha Dowladda Federalka Soomaaliya sir bandanna ay og yihiin” sidaas waxaa yiri Cabdicasiis Cali Ibraahim Xildhibaan oo ahaa La-taliyihii iyo Afayeenkii wasaaradda Amniga xukuumada hadda jirta oo wareysi la yeeshay Wargeyska FP. Al shabaab waxey soo dhexmaraan bar-kontaroolada ciidamada Dowladda iyagoo sita Uniform-ka ciidanka , weerar iyo qaraxyo ayeey fuliyaan, maalmo ka hor xafiiska taliye ku xigeenka NISA waxaa u dhacay askar xeriir la leh Al Shabaab. “Wey iska cadahay in xubno katirsan dowladda ay sirta la wadaagaan Al Shabab xitaa kuwo beesha caalamka xeriir ayaa kala dhaxeeya Al Shabaab” waxaa sidaasi sheegay sarkaal la shaqeeya wasaaradda Gaashaandhigga . Ujeedka xeriirka loola yeelanayo Al Shabaab ayaa ah in ay khaarijiyaan cid waliba oo ka hor timaada dano siyaasadeed uu wato siyaasi ama mucaarad ku ah, waxaana tusaale kuugu filan weerarkii Hotel dayax ay ku qaadeen Al Shabaab oo siyaasiyiin kala duwan ay ku shirayeen. “Dhisidda Ciidamada Xooga Dalka waxay ka mid tahay mudnaanta koowaad ee beesha caalamka marka loo eego siyaasiyiinta Soomaalida ” E.J. Hogendoorn ayaa yiri ah oo sarkaal sare oo katirsan Ururka falanqeeya xasaradaha caalamig adduunka ee ‘International Crisis Group’ (ICG) W/T: Abdiaziz H. Ibrahim Gmail: Abdiazizh99@gmail.com

Muqdisho (Caasimda Online)-Wararka aan ka heleyno Saraakiil ka tirsan Hay’adaha amaanka dowlada Somalia ayaa sheegaya in muran uu ka taagan yahay qorshaha lagu mideynaayo ciidamada labisan ee NISA iyo kuwa Booliska Somalia. Muranka ayaa la sheegayaa inuu yahay mid u dhexeeya Talisyada Nabadsugida iyo Booliska, waxaana lasoo sheegayaa in ciidamada NISA qaarkood ay diideen inay ku biiran Booliska. Ciidamada la sheegay inay ku biirayaan Booliska ayaa ku andacoonaya inay ka tagayaan shaqada, halka qaarna ay aqbaleen ku biirida Booliska. Waxaa lasoo warinayaa in Taliyaha NISA Xuseen uu diidan yahay in Saraakiisha Hogaamisa ciidamada loo wareejiyo Booliska, halka Taliyaha Booliska uu ku doodaayo in dhammaan lagu soo wareejinaayo ama dib loogu celinaayo NISA. Warar madaxbanaan ayaa sheegaya in ciidamada NISA ee iminka ku biiray Booliska ay aad uga yaryihiin kuwii hore, taasi oo sababteeda lagu sheegay inaysan ka bixikarin tababar bilow ah oo la sheegay in la marinaayo. Sidoo kale, muranka xoogiisa ayaa waxa uu yahay mid ka taagan miisaaniyada ciidamada leysku biirinaayo oo aan wali lagu heshiin, taasi oo la sheegay inay tahay caqabada ugu weyn marka laga soot ago hanaanka mideynta labada ciidan. Sidoo kale, waxaa lasoo sheegayaa in amniga Gobolka Banaadir ay la wareegi doonaan dharcada NISA oo kaashanaaya kuwa Booliska, halka ciidamada ay noqonayaan kuwa fuliya howlgala lagu baacsanaayo Shabaabka iyo Kooxaha kale ee aadka uga soo horjeeda Nabadda. Arrintaani ayaa kusoo beegmeysa xili dhawaan uu amarka mideynta bixiyay Madaxweynaha Somalia Maxamed C/llahi Farmaajo oo ka jawaabayay cabasho kaga imaaday Xildhibaano ka tirsan Guddiga Difaaca Baarlamaanka. Caasimda Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- In Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, five candidates are battling to replace Congressman Keith Ellison in one of the most reliably Democratic districts in the nation. Source: Hiiraan Online

Yemen – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, continues to help migrants, including refugees, stranded in Yemen return home, with its latest voluntary humanitarian return support taking place this week (04-05/08). One movement left from Hudaydah with 132 Ethiopian migrants and the second from Aden with 116 Somali refugees. Source: Hiiraan Online

The UK is home to the largest Somali community in Europe. One of the fastest growing Somali communities in the UK is in Bristol. In 2017, Bristol museums and the M Shed held an exhibition showcasing the stories of young Somalis in the city. Emma Wallis went to meet some of the members of the community to find out more about how the process of integration is working for them. Source: Hiiraan Online

Khartoum (HOL) - Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire travelled to Sudan on Tuesday to meet with President Omar Al Bashir in Khartoum. Source: Hiiraan Online

Boosaaso (Caasimada Online)-Waxa caawa fiidki magaalada Boosaaso lagu dilay Maareeye ku-xigeenkii shirkadda isgaarsiinta Golis Cabdullaahi Cumar Cali. Dilka Maareeye ku-xigeenka ayaa waxaa fuliyay Seddex maleeshiyo oo ku hubeysnaa bastoolado kuwaasi oo dilka kadib goobta ka baxsaday. Dilka Maareeye ku xigeenka ayaa dhacay xilli uu ka soo baxay Masjid uu salaada cishaha ku soo tukaday, waxaana rasaasta looga dhuftay qeybaha sare ee jirka. Maleeshiyaadka dilka geystay ayaa la sheegay inay u gacan haatiyeen marxuumka kadibna markii ay hubsadeen ay ku dhufteen dhowr xabadood. Intaa kadib ciidamada ammaanka Puntland ayaa bilaabay hawlgal looga daba tagayo raggii dilka geystay, waxaana dilkan aad u hadal haya dadka ku dhaqan magaalada Boosaaso. Dilkaani ayaa kusoo beegmaaya xili deegaanada Puntland ay marti galineyso dilal iyo Qaraxyo lala beegsanaayo mas’uuliyiinta. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Boosaaso Caasimada@live.com

Jigjiga (Caasimada Online)-Warar dheeraad ah ayaa waxa uu kasoo baxayaa gacan ku dhigista madaxweynihii shalay xilka ka degay ee dowlad deegaanka soomaalida Ethiopia Cabdi Maxamuud Cumar (Cabdi Iley). Cabdi Iley, ayaa waxaa gacanta ku dhigay ciidammada militariga federaalka, waxaana lasoo sheegayaa inuu la socday Diyaarad Militery oo goordhow ka degtay magaalada Addis Ababa. Balse dad ku sugan magaalada Jigjiga ayaa soo sheegaya in Cabdi Iley saacado badan lagu wareysanaayay Garoonka, iminkana laga dajiyay magaalada Addis Ababa. Wararka ayaa intaasi ku daraya in Cabdi Maxamuud Cumar ay militariga u kaxaysteen dhismo weyn oo ku dhexyaala magaalada Addis Ababa gaar ahaan meel aan sidaa uga sii fogeyn dhismihii uu ku xirnaan jiray Qalbi-Dhagax. Diyaarada Militery ee Cabdi Iley ka dajisay Garoonka Bole ee magaalada Addis Ababa ayaa waxaa sidoo kale ku wehlinaayay Saraakiil iyo Ciidamo ka tirsana Liyuu Boolis oo dhibaatooyin farabadan iyo xasuuq horey ugu geystay dad shacab ahaa oo aan wax galabsan. Suldaan Cabdullaahi Bashiir oo ka mid ah saalaadiinta dowlad deegaanka Soomaalida Ethiopia oo faah faahin ka bixinaayay kaxeynta Cabdi Iley iyo Saraakiisha ayaa sheegay in ciidamada Ethiopia ay dhibaateeyen Cabdi Iley. Waxa uu cadeeyay in goordhow la gaarsiiyay magaalad Addis Ababa isla markaana lagu dhex wareystay Garoonka Jigjiga. Shalay ayay hayd markii madaxweynihii dowlad deegaanka soomaalida ee Ethiopia Cabdi Maxamuud Cumar uu xilka iska casilay. Waxaa madaxweynaha cusub loo magacaabay Axmed Cabdi Sheikh Maxamed. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Jigjiga Caasimada@live.com

Security forces in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region on Monday shot dead four people who were protesting against the looting of their shops and homes during unrest at the weekend, a witness said. Violence broke out in the provincial capital Jijiga on Saturday, with mobs looting properties owned by ethnic minorities, in unrest that the government said had been stoked by regional officials at odds with central authorities. The attacks has forced thousands to seek refuge in an Ethiopian Orthodox church since Friday, residents told Reuters. On Monday, some of them staged a protest. “They blocked a road surrounding the church to demonstrate, before security forces arrived and began firing indiscriminately,” one resident of the town told Reuters. The witness, who declined to be named, said he saw four bodies on the ground after the crowd was dispersed, and that gunfire rang out throughout the day. At least two Ethiopian Orthodox churches were also burned down over the weekend, other residents told Reuters. Government spokesman Ahmed Shide said regional officials were stoking violence at a time when attempts were being made to address rights abuses in the region. He said the officials claimed the government was illegally forcing them to resign, and that a regional paramilitary force had taken part in the attacks under their orders. “Infrastructure was destroyed and civilians were subjected to killings and lootings. Religious centres were also attacked and banks looted,” he said at a news conference. “These acts were carried out by gangs of youths that were organised by some members of the region’s leadership.” Witnesses told Reuters that soldiers were deployed as early as Friday evening. But Ahmed said orders were given only on Monday and that they would soon “start operations” to restore calm. The Somali region has seen sporadic violence for three decades. The government has fought the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) since 1984 after the group launched a bid for secession of the province, also known as Ogaden. Since 2017, clashes along its border with Oromiya province have displaced tens of thousands of people. In July, the region’s officials were accused by the government in Addis Ababa of perpetrating rights abuses. Last month, authorities fired senior prison officials there over allegations of torture. The unrest in the province marks a first test for new prime minister Abiy Ahmed, who has pledged transparency and a crackdown on abuses by security services. Source: – Reuters

Somalia region’s president, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, known by his nickname ‘Abdi Iley’, has resigned, bringing an end to eight years of autocratic grip and sparking jubilation in parts of region and country. According to Edris Ismael, communication head of the region the decision was voluntary and Abdi Iley had made it to allow a smooth transfer of power. Abdi Iley will remain chairperson of the regional Ethiopian-Somali People’s Democratic Party and will keep his salary package and his residence in Jijiga. Abdi Iley had previously refused to quit despite months of protests in the region and the weekend’s military intervention. Negotiations took place to get Abdi to leave office with some dignity, a government spokesperson said. The region’s finance and economic development head Ahmed Abdi Mohamed “Ilkacase” is named as interim leader until the next party congress. Abdi Ilkacase, 32, has had close ties with the departing president, who awarded him the vital finance head role few years ago, bringing him from Qabridahare, where he was serving as a mayor, according to informants. An electrician from Degahbaour who had risen to become both head of security and president of the region in 2008 and 2010 respectively, Abdi Iley has faced multiple accusations of human rights abuses, ordering his special paramilitary Leyu forces to kidnap, torture and sexually abuse political rivals and critics. He has reportedly used cash and intimidation to subdue and eliminate insurgent activities in the area. He has also developed patron–client networks with important federal army apparatus, such as General Samora Yunis and Major General Abraha Wolde Mariam (Quarter). Opposition have been gathering momentum against Abdi Iley in the past two months, due to anger at his record of cruelty, repression and alleged corruption. This protest has been in tune with changes and reforms taking place in the country and Abdi has been reacting aggressively and harshly, Jemal Dirie Kalif, a former member of Somali region Parliament and a prominent critic of Abdi said. Activists say most of protests against Abdi Iley went unreported such as one held in Jijiga two weeks ago, in which around 50 people wounded, Jemal says. A meeting organised on July 10 in Addis Ababa’s Friendship Hotel ended in altercation, after Abdi Iley’s loyalists disturbed. Protests occurred in rural provinces and people in Afder Zone even chased the administrators assigned by Abdi and replaced them with their own choices, according to Jemal Dirie. Another high profile meeting was also disrupted in Dire Dawa few days day when it incurred the ire of Abdi loyalists who threatened organizers with violence. Essentially the army has intervened to thwart Abdi Iley’s manipulation of the article 39 to call for secession of the region and put himself in control of the region, according to sources. The attempt to apprehend Abdi Iley over the weekend has triggered a political crisis and caused the killings of several non-Somali ethnic communities, looting of shops and burning of churches, according to reports. Abdi Iley’s departure appear to usher in a new era for the region in the midst of uncertainty. There are many hoping that the new replacement would make good on promises to establish a rule of law, order and justice and show clear resolve on reform. “We are finally getting rid of the cruel man,” said Hawa, a Jijiga resident speaking by telephone. “The air is already calmer and the town stable,” she said. Others voices are cautiously optimistic and even wary of the new interim president. Mohamed Olad, a journalist in Kansas City, Missouri who writes for the web portal, Jijiga Herald, says this is a good start but not a massive change. “It doesn’t look like the new leader is able to dismantle the pillars of repression built by Abdi and if is he is to live up to public expectations of change,” he told Ethiopia Observer. Ahmed Abdi Mohamed “Ilkacase has a reputation as Abdi Iley’s enforcer and was implicated in some of the worst human rights abuses of the rule, according to Mohamed. “He was his right hand-man and was there with him while the biggest corruption scandal was unfolding under his watch,” he said. “There is no change as such to celebrate. We were against a system that humiliated humanities, killed innocent civilians, raped, abused power and displaced people. Still the same executive members recruited and trained by the tyrant Abdi Iley are in power,” a Minnesota-based Maxamed Sh Cumar said. “It is all the same apart from that some of us believe since the change is from within it is enough,” he added. “I do not see if they were actually for true change or they were to make lots of noises to show they are with the majority.” This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence. Please cite Ethiopia Observer prominently and link clearly to the original article if you republish. If you have any queries, please contact us. Check individual images for licensing details. Source: – Ethiopia Observer

The United States-backed Special Forces have taken over a strategic base from the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab in Southern Somalia. A surprise dawn attack was launched by American Special Forces along with the “Danab”, Somalia’s Special Forces unit, triggering a lengthy gun battle. The operation resulted in taking back key villages, including Bulo-Konto, Dangiga Balow, Basro and Garadweyne in the Middle Shebelle region, southern Somalia. Abdifitah Hajji, a local security official confirmed that the US-backed Special Forces are in “full control” of the villages. “The liberated areas were used to train young recruits by Al-Shabaab to join the Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group”, Hajji continued. No figures were given on civilian casualties involved in the operation. This comes a couple of days after the Al-Shabaab group executed a suicide bomb attack killing at least three Somali National Army soldiers in Afgoye district, some 30 kilometres north west of the capital Mogadishu. Last year, the US conducted a controversial raid alongside Somalia’s Special Forces in Baiire, southern Somalia, which killed ten civilians including three children and women. Somalia has been riddled with domestic fragility and weak governance for over a decade amid an uptick of terrorism across the country. The United Nations last week unanimously passed a resolution to postpone the scheduled withdrawal of African Union troops. Al-Shabaab pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2012 attracting a heavy presence of US counter-terrorism operations in Somalia. Unmanned drones, sporadic air strikes and counter-terrorism raids regularly take place in Somalia, often killing civilians in the process. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which tracks US activity worldwide, some 800 have reportedly been killed in Somalia by the US’ use of force and 92 injured. Al-Shabaab is battling to topple the central government and impose its rule based on its own strict interpretation of Islamic law. It has killed thousands of Somalis and hundreds of civilians across East Africa in a decade-long insurgency. The US considers Somalia an “area of active hostilities”, where it has given the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) a free hand to conduct strikes as it wishes without any transparency or accountability.

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online)-Waxaa maanta magaalada Muqdisho ee caasimada Somalia lagu soo bandhigay ciidamo cusub oo la sheegay in loo soo xiray tababar muddo u socday. Ciidamadan oo iminka qalinjabiyay ayaa waxaa lagu soo bandhigay Xerada cusub ee dhawaan uu Turkiga ka furay duleedka magaalada Muqdisho. Ciidamadan oo dhan waliba ka diyaarsan ayaa tababarka ku qaatay Xeradda Ciidamada Turkiga ee lagu Magacaabo Turksom ee Magaalada Muqdisho, waxaana halkaasi ugu khudbeeyay mas’uuliyiin iyo Saraakiil. Saraakiisha Turkida ee tababarka soo xiray ayaa dowlada Somalia u sheegay in ciidamadaani ay ku filnaan karaan howlaha muhiimka, isla markaana ay u diyaarsan yihiin difaaca xarumaha muhiimka ah iyo Madaxda Qaranka. Saraakiisha Turkida waxa ay cadeeyen in ciidamadaasi lasoo bandhigay ay ka tayo badan yihiin ciidamada kale ee ku sugan dalka, sidaa aawgeed la doonaayo in dowlada Somalia ay ka faa’iideysato dhalinyaradeeda. Munaasabad lagu soo xirayay tababarka ayaa waxaa ka qeyb galay Gudoomiyaha Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya Maxamed Mursal Sheekh , Taliyaha Ciidamada xoogga Cabdiwali Jaamac Xuseen Gorod iyo Wasiirka Difaaca. Ciidamadaan oo da’yar ayaa waxaa muddo tababar siinaayay saraakiil turki ah, tiradda Ciidamada Tababarka loo soo xiray ayaa ah 47. Ciidamadan ayaa lagu wadaa in lagu biiriyo ciidamada sida gaarka ah u ilaaliya Madaxda ugu sareysa dalka maadaama ay mareen tababaro ka adag kuwii hore. Mas’uliyiintii goobta ka hadlay ayaa u mahadceliyay dowladda Turkiga dadaallada ay ku xoojinayso dhismaha Ciidamada xoogga dalka Soomaaliyeed.