Marrakech, Morocco — Somalia’s deputy minister of commerce and industry, Mahmoud Ahmed Abdullahi, took part in the second Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum held in Marrakech, Moroccan and Somali officials said. The meeting brought together African trade ministers, heads of trade institutions and business leaders to discuss coordinated and transparent implementation of…
Brussels — The European Union is expected to formally announce funding for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in early 2026, after a two-year pause in direct financial support, according to documents and diplomatic sources linked to the United Nations and the African Union. An EU spokesperson told The EastAfrican that…
STORY HIGHLIGHTS The World Bank-supported Rajo Kaaba (“Building Hope”) program has enabled over 2,700 Somali girls to access higher education and technical training, empowering a new generation of professionals in health, education, and public service. The project aims to equip more than 40,000 women, girls, and youths across Somalia with technical and vocational (TVET) skills…
United Nations — The United Nations Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) before it expires at the end of December, officials said Monday. In addition to the mandate renewal, the Council will review updates to sanctions under resolution 2713 against Al-Shabaab, including maritime restrictions,…
Doha — 7 December 2025: Somalia remains a central pillar of Egyptian, Arab and African national security, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said at a panel on state-building in Somalia held on the sidelines of the Doha Forum. The panel focused on coordinated strategies to preserve recent gains in the Horn of Africa nation. In his…
STORY HIGHLIGHTS The Holhol Dam has been rehabilitated under the World Bank-supported Somalia Water for Rural Resilience Project (Barwaaqo) to support over 6,000 people and thousands of livestock. The upgraded dam now holds up to 70,000 cubic meters of water and serves surrounding villages such as Asha-ado, Abuqeys, and Sogsogley. The rehabilitation of five water…
Mogadishu, Somalia — Somalia’s State Minister of Defence Omar Ali Abdi on Sunday held talks with Mohamed Awad Al-Shammari, the Deputy Ambassador of Qatar to Somalia, to discuss ways of deepening bilateral cooperation, officials said. The meeting focused on strengthening the historic and brotherly ties between the two nations, with an emphasis on security cooperation,…
Without a predictable financing mechanism, the mission remains trapped in a cycle of insecurity, mounting arrears and political instability. The governments of Somalia and the United Kingdom, the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) met in New York on 25 September to strengthen backing for the AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM)….
Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday officially opened the 2nd East African Community Cooperation Conference (EACON2025) in Mogadishu, marking another milestone in the country’s growing role within the East African bloc. In his keynote address, President Mohamud highlighted Somalia’s historic legacy as a hub of trade and seafaring along the Indian…
Somalia has announced plans to accelerate the introduction of Swahili into the country’s curriculum for schools and universities as part of its push for integration within the regional bloc East African Community (EAC). Swahili is East Africa’s lingua franca and one of Africa’s most spoken languages. The authorities said the language will be promoted to…
