somalia

Mogadishu’s local council was sworn in today following the city’s first-ever one-person, one-vote elections—a landmark shift from indirect clan-based selection to direct democracy at the municipal level.

In a significant escalation of counterterrorism operations, the U.S. military has dramatically increased airstrikes across Somalia, hitting multiple hideouts and command posts belonging to ISIS-Somalia and the Al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab. The surge marks one of the most intense air campaigns in the region this year, with officials confirming dozens of militant casualties and the destruction of key logistics hubs.

In a move aimed at bolstering administrative efficiency, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has announced a minor reshuffle, appointing six new Director Generals. The changes affect critical sectors ranging from national security to economic planning, signaling a strategic realignment of the federal government’s executive leadership.

President Said Abdullahi Deni of the Puntland regional administration has issued a decree from his office implementing a significant reshuffle of the cabinet. The directive includes the appointment of new ministers, deputy ministers, state ministers, directors, and regional governors as part of the governmental restructuring.

Türkiye is set to accelerate hydrocarbon exploration in April, deploying its growing fleet of drillships for new wells in the Black Sea and off the coast of Somalia. The campaign includes the first drilling abroad by the newly acquired Çağrı Bey, underscoring Ankara’s push to boost energy independence and expand international energy cooperation.

A federal delegation landed in Baidoa on Tuesday to manage the political transition in Southwest State, a day after regional president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen stepped down after seven years in power. The visit marks the first time some senior officials have returned to the city since a long-running political dispute, with second deputy prime minister Jibriil Adirashiid appointed to head the interim administration.

In a sudden turn of events, a resignation post made by former President Lafta-Gareen has been deleted from his official page-leaving supporters and political observers questioning whether the move was a change of heart or a technical misstep.