U.S. remittance tax threatens $1.7 billion Somali lifeline

Source: Hiiraan Online, Tuesday July 15, 2025



Mogadishu (HOL) — A new U.S. tax on money transfers is expected to reduce remittances to Somalia and other developing nations, posing a serious threat to millions of families who rely on these lifelines in the wake of steep foreign aid cuts.

The tax, part of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” imposes a 3.5% levy on remittances sent by non-citizens. The measure, which passed the House of Representatives in May and was later amended in the Senate to apply at 1% to all remittance senders, is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

While the policy is framed as a revenue-raising mechanism to fund a $170 billion immigration enforcement package, experts say the move will likely exacerbate economic hardship in remittance-dependent countries like Somalia, Liberia, and El Salvador, many of which are already facing devastating aid suspensions.

Remittances to Somalia are substantial. In 2023, the Somali diaspora sent home approximately $1.73 billion, surpassing all development and humanitarian aid combined. The World Bank estimates Somalia receives between 30% and 50% of its GDP from these flows, which support expenses such as food, education, water, and medical care.

The timing of the tax coincides with widespread aid cutbacks. In early 2025, the United States suspended a large portion of foreign aid disbursements, including more than 40% of funding allocated to Somalia through USAID. The double blow of shrinking aid and taxed remittances has raised fears among humanitarian groups and economists.

According to the Center for Global Development (CGD), the 3.5% tax could lead to a 5.6% drop in formal remittance flows, reducing household incomes and weakening consumer demand in low- and middle-income countries. In Somalia, where remittances reached $1.73 billion in 2023, the effect could be acute. That amount surpassed the country’s combined humanitarian and development aid for the same year.

Somalia is not alone. World Bank data shows that remittances to Africa totalled over $92 billion in 2024, with at least $12 billion originating from the United States. Countries such as Lesotho, Gambia, and Liberia receive remittances equivalent to more than 20% of GDP, underscoring the vulnerability of their economies to even small disruptions.

The tax follows a broader retrenchment in U.S. foreign aid. In early 2025, the Trump administration announced a near-total suspension of development assistance. According to CGD projections, USAID cuts alone will shrink GNI by over 1% in 23 countries, including Somalia, where nearly 40% of previous U.S. aid has already been withdrawn.

For many households, the dual hit of aid cuts and remittance taxation may be unsustainable.

Experts warn that the tax could also undermine formal financial systems. Research by Ahmed et al. (2021) suggests a direct link between cost and behaviour: for every 1% increase in remittance fees, transfers fall by 1.6%. A Western Union study found that a 5% remittance tax could reduce formal flows by 17.7% and increase informal flows by over 21%.

Migrants are expected to seek alternatives to avoid the remittance tax, including asking U.S. citizens to send money on their behalf, using informal hawala systems or parcel delivery services such as “paqueteros,” and turning to cryptocurrency or interbank transfers.

Somalis have been pioneers in global money transfer networks, evolving from hawala systems to digital platforms like EVC Plus and WAAFI. These innovations allowed Somalia to maintain functional payment systems even during the country’s most unstable periods.

Somali remittance service providers, already operating on tight margins due to high compliance costs, may see lower volumes and higher per-transfer costs, further disadvantaging senders and recipients.

Development economists argue that instead of taxing remittances, the U.S. and other donor nations should focus on lowering transaction costs. As of Q3 2024, sending remittances costs migrants an average of 6.6% per transaction, more than double the 3% target set by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Reducing that cost to 3% could offset over 50% of aid losses in 13 low-income countries, including Somalia, according to CGD estimates.

Experts also recommend policy measures such as matching grants to encourage the use of remittances in productive sectors, issuing diaspora bonds to channel capital into national infrastructure, and expanding seasonal work visa programs for residents of low-income countries to increase high-impact remittance flows.

Despite public outcry, the tax is expected to move forward. It is unlikely, however, to generate significant revenue—estimated at just $10 billion over 10 years, or 0.1% of the federal budget—while costing recipient countries an estimated $2.5 billion per year in lost remittance flows and economic spillovers.

For Somalia, where families often rely on $50 to $200 per month from relatives abroad, the policy shift could mean the difference between subsistence and starvation.

AU doubles Somalia peace funding as uncertainty looms over funding

Source: Hiiraan Online, Saturday July 12, 2025

African Union leaders pose for a group photo during the 47th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on July 11, 2025. The session focused on funding gaps and regional stability initiatives, including the transition to a new peace support mission in Somalia. Photo: African Union / HandoutMogadishu (HOL) — The African Union has doubled its 2025 Peace Fund allocation to Somalia, approving an additional $10 million to help finance the transition to a new AU-led stabilization mission amid a growing international funding gap.

The funding decision was made during the 47th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, held July 10–11 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. It raises the AU’s total commitment to Somalia for 2025 to $20 million, drawn from its Crisis Reserve Facility.

The funds are earmarked for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which took over in January 2025 as a non-combat successor to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), whose operations are scheduled to conclude at the end of 2024.

AU officials said the additional financing would reinforce Somali-led security operations, bolster joint coordination, and prevent operational gaps during the handover.

Despite the AU’s increased commitment, the financial future of AUSSOM remains uncertain. While the United Nations has pledged to cover up to 75% of the mission’s projected $166.5 million annual cost, the United States has declined to contribute directly. U.S. officials have cited concerns about oversight, sustainability, and burden-sharing.

The U.S. decision not to contribute directly to AUSSOM marks a sharp departure from its historic role in supporting AU missions in Somalia. Between 2007 and 2020, Washington provided more than €2 billion to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its successor, ATMIS, according to AU and EU data.

In May 2024, the AU publicly warned of the risk of “security gaps” if AUSSOM did not receive full funding. Somalia has repeatedly urged donors to ensure predictable and long-term financial support, and in June, Mogadishu and the AU reached an agreement establishing a joint command structure to ensure greater national leadership under AUSSOM.

The AU Peace Fund, which was restructured in 2016 to reduce dependency on external donors, aims to reach $400 million in member contributions. But African-led peacekeeping missions, including ATMIS, remain heavily reliant on support from the European Union and the United Nations.

ATMIS contingents, particularly Ugandan troops, experienced pay delays of one to three months between 2018 and 2022 due to bottlenecks in EU fund transfers to the AU Commission, according to Hiiraan Online and Garowe Online reporting. That episode underscored the consequences of unpredictable funding and spurred efforts within AU institutions to diversify financial sources.

IMF approves $10 million disbursement to Somalia amid economic challenges

Source: Hiiraan Online, Thursday July 10, 2025

Washington D.C. (HOL) — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the third review of Somalia’s economic reform program under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, unlocking an immediate disbursement of approximately US $10 million to support the country’s ongoing economic reforms.

The disbursement, equivalent to SDR 7.5 million, brings Somalia’s total receipts under the ECF arrangement to about US $70 million (SDR 52.5 million) since the program’s approval in December 2023. The funds will provide essential budget support for Somalia as it works to strengthen its economic institutions and maintain macroeconomic stability in line with its National Transformation Plan and Centennial Vision 2060.Despite maintaining a strong reform track record, Somalia faces a challenging economic outlook. The IMF projects economic growth to slow to 3% in 2025, down from an estimated 4% in 2024, citing disruptions in foreign aid, adverse weather conditions, and heightened global uncertainty.

In a statement following the review, Nigel Clarke, IMF Deputy Managing Director and Chair, praised Somalia’s reform progress despite global and domestic headwinds.

“The Somali authorities have maintained reform momentum with strong performance under their Fund-supported program. The newly launched National Transformation Plan provides a welcome roadmap to build resilience, promote inclusive growth, and reduce poverty,” Clarke said.

The IMF emphasized the need for Somalia to accelerate domestic revenue mobilization, modernize its customs and tax systems, and strengthen public financial management. Clarke highlighted the importance of implementing the new Income Tax Law, rolling out the Pay and Grade reform, and establishing a new pension regime for civil servants.

Additionally, Somalia was commended for progress in enhancing the capacity of the Central Bank, promoting financial inclusion, and taking steps toward reintroducing the Somali Shilling under a currency board framework.

The IMF also recognized the adoption of a new legal framework for the petroleum sector as a significant milestone, urging Somali authorities to ensure transparent and accountable implementation to strengthen governance and attract investment. 

However, the Fund warned that continued donor support remains essential to sustain reform momentum and prevent setbacks, particularly as foreign aid uncertainties weigh heavily on both the economic and social outlook.

Prime Minister Barre meets with women groups to highlight role in nation-building and elections

Source: Hiiraan Online, Wednesday July 9, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre held a high-level consultative meeting on Tuesday with hundreds of women from across Mogadishu to emphasize their vital role in shaping Somalia’s future, particularly in areas such as elections, constitutional reform, reconciliation, and national unity.

Speaking at the forum, Prime Minister Hamza reaffirmed his government’s commitment to advancing women’s participation across political, administrative, and social spheres. He praised Somali women for their unwavering patriotism and their contributions to peace, security, and post-conflict reconstruction.“It is imperative that we liberate the country from the Khawarij threat if we are to realize the Somalia we envision,” the Prime Minister said, using the term “Khawarij” to refer to the al-Shabab militant group. “Somali women are critical to achieving our long-term national goals and reclaiming our country.”

Hamza emphasized that women’s full participation in political life requires protecting every citizen’s right to vote and run for office. He also reiterated the government’s intention to expand employment opportunities for women and protect their constitutional representation.

The event, held under the theme “Defense and Elections,” was organized by the Somali Women’s Center for Security and Peace. It brought together top government officials, including the Minister of Women and Human Rights Development and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, as well as members of parliament, civil society leaders, and women from diverse sectors.

The forum aimed to foster inclusive dialogue and ensure that women remain central to Somalia’s political and security agenda as the country continues its path toward democratic governance and national stabilization.

Dozens are killed as anti-government protests erupt across Kenya

Source: The New York Times, By Eve Sampson
Reporting from Nairobi, Kenya
Wednesday July 9, 2025

Simmering anger against President William Ruto’s government has boiled over into clashes between protesters and the police, who have deployed live rounds, tear gas and water cannons.


Luis Tato/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

At least 31 people were killed and more than 100 others wounded in protests that erupted across Kenya on Monday, a rights group said, as simmering anger against President William Ruto’s government boiled over into clashes between protesters and the police.

The group, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, said on Tuesday that it had also documented at least 532 arrests and two forced disappearances.

The police fired live rounds, rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons at protesters across the country, the group said. From atop deserted overpasses across Nairobi, the capital, officers blasted tear gas canisters at demonstrators congregating below. Some protesters threw rocks at the police, while others danced.

The demonstrations on Monday occurred on Saba Saba Day, which commemorates the start of Kenya’s multiparty democracy movement in 1990. Saba Saba, which in Swahili means “Seven Seven,” refers to the first pro-democracy rallies held in Nairobi.

In a major show of force, armed police officers barricaded and blocked major roads leading to Nairobi’s central business district, leaving normally crowded streets deserted save for a few determined protesters who traveled on foot.

Armed men in civilian clothes could be seen riding in the back of police vehicles and wielding riot shields.

Emmanuel Maranga, a 45-year-old from Kikuyu, said he went to central Nairobi on Monday to demonstrate in the spirit of the Saba Saba protests.

“We can use this Saba Saba to make a reform in this country,” he said, adding: “I’m here for the youngsters. We have to fight for what our parents started.”

Other protesters expressed anger at recent police killings and said that the government was ignoring pleas for accountability and transparency.

Dominic Mbuthia, 32, condemned Mr. Ruto’s government. “He’s not democratic,” Mr. Mbuthia said of the president. “He doesn’t want to listen to the people. He is a dictator.”

Businesses in the center of the capital were shuttered, and hundreds of men, many who said they had been hired as private security, roamed the streets while swinging thick wooden sticks.

Less than two weeks ago, antigovernment protests erupted across the country, killing at least 16 people and wounding hundreds more. Thousands took to the streets a year after nationwide marches against a contentious tax plan left more than 60 people dead. Anger over the death of a blogger in police custody has also fueled protests against Mr. Ruto’s government.

Charles Munyao, a business owner in Nairobi’s central business district, said on Monday that people looted his shops during demonstrations on June 25. Goons, not protesters, he said, had ruined his inventory, and this time, he added, gesturing to some of the men wielding sticks, he needed his own security.

Mr. Munyao blamed the police, who, he said, have not helped him recover any stolen items or lost profits.

“I lost everything,” he said, pointing to a row of closed stores. “If security had been well coordinated, we would not have lost our shops.”

On Tuesday, the United Nations, which denounced the most recent demonstrations, reported that protests had broken out in 16 counties.

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said in a news conference, “It is essential that legitimate grievances at the root of these protests are addressed.”

After the 2024 protests, dozens of people, including activists and medical workers, were abducted, interrogated and tortured, according to human rights monitors and dozens of activists.

The Kenyan police have denied targeting protesters, and Mr. Ruto has said that those who were abducted had been returned to their families.

Source: Xamsa Warfaa oo sheegay in Mareykanka uu daneenayo wada hadal uu la furo Kooxda Al Shabaab

Isniin, Luulyo 7, 2025 (HOL) – Hamza Warfa, oo horey u ahaan jiray la-taliye sare oo ka tirsan Waaxda Arrimaha Dibadda ee Mareykanka, ayaa si cad u sheegay wareysi uu bixiyay, in ay isa soo taraya saadaal iyo hadal hayn ku saabsan in Dowladda Mareykanka ay qorsheyneyso inay wadahadal la furto kooxda hubeysan ee Al-Shabaab, si loo soo afjaro colaadda muddada dheer ka jirtay Soomaaliya. 

Hamza Warfa wuxuu sheegay in ay noqotay wax aan macno samaynaynin in lacag malaayiin dollar ah lagu bixiyo dagaal milatari oo aan horumar muuqda laga gaarin, Wuxuu tilmaamay in xalka Soomaaliya aanu ku imaan karin keliya dagaal, balse loo baahan yahay in la tixgeliyo wadahadal, sida Mareykanku horey ugu sameeyay meelo kale oo uu colaado ka jiray, sida Afghanistan.

Warfa wuxuu hoosta ka xariiqay in maamulka Trump laga yaabo inuu durba bilaabay xiriirro qarsoodi ah oo uu la leeyahay Al-Shabaab, haddii ay taasi run noqoto, waxay noqon kartaa tallaabo weyn oo laga yaabo in lagu soo afjaro dagaalka ragaadiyay Soomaaliya muddo ku dhow 20 sano.

Sidoo kale, Warfa wuxuu sheegay inuu qorsheynayo inuu la kulmo saraakiil ka tirsan maamulka Trump si uu ugu dhiirrigeliyo inay si dhab ah uga shaqeeyaan wadahadalladaan, oo uu ku sheegay ujeedkoodi in la ilaaliyo danaha Mareykanka iyo in dadka Soomaaliyeed la siiyo fursad ay ku helaan nabad iyo nolol wanaagsan.

Falanqeeyeyaasha ayaa aaminsan in haddii Mareykanku dhab ahaan u furmo wadahadal Al-Shabaab, inay noqon doonto isbeddel weyn oo siyaasadeed oo laga yaabo inuu furo waddo cusub oo nabadeed, Laakiin su’aashu waxay tahay: diyaar ma u yihiin dhammaan dhinacyadu in ay miiska wadahadalka fadhiistaan si ay u helaan xal waara?

Egypt warns Ethiopia over Red Sea access, expands Somalia military support

Source: Hiiraan Online, Monday July 7, 2025

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (left) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi (right) hold a joint press conference in Alamein, Egypt, on July 7, 2025, following bilateral talks on Red Sea security and regional cooperation. The two leaders reaffirmed military ties and rejected Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions. (SONNA/Handout)CAIRO, Egypt (HOL) —  Egypt vowed Sunday to block Ethiopia’s bid for Red Sea access and said it will speed up training and equipping Somali forces as part of a widening security partnership.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi told reporters after talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that Cairo “will not tolerate moves that threaten Somali sovereignty or the safety of the Red Sea corridor,” a waterway that carries roughly 10 percent of global trade.

The warning follows Ethiopia’s January 2024 memorandum with Somaliland that would grant Addis Ababa a naval base and commercial port in exchange for possible recognition of the breakaway region. Mogadishu calls the deal illegal; Egypt says it risks destabilizing shipping lanes feeding the Suez Canal.

Under a defence accord signed in August 2024, Egypt has been training and arming Somali special units fighting the al-Shabab insurgency. El-Sissi said that the program will accelerate and that Egyptian troops will join the African Union’s incoming stabilization mission once international funding is secured.

Hassan Sheikh welcomed the pledge, arguing that “a stronger Somali army closes the door to external interference.”

Though landlocked since Eritrea’s 1993 secession, Ethiopia has sought direct maritime access to cut export costs for its 120 million citizens. Those overtures add to earlier tensions with Cairo over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile.

El-Sissi and Hassan Sheikh said they will expand cooperation to trade, fisheries and energy while keeping security at the core. Both leaders plan to lobby Arab League and African Union members to reject the Ethiopia–Somaliland pact at meetings later this year.

Ethiopia’s push for a seaport is the latest in a series of regional power plays. Djibouti currently handles more than 90 percent of Ethiopian imports. The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden remain under international naval patrols that counter piracy and guard oil flows to Europe and Asia.
Egypt and Somalia share centuries-old cultural and religious links. Cairo hosts thousands of Somali students and has long provided scholarships and officer training, ties that both leaders said they hope to broaden into a “comprehensive strategic partnership.

UK accused of hypocrisy at landmark UN foreign aid conference

Experts at the fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) say the UK cannot talk up its role in helping developing nations while cutting aid commitments

Nick Ferris

Source: Nick Ferris, Wednesday 02 July 2025 16:06 BST

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The UK has been accused of “hypocrisy” over its lack of high-level participation at a key global development finance summit, on top of cuts to Britain’s aid budget – while talking up its role in helping lower-income nations.

The accusations have been made at the fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4), a once-a-decade summit happening all week in Seville, Southern Spain, where delegates are aiming to tackle the perennial problem of how to help developing countries access the money they need.

Thirty-two African countries currently spend more on debt repayments than on healthcare, and 25 African countries spend more on debt payments than on education, an issue that activists say needs urgent action.

Some 50 world leaders are due at FfD4, including Emmanuel Macron of France, Mark Carney of Canada, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. The UK, however, has only sent a government minister in the form of Baroness Chapman, the international development minister.

“A level of ambition from the UK government would have been demonstrated clearly by sending higher level participation such as the prime minister or Foreign Secretary,” Lydia Darby, a senior policy advisor at Save the Children, told The Independent

News|Human Rights

Source: 4 July 2025, UN rights council rejects Eritrea’s bid to end human rights investigation

Human Rights Watch says Asmara’s move was an effort to distract from independent reporting on the ‘country’s dire rights record’.

Published On 4 Jul 20254 Jul 2025

The United Nations Human Rights Council has rejected Eritrea’s attempt to shut down an independent investigation into alleged rights abuses, in a move hailed as vital to preventing impunity.

Eritrea’s rare bid to scrap the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on its human rights record was defeated on Friday, with only four votes in favour, 25 against, and 18 abstentions.

Trump administration completes contentious deportations to South Sudan

Source: Aljazeera 5 July 2025, After legal battle, US sends eight detainees to country it has advised citizens not to visit due to ‘crime, conflict’.

Published On 5 Jul 20255 Jul 2025

The United States has confirmed it completed the deportations of eight men to South Sudan, a day after a US judge cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s administration to send them to the violence-hit African country.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Saturday that the men were deported a day earlier, on US Independence Day on Friday, after they lost a last-minute legal bid to halt their transfer.

At least three dead after AU helicopter crashes at airport in Somalia

Source: Aljazeera, Wednesday July 2, 2025

Rescue efforts take place after an African Union military helicopter crashed at Aden Adde airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 [AP Photo]

A helicopter used by an African Union peacekeeping mission has crashed at the international airport in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least three people, authorities said.

The incident occurred at Aden Adde airport on Wednesday as the helicopter was trying to land, according to Artan Mohamed, the head of the immigration office at the airport.

The helicopter, which belonged to the Ugandan Air Force but was being operated by the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), had taken off from Baledogle Airfield in the Lower Shabelle region with eight people on board, he said.

Three of the people on board survived the incident, according to a Ugandan military spokesperson.

AUSSOM also confirmed that at least three people had survived the crash, which it said took place at around 7.30am (04:30GMT) local time.

The survivors were taken to the AUSSOM hospital, it added, without giving details about their health.

Witnesses described the helicopter plummeting to the ground and exploding, causing a fire.

Abdirahim Ali, who lives nearby, said he saw “a huge explosion and smoke everywhere” while aviation officer Omar Farah told The Associated Press news agency that he “saw the helicopter spinning and then it fell very fast”.

Minor delays were reported at the airport, but the director-general of the country’s civil aviation authority said that flights had resumed.

“The situation is under control. The runway is clear and fully operational – flights can land and take off as usual,” Ahmed Macalin Hassan noted.

The AUSSOM mission has more than 11,000 personnel in Somalia from countries including Uganda and Kenya.

They are helping the Somali military to counter the armed group al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate that wants to topple the country’s government and establish its own rule.

This week, the Somali army killed a prominent leader from the group in the Middle Shabelle region, state media reported.

Quoting military sources, the Somali National News Agency said the leader was targeted during an operation in the Dar Nama’a area.

HAMBALYO SHACABKA SOMALIYEED

Hambalyo Shacabka Somaliyeed ee gobolada waqooyi iyo shacabka Somaliyeed ee gobolada konfureed oo xoriyadooda ka qaatay ingriiska iyo talyaaniga kuna midoobay 1dii July 1960kii jamhuriyada Somalia iyagoo ay hogaaminayeen wadaniyiintii SNL iyo SYL.

Shacabka Somaliyeed makala maarmaan! KHILAAFKA HADDA JIRA WAA IN MIISKA WADAHADALKA HA LAGU DHAMEEYO iyadoo si dhabha looga hadlayo sababta keetay khilaafka.  Hadii kale cadaw badan ayaa ka faaiideysan doona lagana shalayn doona.

Abdillahi Jama

Farmaajo welcomes talks between President Mohamud and Somali Salvation Forum, urges inclusive dialogue

Source: Hiiraan Online, Friday June 27, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has welcomed the recent meeting between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Somali Salvation Forum in Mogadishu, describing it as a positive step toward resolving key political disagreements over the country’s future.

In a press statement issued Thursday, Farmaajo said the meeting marked a “good start” in addressing critical issues concerning Somalia’s constitution, security, and electoral process.“These are issues of national destiny and must take precedence,” Farmaajo stated. “We welcome President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s willingness to place these matters at the center of national dialogue.”

He stressed that the provisional constitution, which was adopted in 2012 through a broad national consensus, should remain the foundation for any negotiations and decisions concerning Somalia’s political direction.

“We once again emphasize that the 2012 constitution, agreed upon by the Somali people, must be the unifying pillar of the state,” he said. “Any dialogue on fundamental national issues must be anchored in this document.”

Farmaajo also called on President Mohamud to uphold his constitutional duty to safeguard national unity and cohesion. He urged the president to personally ensure the participation of Puntland and Jubaland in the upcoming National Consultative Conference scheduled for July 3.

“Inclusivity is vital for any meaningful political progress,” he said. “The president must take direct responsibility and extend formal invitations to the leaders of Puntland and Jubaland to join the dialogue.”

The National Consultative Conference is expected to address long-standing disagreements on governance, federalism, and Somalia’s transition to direct elections.

President Mohamud congratulates Djibouti on 47th Independence anniversary

Source: Hiiraan Online, Friday June 27, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud extended warm congratulations to the government and people of Djibouti on the 47th anniversary of their independence, marking the occasion with a message of gratitude and renewed commitment to bilateral cooperation.

In a statement issued Friday, President Mohamud expressed deep appreciation for Djibouti’s enduring solidarity with Somalia, particularly during periods of conflict and national hardship.“Djibouti has consistently stood by the Somali people in times of difficulty,” President Mohamud said. “Their unwavering support has played a vital role in Somalia’s ongoing efforts toward peace and stability.”

He reaffirmed the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding bonds of brotherhood, good neighborliness, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

“Our mutual prosperity and security are deeply interconnected,” Mohamud added. “We must continue to build on this partnership to promote stability and development across the region.”

The relationship between Somalia and Djibouti is rooted in shared cultural, linguistic, and historical ties. Since gaining independence from France on June 27, 1977, Djibouti has maintained close and cooperative relations with Somalia, often playing a central role in regional security and integration efforts.

Somalia, which marks its own path to independence beginning on June 26, 1960, with British Somaliland’s liberation and the subsequent unification with Italian Somaliland on July 1, shares with Djibouti a vision of unity and regional cohesion.

Somali International Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC) waxay u hambalyeeneysaa dabaaldega 26da June 1960 xuriyadda shacabka Somaliland ka qaateen Ingriiska, oo ah maalin weyn Somali oo dhan u dabaaldagaan. Hambalyo Somaliland!!!

Sixteen deaths recorded in Kenya protests, most killed by police, Amnesty Kenya say

Source: Reuters, By Edwin Okoth, Humphrey Malalo and Vincent Mumo
Thursday June 26, 2025

A protester reacts in front of a burning barricade in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, June 25, 2025 [Luis Tato/AFP]

Sixteen people died during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday, most of them killed by police, the head of Amnesty Kenya said, a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill culminated in the storming of parliament.

Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year’s demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died, with police firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness.

Some protesters clashed with police, and 16 people were “verified dead as of 8:30”, Amnesty Kenya’s executive director Irungu Houghton told Reuters, adding that the figures were verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).

“Most were killed by police,” Houghton said, adding that at least five of the victims had been shot dead.
The government-funded KNCHR earlier said eight deaths had been reported across the country, all “allegedly from gunshot wounds”.

“Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists,” KNCHR said in a statement shared on its official X account.

The watchdog noted heavy police deployment and “allegations of excessive use of force, including rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannons, resulting in numerous injuries”.

Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the statements by Amnesty Kenya or KNCHR.
State-funded body Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said in a statement at least 61 people were arrested during the protests.

An official at the capital’s main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people.

“107 admitted, most with gunshot injuries,” the source said, referring to rubber bullets and live rounds. He added that no deaths had been reported at KNH.

National electricity provider Kenya Power said one of its security guards was shot dead while patrolling its headquarters in Nairobi.

Large crowds were seen earlier heading in the direction of State House, the president’s official residence, in scenes broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it and another broadcaster KTN were pulled off the air after defying an order to stop live broadcasts of the demonstrations.

Both channels resumed broadcasts later on Wednesday after a court in Nairobi suspended the order issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya.

ANGER AGAINST POLICE

Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to NTV, with protests also in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri.

Although last year’s protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger has remained over the use of excessive force by security agencies, with fresh demonstrations, opens new tab this month over the death of a blogger in police custody.

Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty.

Ojwang’s death has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning those who perished at last year’s demonstrations, blamed on security forces, against a backdrop of dozens of unexplained disappearances.

“We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25… we want justice,” Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi.

The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto’s presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya’s international allies.

Reporting by Nairobi newsroom; Writing by Ammu Kannampilly; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Bernadette Baum, Philippa Fletcher and Daniel Wallis

Somali President meets EU delegation to strengthen bilateral cooperation

Source: Hiiraan Online, Wednesday June 25, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met Tuesday with a delegation from the European External Action Service (EEAS), led by Director for Africa Jonas Jonsson, at the Villa Somalia Presidential Palace in Mogadishu.

The meeting focused on strengthening the broad-based cooperation between Somalia and the European Union, including areas such as security, development, governance, and humanitarian assistance.President Mohamud expressed his appreciation for the EU’s continued commitment to Somalia’s peace, stability, and inclusive development.

“The European Union has long stood with Somalia through difficult times, and we are grateful for its unwavering support in our journey toward lasting peace and prosperity,” he said during the meeting.

EU Ambassador to Somalia Karin Johansson accompanied the visiting delegation.

The European Union remains one of Somalia’s largest international partners, supporting a wide range of initiatives in state-building, security sector reform, education, and economic development.

Seven Ugandan peacekeepers killed in joint anti-Al-Shabaab operation in Somalia

Source: Hiiraan Online, Monday June 23, 2025

FILE – A Ugandan army officer addresses soldiers deployed under the African Union Stabilization Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) during a field briefing in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. 

Mogadishu (HOL) — Seven Ugandan peacekeepers serving under the African Union mission in Somalia were killed during a joint military operation to retake a strategic town in Lower Shabelle from Al-Shabaab militants, officials confirmed Monday.

The soldiers were part of Operation Silent Storm, a three-day offensive led by the African Union Stabilization Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the Somali National Army (SNA) in the Sabiid-Canoole area, approximately 90 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu.

Uganda’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, described the incident as a “painful but heroic sacrifice,” confirming the deaths. “Unfortunately, we lost seven soldiers during the battle,” he said.The operation resulted in the killing of at least 30 Al-Shabaab fighters and the recovery of significant arms caches. The joint forces also dismantled extensive networks of underground tunnels used to store explosives and coordinate attacks, military officials said.

“This mission was critical in degrading Al-Shabaab’s ability to launch suicide bombings and move weapons across the region,” said AUSSOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma. “It is a significant step toward implementing the Somali Transition Plan.”

Brig. Gen. Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga, Uganda’s Sector One Commander, described Sabiid-Canoole as a logistics and planning hub for Al-Shabaab since March. “Militants had used the area to plan vehicle-borne improvised explosive attacks and to extort civilians through illegal checkpoints,” he said.

Military sources confirmed that follow-up operations are underway in the Afgooye district to root out the remaining pockets of militants.

The bodies of the fallen peacekeepers will be returned to Uganda for burial with full military honours. Uganda remains one of the largest troop-contributing countries in Somalia under the African Union mandate and has played a frontline role in the country’s stabilization since 2007.

AUSSOM currently fields 11,146 troops in Somalia, though its leadership reported in April that it required at least 8,000 more to meet mission demands amid rising militant activity.

Somalia removed from UN child soldier list after reforms

Source: Hiiraan Online, Monday June 23, 2025

Armed Somali children take cover behind sandbags during an active conflict in Somalia in this undated photo. Somalia had long been listed by the United Nations among countries where children were recruited and used in armed conflict. The country was officially removed from the UN child soldier list in June 2025, following years of reforms and international cooperation. Getty Images / Remi OchlikMogadishu, June 23, 2025 (HOL) — The United Nations has officially removed Somalia from its list of countries implicated in the recruitment and use of child soldiers, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to comply with international child protection standards.

The decision, announced on June 17, ends Somalia’s long-standing designation on the annual UN blacklist and follows the implementation of a national action plan to prevent the involvement of minors in armed conflict.

“The removal from the UN list reaffirms Somalia’s dedication to upholding the Constitution and international humanitarian law,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “The Somali child is not a soldier—they are the future of this nation.”

The ministry credited sustained reforms and close collaboration with the United Nations and partner organizations, including UNICEF and the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia (UNTSOM), as key to the country’s removal from the list. Those reforms included child protection training, military code revisions, recruitment screening, and monitoring systems.

Somalia had remained on the UN list since 2007, with past reports citing government-aligned militias and Somali security forces for using underage fighters. Rights groups repeatedly called for reforms and transparency.

The Ministry of Defense, which chairs the Child Protection Committee, praised both government agencies and international partners for their contributions. The committee was instrumental in drafting policies aligned with Somalia’s Constitution and international obligations, the ministry said.

While the Somali government celebrated the move, officials acknowledged that threats remain from armed non-state actors like al-Shabaab, which continues to recruit children in areas under its control forcibly. Authorities pledged to strengthen community protections and monitoring to shield vulnerable youth.

Somalia will remain under periodic UN review to ensure compliance. Officials say they are committed to preserving the gains made and preventing future violations.

“This milestone is a testament to Somalia’s reform journey and a step forward for the credibility of its armed forces,” the ministry said.

Somali Prime Minister rejects return to indirect elections, backs democratic reform

Source: Hiiraan Online, Monday June 23, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has firmly ruled out a return to Somalia’s previous system of indirect elections, emphasizing that political power must lie with the people.

Speaking at a dinner event in Mogadishu on Sunday night honoring delegates of the recently concluded National Dialogue Conference, Barre reaffirmed his government’s commitment to democratic reform and endorsed recommendations put forward during the consultative forum.“The DanQaran government is committed to supporting proposals related to elections and recognizes the critical role national stakeholders are playing in shaping a democratic process that reflects the will of the people,” the prime minister said. “It is no longer possible to go back to an indirect election system,” Barre said. “Our goal is to return power to the Somali people.”

The announcement comes as Somalia continues efforts to overhaul its electoral process. Since the country’s last one-person, one-vote election in 1969, most elections have operated under a clan-based power-sharing formula, where political leaders are selected through indirect negotiations among elders and elite representatives.

Barre added that proposals from Somali scholars, elders, and civil society figures during the consultative forum will guide the country’s democratic transition and the architecture of future elections. He added that public consensus and participation remain essential to state-building efforts.

“We must transition to a unified electoral process that brings together all Somalis,” he said. “Leaving behind indirect politics means overcoming the divisions and conflicts that have held our nation back.”

The prime minister also linked electoral reform to broader national goals, including improved security, economic development, and long-term political stability. He called for unity among political actors to overcome obstacles facing Somalia’s post-conflict recovery.

While the government remains firmly committed to direct elections, opposition leaders have expressed skepticism about the timeline and implementation process. They argue that political consensus across regional and federal administrations is needed to avoid deepening divisions.

The National Dialogue Conference convened a range of high-profile figures, including former presidents, federal and state officials, and influential Somali leaders. However, key opposition parties and the Puntland administration boycotted the forum, citing concerns over procedural flaws and what they described as exclusionary practices by the federal government.

Somalia officials hope to hold its next round of national elections within the current parliamentary cycle. However, security challenges, ongoing negotiations with federal member states, and technical hurdles continue to complicate the path toward full electoral reform.