Author: Abdihakim Siyad

For the first time in recent history, the United States has openly linked its military operations in Somalia to economic opportunities, specifically the extraction of natural resources off the Somali coast. This revelation, reported by Fox News and attributed to General John Brennan, the second-highest-ranking officer at U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), marks a significant shift in the narrative surrounding U.S. involvement in Somalia. Historically framed as a counterterrorism mission against al-Shabaab and other extremist groups, U.S. military engagement in Somalia now appears increasingly intertwined with economic and strategic considerations. General Brennan stated, “Somalia has natural resources that, due to security…

During an extensive interview with Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara, Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), provided candid insights into his political philosophy, party dynamics, and the broader Kenyan political landscape. He discussed the challenges of leadership, party loyalty, and the strategic choices facing ODM. Addressing allegations of being a “Gachagua mole,” Sifuna made clear his commitment to personal integrity and independence, emphasizing that political rumors should not dictate his actions. He stated: “I am too big to be anyone’s mole. People should be Sifuna’s mole. You are not going to stop me from attending a burial…

Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi, the prominent son and former heir-apparent of Libya’s late ruler Muammar al‑Gaddafi, has been confirmed dead, according to multiple verified reports from family sources and major news organisations. The news, which emerged on February 3, 2026, marks the end of a highly controversial and closely watched political life that has long mirrored Libya’s turbulent history. Regional media outlets including Al Arabiya, Al-Hadath, and Reuters cited family contacts and close advisers in confirming his death, leaving little doubt about the authenticity of the reports. Saif al‑Islam was killed in Libya under circumstances that remain partly unclear, with initial…

Tensions between Iran and the United States have sharply escalated following confrontation incidents on Tuesday evening in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a potential military confrontation in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive regions. The latest developments not only highlight Iran’s willingness to challenge U.S. naval power but also underscore the intricate geopolitical maneuvering at play, as global and regional actors seek to prevent a broader conflict that could destabilize the Middle East and threaten international energy supplies. On Tuesday evening six Iranian vessels attempted to approach and board a U.S flagged…

Somalia finds itself navigating a precarious political landscape, as the federal government and regional administrations  most notably Puntland and Jubbaland face mounting tensions. The events of February 1, 2026, when security details for the Puntland and Jubbaland presidents were denied airspace clearance and turned back, have drawn both national and international attention, highlighting the fragility of Somalia’s political processes and the challenges of sustaining a unified federal system.  Within just three days, Somalia’s federal government issued two statements that appear to convey conflicting messages. The first statement described the February 1 incident as “unfortunate” but stopped short of offering a…

Wajir County is on the verge of a historic transformation as the construction of a modern 10,000-seater stadium is set to begin immediately, just in time for the 2026 National Madaraka Day celebrations. This monumental development follows a high-level meeting between Wajir Governor H.E. Ahmed Abdullahi and the Principal Secretary for Defence, Patrick Mariru, held at the Defence Headquarters. The meeting brought together senior Kenya Defence Forces officials, including Major General Edward Rugendo, Brigadier Titus Sokobe, and Colonel Gabriel Kibuchi, signaling a strong collaboration between the National Government and Wajir County. The partnership promises to deliver a facility that will…

For more than a decade, Northern Kenya has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Kenya’s devolution experiment, at least on paper. Since 2013, counties such as Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Samburu and Tana River have collectively received well over one trillion shillings in equitable share allocations, conditional grants, and special funds meant to correct decades of marginalisation. Devolution was sold to the people of these regions as a historic turning point a chance to fix broken health systems, build roads, expand access to clean water, strengthen education and create jobs in some of the country’s most neglected areas. Yet twelve…

In one of the most explosive diplomatic revelations to emerge about Somalia’s post-war international politics, former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has disclosed that the United Kingdom actively lobbied European and African diplomats to recognize Somaliland as an independent state during the 2012 London Conference on Somalia. According to Davutoğlu, this was not a marginal or informal suggestion, but a coordinated diplomatic effort led at the highest levels of British foreign policy one that, if successful, could have fundamentally altered the territorial and political future of Somalia. Davutoğlu’s account casts new light on the London Conference, an event long portrayed…

Kenyan politics rarely moves in straight lines, and the events witnessed in Kisumu on February 2, 2026 once again confirmed that alliances, assurances and internal rivalries are unfolding simultaneously, often contradicting each other in tone and intent. As President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and ODM party leader Oburu Odinga shared a public platform during the NYOTA Programme startup capital disbursement at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, the optics alone sent strong political signals ahead of the 2027 General Election. But it was Oburu Odinga’s carefully chosen words, delivered partly in Kiswahili and partly in English, that have now ignited…

The chaos that erupted yesterday inside Somalia’s parliament did not occur in a political vacuum. It unfolded against one of the most unforgiving realities in politics: time. With President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term nearing its end and roughly ninety days remaining, the confrontation between MPs and security forces over disputed constitutional amendments takes on a far sharper and more dangerous meaning. What might once have been framed as a contested reform process now looks increasingly like an endgame, where urgency, pressure, and shrinking political space collide. This is what fundamentally changes the analysis. Constitutional reform pushed early in a term…