Author: Abdihakim Siyad

On January 16, 2026, Somalia crossed a political threshold never before witnessed in its modern history. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre arrived on the same day, at the same airport, to attend the same national event in Las Anod (Laascaanood) a moment without precedent since the founding of the Somali Republic. For Las Anod, the symbolism ran even deeper. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud became the first sitting Somali head of state in more than 36 years to set foot in the city. The last time a Somali president visited Las Anod in an official capacity…

The Middle East is once again standing at the edge of a historical rupture, one where a single miscalculation could ignite a chain reaction far beyond the region. What is unfolding is not merely a military standoff between the United States and Iran, but a convergence of unresolved power struggles, alliance anxieties, domestic political calculations, and a collapsing international restraint system. At the center of this storm is President Donald Trump, weighing what his own advisers describe as a “cooling war” with Iran a phrase that dangerously understates the reality that once such a conflict begins, it will not cool, pause,…

For decades, North Eastern Kenya has remained trapped in a cycle of poverty, underdevelopment, and dependency despite billions of shillings allocated through devolution and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Poor roads, struggling schools, weak health systems, and recurring drought emergencies continue to define daily life for ordinary citizens. Yet beneath this suffering lies a question that many leaders have avoided for years: where did the money go? That uncomfortable question has now burst into national debate following controversial remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who accused leaders from Northern Kenya of presiding over grand corruption while publicly blaming the…

Mandera County is in the grip of yet another devastating drought, but this is not merely a natural disaster. It is the consequence of years of policy failure, weak prioritisation, and leadership that has normalised emergency as a mode of governance. In Rhamu Sub-County, particularly Chabii Barr, the crisis is no longer abstract. Kenya Red Cross teams have documented over 70 dead livestock, a clear indicator of how deeply the drought has cut into pastoralist livelihoods. For families whose survival depends almost entirely on livestock, these deaths represent hunger, school dropouts, displacement, and the erosion of dignity. Humanitarian agencies have…

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s yesterday’s address marks one of the most decisive foreign policy moments of his administration. In a firm and carefully worded speech, the Somali president publicly justified why his government annulled all cooperation agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing violations of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and diplomatic norms. This was not a sudden or emotional reaction. Rather, it was presented as the culmination of prolonged diplomatic frustration, repeated warnings, and what Mogadishu views as sustained interference by Abu Dhabi in Somalia’s internal affairs. UAE–Somalia Relations: From Strategic Partnership to Diplomatic Breakdown For years, the UAE positioned…

Illegal migration from North Eastern Kenya toward Europe has reached a disturbing and deeply entrenched phase. What was once viewed by many young people as a risky but hopeful escape from poverty has transformed into a brutal system of exploitation, extortion, and loss. Across Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, and the Dadaab refugee camps, families are watching their children disappear into a transnational trafficking network that now operates with industrial efficiency. This journey locally known as tahriib is no longer driven solely by individual ambition. It is the product of structural neglect, prolonged unemployment, climate-induced displacement, insecurity in Somalia, and a growing…

On January 12, 2026, the Federal Government of Somalia made one of the most consequential foreign policy decisions since the adoption of the provisional constitution, the complete annulment of all bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision, approved by the Council of Ministers and chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, covers security, defense, military, commercial, and port-management agreements, including those involving Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo. According to the Somali cabinet, the move followed “strong evidence” that UAE actions were undermining Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, and political independence. Mogadishu framed the decision not as a…

Mogadishu -Somalia  President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s expected visit to Las Anod on Thursday is more than a routine domestic trip it is a historic, symbolic, and politically charged move that could redefine Somalia’s internal power dynamics and its external diplomatic posture. If confirmed, Hassan Sheikh will become the first sitting Somali president to set foot in Las Anod since 1969, when President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke was assassinated there during an official visit a moment that altered Somalia’s political trajectory forever. The weight of history alone makes this visit unprecedented. But timing is everything. The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions, renewed…

Kenya is currently engaged in a heated national debate following remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on leadership, accountability, and development in North Eastern Kenya. The reaction has been predictable outrage, ethnic defensiveness, counter-accusations, and political posturing. But strip away the noise, and what remains is an uncomfortable reality that millions of citizens in Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera have endured silently for over a decade. This is not a debate about Rigathi Gachagua. It is not about Kikuyu politics, tribal supremacy, or political scores. It is about money, power, betrayal, and the daily suffering of ordinary citizens whose leaders…

Burkina Faso’s military government says it has thwarted what it calls a major plot to assassinate President Ibrahim Traoré and destabilize the state the latest sign of persistent political tension in the coup-prone West African nation. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced that the alleged conspiracy was orchestrated by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, the former junta leader who was overthrown by Traoré in September 2022 and now lives in exile in neighboring Ivory Coast. According to the government, the plan involved “targeted assassinations” of senior military and civilian officials, with Traoré identified as the primary target. Authorities allege conspirators intended to kill the…