Author: Abdihakim Siyad

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has issued a sharp rebuke to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying he lacks the moral authority to lecture northern leaders on corruption. The governor made the remarks during the launch of the ECDE school meals program and sanitary kits initiative in Wajir County, where he strongly defended the region’s record on the use of devolved funds. Governor Abdullahi’s response came days after Gachagua accused northern leaders of graft and mismanagement, claiming the region is under-developed because of corruption.  “If you were fired as a government officer for selling relief maize, you lack the moral…

On January 20, 2026, during a White House press briefing marking the first anniversary of his second term, President Donald Trump once again directed harsh remarks toward Somalia. He described Somalia as “not even a country,” claiming it lacks anything resembling a functioning state. He insisted that if Somalia is a country, it is “just about the worst in the world.” These statements were not isolated. They came alongside personal attacks on Somali-American Representative Ilhan Omar, whom he described as coming from a “backward country,” and remarks labeling Somali immigrants as “low IQ” and accusing them of widespread fraud. He…

President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is expected to travel to New York, United States, where he will preside over a session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) a historic moment that will make him the first Somali president to chair a Security Council meeting. Beyond its symbolic weight, the event represents a significant shift in Somalia’s international posture, reflecting the country’s evolving role from a state long defined by crisis to one increasingly asserting itself within global diplomatic structures. For much of the past three decades, Somalia has appeared before the Security Council primarily…

Kenya’s northern counties have long been neglected in national development plans, often treated as a political afterthought rather than a strategic priority. For decades, the Isiolo–Mandera corridor remained a promise without progress a plan without execution a road without a foundation. Now, under the current administration, the government is not only reviving the 740-kilometre tarmac project but is also deploying an unprecedented security strategy to protect the road’s construction.  The question now is whether this project will truly deliver transformation or become another politically timed initiative in a country preparing for elections. From Neglect to “Project of National Importance”: Why This…

Online forex trading has become one of the most powerful and controversial digital phenomena shaping Somali youth culture today. Marketed as a fast track to wealth, freedom, and luxury, forex has flooded social media timelines with images of young people posing beside expensive cars, luxury apartments, and stacks of cash, all supposedly earned from trading currencies online. Behind this glamorous digital image, however, lies a much darker reality one defined by financial loss, mental health struggles, online scams, and a growing culture of deception. The Rise of Forex Culture Among African Youth Over the past decade, access to smartphones, mobile internet, and trading…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept discussed in Silicon Valley boardrooms or global tech conferences. It is here, active, and increasingly shaping how news is gathered, produced, and consumed including across Africa. For journalists on the continent, AI presents both an opportunity and a dilemma, will it strengthen journalism, or slowly undermine it? This question is becoming more urgent as African newsrooms, often underfunded and overstretched, begin to experiment with AI-powered tools to remain relevant in a fast-moving digital world. The Rise of AI in African Newsrooms Across Africa, journalists are quietly adopting AI tools to assist with…

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has formally invited the Somali Future Council a political bloc bringing together Puntland, Jubaland, and the Salvation Council to attend a National Consultative Conference scheduled to begin on February 1, 2026, in Mogadishu. The invitation, issued through the Office of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, follows a recommendation by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and is framed as a renewed effort to restore political consensus, national unity, and constructive dialogue. In a press release dated January 19, 2026, the government stated that the conference aims to strengthen cohesion, promote a consultative and compromise-based democratic process,…

Somalia has taken a decisive step in reshaping its defence and security partnerships by signing a landmark defence cooperation agreement with the State of Qatar in Doha, on the sidelines of the DIMDEX 2026 maritime defence exhibition. The agreement, signed by Somalia’s Minister of Defence Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and Qatar’s Minister of Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, marks a significant realignment in Somalia’s regional security policy following the recent suspension of security agreements with the United Arab Emirates. Minister Fiqi, who is in Doha accompanied by General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, Chief of the Somali National Army, and the…

North Eastern Kenya has undergone one of the most significant political reorientations in the country’s recent history. Once treated as electorally peripheral and structurally marginalized, the region has rapidly evolved into a strategic pillar of President William Ruto’s re-election calculations. This shift reflects not only changing regional loyalties but also a broader recalibration of Kenya’s national political map, driven by internal realignments, opposition fragmentation, and deliberate policy choices by the current administration. For President Ruto, the urgency is clear. As traditional support bases show signs of fragmentation most notably in Mt. Kenya the path to 2027 increasingly depends on constructing…

Senegal were crowned Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions after a hard-fought victory over Morocco, sealed by a decisive goal from Pape Gueye in a tense final. The tightly contested encounter saw both sides display tactical discipline and defensive solidity, with clear chances at a premium throughout the match. Morocco, who entered the final with high expectations, controlled long spells of possession but struggled to break down Senegal’s compact backline. The breakthrough came when Pape Gueye capitalized on a rare opening, firing home what proved to be the only goal of the match. His strike shifted the momentum firmly in…