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Somalia

November 20, 2024

Mogadishu 4:44 pm

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Waddani Party presidential candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, (C) casts his vote at a polling station.

Opposition wins election in Somaliland, signals dialogue with Somalia: What we know

Somaliland's opposition leader, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, has won the presidential election, unseating the incumbent president who held office for seven years.

President-elect Donald Trump attends the America First Policy Institute Gala held at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida.

Analysis

From Sudan to Ethiopia, Trump’s 'America First' priorities could shift Horn of Africa policy

As the Horn of Africa region seemed to be overlooked by Washington’s foreign policy, questions about how President-elect Donald Trump will deal with the rising conflicts in the region arise.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In Exmouth, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Auto rickshaws (Tuk-Tuks) and a monument are seen through the window of an armoured car on Sept. 4, 2022 in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Somalia-Ethiopia rift intensifies: What's behind latest row?

The latest expulsion marks yet another step toward an eruption of tensions between the neighboring countries.

(R to L) Somali Ambassador to Ankara Fathudin Ali Mohamed, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan bid farewell to the Oruc Reis departs from Istanbul.

Analysis

Turkey's hydrocarbon mission to Somalia extends its Africa influence

Turkey-Somalia ties enter a new phase as the Turkish research vessel RV Oruc Reis heads to Somali waters to prospect for oil and natural gas.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Egypt, Somalia, Eritrea solidify regional alliance amid tensions with Ethiopia

AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Ethiopia’s naval ambitions, Egypt-Somalia alliance shake Horn of Africa balance

Paratroopers jump off an Egyptian C-130 Hercules military plane during the "Guardians of the Nile" joint military drill between Egypt and Sudan in the Um Sayyala area, northwest of Khartoum, on May 31, 2021.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In Exmouth, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

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Turkey seeks to set up space rocket launchpad in Somalia

Turkish Army Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar (L) escorts Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire during an inauguration ceremony of the Turkish military base in Mogadishu on Sept. 30, 2017.

Egypt sends military aid to Somalia as tensions soar with Ethiopia

A military vehicle is seen at the Rafah border crossing to Gaza on October 19, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. The aid convoy, organized by a group of Egyptian NGOs, set off Saturday 14th October from Cairo for the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah. On October 7th, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on border communities in southern Israel, spurring the most violent flare-up of the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades. Israel launched a vast bombing campaign in retaliation and has

AMANUEL SILESHI/AFP via Getty Images

Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed downplays war risk with Somalia over Somaliland deal

Ethiopian premier has said his country has no intention of fighting with Somalia and that it's ready to negotiate with Egypt and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance (GERD) standoff.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 13: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks during a news conference calling for a ceasefire in Gaza outside the U.S. Capitol building on November 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. House Democrats held the news conference alongside rabbis with the activist group Jewish Voices for Peace. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

What’s behind Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's Somaliland controversy?

The oft-criticized Democratic congresswoman expressed support for Somalia in its territorial dispute with Somaliland in a recent speech. The Arab League and Turkey are also backing Mogadishu over the issue.

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Somali president visits Qatar, Egypt amid row over Somaliland-Ethiopia deal

The tour comes after Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland signed a controversial deal that would give Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea.

A meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on May 7, 2023.

Alarmed over Ethiopia-Somaliland deal, Arab FMs rally behind Somalia, Egypt

Somalia denied entry to an Ethiopian flight heading to Somaliland, as a controversial deal signed between the latter and Ethiopia continues to be a source of concern in the region.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed

No jail time for Somali president’s son over deadly crash in Turkey

The Somali president's son was not present at the trial, which Turkey's main opposition slammed as a "sham."

A group of singers perform Somali nationalistic songs during a demonstration in support of Somalia's government following the port deal signed between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland at Eng Yariisow Stadium in Mogadishu on January 3, 2024. Somalia vowed to defend its territory after a controversial Red Sea access deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway state of Somaliland that it branded as "aggression". (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE / AFP) (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE/AFP via Getty Images)

In fallout of Somaliland-Ethiopia deal, Turkey backs Somalia amid rivalries

Turkey's harsh reaction to the deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia reflects its close ties with Somalia, where it has a military base and commercial interests.

TOPSHOT - Students wave a Somali flag during a demonstration in support of Somalia's government following the port deal signed between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland at Eng Yariisow Stadium in Mogadishu on January 3, 2024. Somalia vowed to defend its territory after a controversial Red Sea access deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway state of Somaliland that it branded as "aggression". (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE / AFP) (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE/AFP via Getty Images)

Following Ethiopia-Somaliland deal, Somalia looks to Eritrea, Egypt for help

The deal granting Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coastline has raised the ire of Somalia, which considers Somaliland as part of its territory.

Members of a band play music s they participate in a demonstration in support of Somalia's government following the port deal signed between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland at Eng Yariisow Stadium in Mogadishu on January 3, 2024. Somalia vowed to defend its territory after a controversial Red Sea access deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway state of Somaliland that it branded as "aggression". (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE / AFP) (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE/AFP via Getty Images)

Ethiopia-Somaliland deal receives wide condemnations, including from Egypt, Turkey

Several countries in the region condemned a recent deal giving Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coast.

Why Somalia is important for Egypt in Nile dam crisis

Egypt seeks to consolidate relations with Somalia for its important role in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis and to counter Turkish influence in the Horn of Africa.

Women take part in a demonstration against the Somali President Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo in Mogadishu on December 15, 2020 accused of interferences in the electoral process. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) / The erroneous mention appearing in the metadata of this photo by STRINGER has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [a demonstration against the Somali President Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo] instead of [a demonstration against the Somali Prime Minister]. Please immediately remove the erroneous me

Somalian opposition irked by Turkish support ahead of presidential elections

Turkey’s support to Somalia, a focal point of Ankara’s Africa outreach, has become increasingly controversial as the Somalian opposition fears that the president could use it to rig the upcoming elections.

Turkish army Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar (L) escorts Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire during an inauguration ceremony of the Turkish military base in Mogadishu on September 30, 2017.
Turkey inaugurated the largest foreign-run military training centre in Somalia, where local troops are due to take over the protection of a nation threatened by Shabaab Islamist attacks. / AFP PHOTO / Mustafa ABDI (Photo credit should read MUSTAFA ABDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Al-Qaeda affiliate bombs Turkish base in Somalia

Al-Shabab has attacked Turkey in the Horn of Africa country before due to Ankara's support for the Somali government.

BANJUL, GAMBIA - JANUARY 27: President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan is welcomed by Gambia's President Adama Barrow with official welcoming ceremony in Banjul, Gambia on January 27, 2020. (Photo by Er√É¬ßin Top/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Is France irked by Erdogan’s passion for Africa?

Erdogan’s efforts to boost Turkey’s economic role in Africa have been marked by outbursts maligning France’s colonial past, but there is more to Turkey’s Africa opening that fuels the bilateral spats.