Author: abdaz mohaz

In a historic ceremony held at a military training academy near Mogadishu, Somalia graduated its first cohort of female cadets, signaling a landmark shift in the country’s gender dynamics and a bold challenge to long-standing patriarchal norms within its armed forces. The graduation marks a pivotal moment for Somalia, where women have historically been excluded from formal combat roles and where institutional barriers have limited their participation in national defense. The program — jointly supported by the Somali Ministry of Defense and international partners including the United Nations and the European Union — began over a year ago as part…

A senior U.S. military commander has commended Puntland’s ongoing efforts to root out Islamic State militants from the Cal-Miskaad mountains, signaling a deepening security partnership between Washington and Somalia’s semi-autonomous region. The praise came during a regional security briefing held between Puntland defense officials and a visiting delegation from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which has played a key advisory and intelligence-sharing role in Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts. The Cal-Miskaad mountain range, long considered a sanctuary for Islamic State–Somalia factions, has seen intensified offensives by Puntland Security Forces in recent weeks. While Al-Shabaab remains Somalia’s dominant militant group, the Islamic State’s presence…

Somali federal forces have launched a large-scale military operation targeting Al-Shabaab strongholds in central Somalia, in what officials describe as a “strategic offensive” aimed at crippling the militant group’s operational command in the region. The operation, coordinated across Galmudug and Hirshabelle states, is part of a broader counterinsurgency campaign supported by international partners, including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). These efforts come amid growing pressure on the Somali government to demonstrate progress in its war against Al-Shabaab — an Al-Qaeda affiliate that controls significant swathes of rural territory and regularly carries out…

Puntland regional forces are advancing through the rugged Cal-Miskaad mountain range in a renewed offensive aimed at dismantling entrenched ISIS cells, intensifying Somalia’s broader campaign to eliminate jihadist strongholds in the northeast. The Cal-Miskaad mountains have long served as a sanctuary for Islamic State–affiliated fighters operating in Somalia, providing natural cover and terrain advantages that have frustrated past counterinsurgency operations. Puntland, an autonomous region with a relatively stable administration, has spearheaded efforts to contain and eradicate the group’s influence in the area. This latest push follows a string of skirmishes and aerial surveillance missions launched in recent weeks. Military commanders…

Puntland’s security forces are ramping up military operations against Islamic State–linked fighters entrenched in northeastern Somalia, giving trapped militants a final window to surrender or face decisive assault, in what officials describe as the most coordinated counterterrorism effort in the region to date. The operation, concentrated in the rugged terrain of the Bari region, marks a critical phase in Puntland’s multi-year campaign to eliminate a persistent ISIS foothold in Somalia. While Al-Shabaab remains Somalia’s primary jihadist threat, ISIS factions in Puntland’s mountainous areas have maintained a smaller, but resilient, insurgency — one that has drawn international concern due to its…

Amid rising tensions with Somalia’s federal government, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni held closed-door talks with U.N. Special Representative Catriona Laing, emphasizing the need for inclusive political dialogue and warning against constitutional overreach by Mogadishu. The meeting comes as Puntland increasingly distances itself from federal initiatives, citing concerns over centralization of power and unilateral decision-making by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration. In recent months, Puntland has suspended cooperation with Mogadishu on multiple fronts — including electoral reform and constitutional talks — and aligned with the National Salvation Forum, a bloc of regional leaders and opposition groups. The U.N. has been…

Tensions between Somalia’s federal government and Puntland escalated further this week after Puntland authorities rejected recent claims by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) and accused the federal body of dispatching expired food and medical supplies to the region. The dispute centers on a recent aid delivery coordinated by SODMA amid ongoing humanitarian needs across Somalia. According to Puntland officials, portions of the assistance sent to the region were unfit for consumption — some items allegedly past their expiration dates. SODMA had earlier claimed full coordination with Puntland authorities, stating that the aid was delivered as part of a nationwide…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Puntland authorities have accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of eroding Somalia’s fragile federal arrangement by marginalizing regional administrations in national decision-making. The statement, issued late Sunday, marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Garowe and Mogadishu. Federal–state disputes have long plagued Somalia’s fragile transition. Puntland, which has enjoyed semi-autonomy since 1998, argues that the central government is increasingly centralizing power — particularly in security and resource management — undermining the 2012 Provisional Constitution that enshrined federalism. Regional leaders warn that unilateral policies risk destabilizing the delicate balance that has kept Somalia’s regions aligned with the federal project.…

Kenya’s government has dismissed as “baseless rumors” reports suggesting that Jubaland forces from Somalia have crossed into Mandera County, a volatile border region long plagued by insecurity and cross-border tensions. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen sought to reassure residents that the county remains secure, rejecting accusations from local leaders that foreign troops are destabilizing the region. Instead, he accused political rivals of exploiting security concerns for partisan gain. They are going out there to speak carelessly about matters of securityMurkomen said, in a pointed rebuke to opposition figures. “Kenya is not under any threat from Somalia or any regional force from…

Somali security forces, backed by U.S. Africa Command, have killed at least 12 Al-Shabaab fighters in a major operation in the country’s central Galgaduud region, officials confirmed on Saturday. The strike, carried out in the Ceel-dhiiqo Weyne area between Ceel-lahelay and Ceel-garas, highlighted what security officials described as “serious defensive lapses” by the militant group. According to military sources, the raid combined air support from U.S. surveillance assets with ground combat led by Somali troops. Among those killed were senior Al-Shabaab commanders said to be linked to a string of recent attacks across the country. Authorities have not yet released…