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A local official in northeastern Somalia has been killed in a suicide bomb blast claimed by the al-Shabab armed group, according to police and medical sources. Abdisalan Hassan Hersi, governor of Nugaal region, succumbed to his wounds after being rushed to hospital in Garowe, the capital of Puntland where the blast occurred Sunday. "The doctors tried to save the governor's life, but unfortunately he died from his injuries," Mohamed Weli, a police officer in Puntland, told AFP news agency by phone. "He was in a critical condition when he was admitted to hospital," Mohamed added. A source at the hospital, who did not wish to be identified, said the governor died less than an hour after being admitted to the intensive care ward. "He was badly wounded in the blast, and he had little chance of surviving such serious injuries," the source told AFP. A former police commander and a civilian also wounded in the blast were being treated in hosp

Somalia has tragically lost former footballer, Abdulkadir Mohamed Farah to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Somali Football Federation has confirmed. Farah passed away at a Northwest London Hospital on Tuesday (24 March 2020), after testing positive to the deadly virus last week. He was 59. SFF president, Abdiqani Said Arab, has commiserated with the bereaved family on the demise of Farah, who was an advisor to the Minister of Youth and Sport. Born on 15 February 1961, Farah was born in the city of Beledweyne, about 342 kilometers north of the capital Mogadishu. His football career dates back to 1976 when he first appeared in the national schools football tournament. He got promoted to regional level representing his home Hiiraan region in the 1979 regional football tournament. The regional tournament became a platform for him to showcase his talent and from there he was recruited by Batroolka Football Club where he had an illustrious playing career until the late 1980s.For

Somalia’s debt will be slashed to a fraction of its current levels after almost $5bn (£4.1bn) of assistance was approved by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. A joint  statement  from the global financial institutions praised Somalia’s efforts at economic reform, allowing it to qualify for a debt relief programme and reintegrate into the global economy after 30 years. “The journey leading to this decision required hard work, dedication and partnership,” said Somalia’s prime minister, Hassan Ali Khayre. “This decision is an important milestone, which presents ample opportunities for Somalia as it relentlessly pursues its ongoing reform processes as well as its recovery and development agenda.” Through the  heavily indebted poor countries initiative , Somalia’s debt will be reduced from $5.2bn to $557m over three years. To qualify, Somali had to commit to a range of broad economic reforms, including strategies for reducing poverty and building an inclusive econo

A Somali police officer says a suicide bomber has walked into a tea shop in Somalia's capital and detonated, killing at least two people. Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the bomber, posing as a pedestrian, entered the shop and detonated his vest among the crowd. Wednesday's blast in Mogadishu was the first since the country confirmed its lone case of the coronavirus on March 16. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility. It often targets the capital. The blast shattered a period of calm amid a large security presence in Mogadishu that officials had said prevented al-Shabab from smuggling explosives-rigged vehicles into the city

In the Nabadoon camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Asho Abdullahi Hassan, a 40-year-old mother of seven, has heard about the coronavirus on the radio. “I am very scared about this deadly virus. I only heard about it from the news. It is like we are waiting for death to come,” she says. The camp hosts about 3,000 families, most recently displaced from Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region following an intensification of fighting and US airstrikes. Humanitarian activists are warning that it may be impossible to stop the spread of the virus in such places, where sanitary precautions are difficult and social distancing impossible. In Nabadoon, few can afford soap and water is rare. “This can get very bad. It will be hard,” said Patrick Youssef, deputy director for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross. “Our fear is that governments will seek to protect those they see as their own populations and people … in refugee camps will be left to fend for themselves.” The spr

The new coronavirus has woven itself into the daily lives of Somalis’ pocketbooks, hitting small businesses, including sellers of the herbal stimulant khat. Khat, the red-stemmed, green-leafed plant that is chewed for its amphetamine-like properties, is grown in Kenya and Ethiopia but is very popular in Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen. On Thursday, Somalia banned all international flights, including those carrying khat, for 15 days, as a part of measures the country has taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The normally bustling market in Mogadishu known as Beertakhat, which translates into khat farm, has been practically deserted because of the suspended flights. Hundreds if not thousands of Somalis who directly or indirectly depended on the khat business could be affected by the decision. Despite its popularity, khat markets have always been fragile because there are no stockpiles available. Traditionally, it has to be sold fresh.

A heavily fortified compound in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu was attacked by al Shabaab militants on March 18, local media reported. Local broadcaster Dalsan Radio said mortar shells were fired at the Halane compound, which houses U.N., EU, and African Union facilities, as well as embassies of countries including the U.S. and U.K. Bashir Ahmed Ali, a police officer in Mogadishu, confirmed the attack Anadolu Agency but did not provide details on any casualties. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) also tweeted a confirmation later, but said the “mortar rounds landed in the vicinity” of the compound. “Following standard procedures, security personnel are in the process of assessing any potential damage or injuries. We will communicate more details as they become available,” UNSOM said in the tweet. In a statement online, al Shabaab took responsibility for the attack, claiming it fired five mortar shells at the compound and there were several casualties. The Soma

African Union peacekeepers in Somalia have liberated the first major town since the beginning of the year. The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) announced that they captured Jannale — a stronghold of al-Shabaab — on March 17, 2020. Amisom Force Commander, Gen Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn said the operation in the south eastern Lower Shabelle region involved Amisom forces and the Somalia National Army (SNA). Several Shabaab members were killed and others wounded, he added. “Amisom jointly with Somali security forces have minimised the threat posed by al-Shabaab in the larger territory of Somalia, hence their fighting capability has been reduced to small-scale attacks on isolated targets,” Gen Wondimhunegn said. Jannale, approximately 90km south-west of the capital Mogadishu, has been the hub for the terrorists’ operations and activities. The Deputy Head of Mission for Amisom, Simon Mulongo, praised the joint forces for their commitment to restore peace, security and

Somali government announced Sunday that it banned all passengers with a travel history through the worst-hit countries from entering Somalia. All passengers originating from China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy or transiting through one of those countries for the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter the country. The measure was taken to stem the spread of the new coronavirus known as COVID-19, according to a statement by Somali Civil Aviation Authority. After a meeting in Somali capital Mogadishu, Somali Health Minister Fawziya Abikar called on all donors to unite their support to help the government's contingency plan for COVID-19. According to the Health Ministry, there is no confirmed case of coronavirus in Somalia, but the government said it had quarantined four people including Somali citizens. Following his trip from Turkey, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the former president and the main opposition alliance leader, said on Sunday: "Everyone should be humble to

The Ministry of Health said on its Twitter handle that the man, a Somali citizen, flew in from China. Somali government on Monday announced the suspension of all international flights for 15 days starting on Wednesday over fears of the spread of the novel coronavirus as the country confirmed the first case. Fawziya Abikar Nur, the Health Minister of Somalia said the patient, a Somali citizen who returned from one of the countries affected by COVID-19, had arrived in Somalia last week and tested positive for the deadly virus after being isolated for almost a week. The minister said the victim is among the four suspect cases who had arrived in the country and being quarantined since last week. Minutes after the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19, Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry of Somalia announced a two-week ban on international flights from March 18. Humanitarian and emergency cases will be exceptional.

The Halgan Media service desk is sad to report the sudden death of Ibrahim Mohamed Hersi. The former coach of Somalia’s national football team. Ibrahim Mohamed Hersi passed away at his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota with family and friends by his side. Ibrahim coached Somalia’s national football team during the 1970’s and competed on the world stage. He later presided over the Horseed Football Club in Somalia until the collapse of the nation in 1991. Ibrahim fled to the US and just like many other Somali refugees settled in the state of Minnesota. Upon arriving in the US he married and had three children named Muna, Munira and Mohamed. He also had several grandchildren according to family members that spoke with Halgan Media. His funeral was held this morning in Minneapolis, where hundreds of people attended. Some even traveled as far away as from Canada to take part in the services. Once again, the Halgan Media service desk would like to give our condolences to Ibrahim Moh

The European Union has asked Kenya and Ethiopia to organise a security summit on cross-border cooperation following tensions on the Kenya-Somalia border. Mandera County in Kenya, which is near the border, has been tense for more than a week now following clashes between Jubbaland forces and those loyal to the Federal Government of Somalia. The fighting began after Somalia accused Nairobi of harbouring fugitive Jubbaland Security Minister Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur. The EU further noted that the fighting has fuelled tension and diverted assets and attention from military operations against Al-Shabaab terrorists in Lower and Middle Shabelle, thus jeopardising efforts for stability in Somalia. It also said that fighting has also been detrimental to Somalia’s relationships with its neighbours and partners, hence the need for President Farmaajo, federal states in that country and regional partners to fully cooperate and ensure and end to violence. “Lasting solutions must be fou

A summit between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somalia counterpart, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo in Nairobi has been postponed indefinitely. President Farmajo was scheduled to travel to Nairobi on Saturday to hold talks with Kenyatta on Monday. Kenyatta recently invited Farmajo for a meeting in Nairobi in order to de-escalate tensions between the two countries after Mogadishu accused Nairobi of protecting fugitive Jubbaland security minister, Abdirashid Janan, whose forces clashed with federal government troops in the border town of Bula Hawo. It is not clear what prompted the postponement of the meeting but the announcement came after Kenya registered its first officially confirmed Coronavirus case. Kenyan Health Cabinet Secretary announced today that a 27-year old woman tested positive for the deadly virus. The woman, who arrived in the country on 5 March came from the US via London.

Some locusts may appear old and others pregnant but the invasion in Kenya is bound to get worse, a UN agency has warned. The Food and Agriculture Organisation says a rising number of hopper bands and first-generation immature swarms continue to form in the country. The FAO, in its latest alert, says widespread swarm breeding continues in northern and central Kenya, with further concentration expected in Marsabit and Turkana counties. In a memo dated March 10, it noted that this may be supplemented by new-generation immature swarms arriving from Somalia. “The situation remains extremely alarming in the Horn of Africa, specifically Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, where widespread breeding is in progress and new swarms are starting to form, representing an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods at the beginning of the upcoming cropping season," it said. “Breeding continues in Ethiopia with a widespread swarm of instar hopper bands in Oromiya and SNNPR regi

It is said that Africa cannot achieve its agenda for peace without the involvement of the youth and women in nation-building, conflict resolution, and peace processes. Perhaps this is the reason why, across the continent, more and more women are working with courage and determination for the realisation of a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Africa. Take, for example, Mildred Ntono, a 39-year-old mother of four, who, for the past several months, has been on the frontlines actively participating and contributing to the restoration of peace and security in Somalia. With 17 years of service in the Uganda Police Force, Inspector Mildred is one of 33 female peacekeepers deployed with the Ugandan contingent under the police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). She believes involving women in peacekeeping will save the world from conflicts because of their ability to de-escalate tensions with great effect, due to their possession of soft skills like comm

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i met Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over efforts to de-escalate tensions between Kenya and Somlaia Matiang’i and his delegation flew to Addis Ababa Tuesday for the meeting following a similar one in Mogadishu with President Mohamed Farmaajo with Farmajo agreeing to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi at a date to be announced. Interior ministry said Matiang’i had been sent by President Uhuru for a meeting with Ali. “Interior CS Matiang’i led a team of high-ranking government officials sent by President Uhuru to hold talks with Ethiopia's PM Abiy Ali with a view to identifying more collaborative approaches to advance Kenya's mutual cross-border relations with Somalia,” a statement said. The move came as Somalia’s international partners called for cooperation and dialogue between Jubbaland State authorities and the Federal Government of Somalia and demanded that all actors exercise restraint and avoid actions that coul

Somalia’s international partners have welcomed the rapprochement between President Kenyatta and his counterpart Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo saying engagements between the two leaders are necessary for regional peace. Just a day after President Farmaajo agreed to meet President Kenyatta, the partners underscored the importance of direct communication between the two countries noting that continued dialogue should be encouraged until lasting solutions are in place. In a joint statement, the partners called for cooperation and dialogue between Jubaland State authorities and the Federal Government of Somalia and demanded that all actors exercise restraint and avoid actions that could spark violence.

The US issued a reward of $5m (£3,8m) in 2008 for information on the whereabouts of Bashir Mohamed Qorgab. The US carries out frequent air strikes in Somalia to target militants. It has not yet commented on the report. Qorgab's family confirmed his death. He was in charge of attacks on military bases, and was also involved in operations in Kenya, the report said. Qorgab was killed on 22 February in the southern Somali town of Sakow, following a joint operation by the Somali army and US military, Somali state radio reported. It did not explain why the news had emerged only now. Last month there were unconfirmed reports in Somali media outlets that Qorgab had broken away from al-Shabab following disagreements with other leaders. Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda and controls much of southern and central Somalia. It has also carried out a wave of bombings in neighbouring Kenya, and is regarded as the most dangerous militant group in the region. Last month, the grou

Somalia’s government cleared its arrears to the  World Bank’s International Development Association, enabling the warn-torn nation to borrow from the lender for the first time in three decades. Somalia repaid the debt after accessing a $365.9 million bridge loan from the Norwegian government, the World Bank said in a statement on its website. The repayment is part of a comprehensive plan for arrears clearance that also includes the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank. “With this clearance, Somalia has fully re-established its access to new resources from IDA and paved the way to receive debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative to promote growth and recovery over the coming years,” the bank said.

Pressure from the US government may have forced Somalia President Mohamed Farmaajo to announce a climbdown in tensions with Kenya. A day after Nairobi accused Somalia of violating its territorial integrity by having its soldiers fight on Kenyan soil, President Farmaajo placed a call to his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, offering to de-escalate the tensions. The Kenyan government did not speak publicly of the event, even though senior diplomats in Nairobi confirmed it was President Farmaajo who placed a call to President Kenyatta. “President of the (Federal) Republic of Somalia and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke over the phone and discussed the importance of working jointly … to find a solution on boundary security and overall regional stability,” Villa Somalia said in a statement on Twitter, in Somali language. “President Farmaajo and President Kenyatta underlined that the security of the two nations is interconnected with each other, and anything

As Somalia moves toward normalizing its place within the world community, Mogadishu has reforged its partnership with the United States, to include the presence of American boots on the ground inside the east African nation. To some, the thought of American troops in Somalia might conjure images of downed helicopters and protracted street combat. But times have changed since the 1993  Battle of Mogadishu , American and Somali officials said. “It’s not  Black Hawk Down  anymore,” Somalia’s ambassador to the U.S., Ali Sharif Ahmed, told the  Washington Examiner . “Our relationship with the United States has never been so good.” “U.S. security assistance to Somalia is an important part of our efforts to work with the people and government of Somalia for peace and stability,” U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto said, noting that a secure Somalia means more stability in the entire region. “It also means that the people of Somalia will be able to better focus on bu

Fighting erupted in south Somalia on Monday between the national army and regional forces, amid deepening divisions that help Islamist insurgents and may exacerbate regional frictions. Clashes broke out late morning between the Somali army, commanded by the federal government, and forces loyal to Jubbaland state leader Ahmed Madobe, residents in Jubbaland's Balad Hawo district told Reuters. Jubbaland borders Kenya and is one of five semi-autonomous states in Somalia. "I see two houses burning," shopkeeper Farah Abdullahi told Reuters from Balad Hawo, just over the border from the Kenya. Fighters were using anti-aircraft guns and mortars, he said. "Some residents have fled ... the whole town is dead. No business (is) open." Madobe is a trusted ally of Kenya, which helped build his forces and cement his rule, but is detested by neighboring Ethiopia, which has backed the central government. Both Kenya and Ethiopia have troops in Somalia as pa