Mogadishu (HOL) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has confirmed that Turkey will establish a satellite launch base in Somalia, advancing Ankara's ambitions for long-range missile testing and space exploration while cementing its growing ties with the Horn of Africa nation. Source: Hiiraan Online

Baydhaba (Caasimada Online) – Guddoomiyaha golaha shacabka Soomaaliya, Mudane Sheekh Aadan Maxamed Nuur (Aadan Madoobe) ayaa ka jawaabay dalab culus oo uga yimid madaxweynaha Koonfur Galbeed oo ku casuumay inuu soo gaaro Baydhaba, wuxuuna maanta ka degay garoonka magaaladaas oo si ballaaran loogu soo dhaweeyay. Sheekh Aadan Madoobe ayaa waxaa si diiran usoo dhaweeyay madaxweyne Cabdicasiis Laftagareen, wasiiro, xildhibaano ka tirsan Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur Galbeed iyo qeybaha kala duwan ee bulshada ku dhaqan magaalada Baydhaba. Sidoo kale waxaa wafdigiisa qayb ka ah wasiirka wasaaradda arrimaha gudaha, Mudane Cali Yuusuf Cali (Xoosh), wasiirka wasaaradda xanaanada xoolaha Mudane Xasan Xuseen Maxamed (Eelay), iyo xildhibaanno ka tirsan baarlamaanka federaalka ah ee Soomaaliya. Ujeedka Sheekh Aadan iyo wafdigiisa ayaa ah ka qayb-galka xuska sanad guurada 6-aad ee madaxweynaha Koonfur Galbeed Mudane Cabdicasiis Xasan Maxamed (Laftagareen) oo 19-ka bishaan December ka dhaceysa dhismaha xarunta madaxtooyada maamulkaasi. Laftagareen ayaa dabaal-degaya sanadkiisii lixaad, iyada oo weli ay dood ka taagan tahay sida loo wajahayo doorashada maamulkaasi, maadaama uu ka dhamaaday mudo xileedka. Xafladda ayaa sidoo kale sanadkan kusoo aaday, xilli xasaasi oo culeesaad badan uu wajahayo madaxweynaha Koonfur Galbeed, oo ay ku kacsan yihiin mucaaradka. Si kastaba, Laftagareen ayaa kamid ah madaxweynayaasha maamul goboleedyada ee heshiiska doorashada la galay Villa Soomaaliya, si dalka looga qabto qof iyo cod.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Security authorities in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have alerted the management of the Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center about credible threats targeting the mosque, reportedly originating from extremist groups. The threats, shared on social media, have led to heightened security measures and temporary suspensions of some educational activities at the mosque. Source: Hiiraan Online

Somalia took the ambitious step of banning single-use plastic bags this year, but in a country with many economic challenges, it has proved hard to implement. Source: Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali pirates have issued a $10 million ransom demand for a Chinese-owned fishing vessel and its 18 crew members, amplifying concerns about a resurgence of piracy in the waters off Puntland’s northeastern coast. Source: Hiiraan Online

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online) – Aqoonyahan Faysal Rooble oo falanqeeya arrimaha Geeska Afrika iyo Badda Cas ayaa si faah-faahsan uga hadlay heshiiska Ankara ku dhex-maray dalalka Soomaaliya iyo Itoobiya, kaas oo uu fududeeyay madaxweynaha dalka Turkiga. Faysal Rooble ayaa shaaca ka qaaday in Soomaaliya guul wayn oo diblumaasiyadeed ay ka gaartay heshiiska iyo halgankii ay u gashay difaaca qarannimada, midnimada iyo madax bannaanida dalka. Ugu horreyn aqooyahanka ayaa shaaca ka qaaday in shirka ka dhacay magaalada Ankara uu daba socday shirar kan ka horeeyay oo ka dhacay magaalada Nairobi, kuwaaas oo gogol xaar u ahaa shir labaad oo Ankara ka qabsoomay, kaas oo is-hor-fariisan mas’uuliyiinta labada dal ee Soomaaliya iyo Itoobiya, laakiin shirka saddexaad oo dhacay 12 December 2024, kaas oo go’aan kama dambeys oo heshiis lagu gaaray laga soo saaray. ”Sida la socoto shirkan Ankara wuxuu daba socday shirar ka horeeyay oo kii ugu horeeyay Nairobi ka bilowday oo inaba ambaqaadin, kii labaad Ankara ayuu ahaa runtii inkastoo is-hor-fariisan mas’uuliyiinta labada dal, laakiin loo kala warqaadayay, islamarkaana qodobada muhiimka ah shirkaas lagaga hadlay la iskuna afgaran waayay dhinaca loo socdo, shir kalaa ka dambeeyay isagana waa cakirnaa go’aan lagama gaarin, is-afgarashana lama helin, balse waxaad mooddaa midba midka ka dambeeyay inuu u sii gogol xaarayay kan hadda Ankara ka dhacay 12 December 2024, kaas hadda waxa ka soo baxay Bayaan heshiisna ma ahan,MOU,heshiiskii Somaliland iyo Itoobiya ma ahan waa Bayaan caddeynaya labada dhinac in ay is-afartaan oo dhibtii ka dhaxeysay ka heshiiyaan oo meel lagu ogaado heerkaas ayaa la taagan yahay,”. ayuu yiri Aqoonyahan Faysal Rooble. Sidoo kale wuxuu si qoto dheer kaga hadlay nuxurka heshiiska labada ay ku gaareen Ankara, kaas oo uu garwadeyn ka ahaa Madaxweyne Recep Tayip Erdogan. Waxaa kale oo uu intaasi kusii daray in Abiy oo markii hore diidanaa inuu ka laabto heshiiska uu ugu dambeyn ku qasbanaaday inuu dhowro madax banaanida Soomaaliya. ” Qacda ugu horeysa waxaa weeye in Itoobiya shirarkii ugu horeeyay ee la isugu yimid dib uga laabatay luqmatul xajarka dib u liqday dhaqaaqday arrimihii ay ku dhegneyd oo aanay xaq u lahayn,markaa shanta qodob ee muhiimka ah ee meesha ku tuugan, midi waa kan sheegay oo hadda ima hor yaalo, laakiin arrimaha ugu waa saddex koow Itoobiya shirarkii la isugu yimid laga soo bilaabo maalintii Kenya ilaa kuwii aan joogay ilaa kan maanta waxaa intaa diidaneyd erayga oranaya muqaddasnimada midnimada Soomaaliya, doorkan sida aan warka ku hayo is-jiid-jiid badan iyo is-riix-riix badan oo Aby ka dhaqaaqi waayay ugu dambeyn wuu saxiixay, waxay u diidayeen midnimada Soomaaliya in ay muqaddas tahayna wax kalaa miiska u saaran,” ayuu mar kale yiri Faysal Rooble. Kulanka Ankara ee dhexmaray madaxweynaha Soomaaliya iyo Ra’iisal wasaaraha Itoobiya Aby Ahmed ayaa waxaa labada dhinac ay ku heshiiyeen iyadoo lagu saleynayo War Murtiyeedka wadajirka ee shirka ka soo baxay in dhammaan arrimahii la isku haystey sida heshiiskii kihilaafka dhaliyay meesha laga saarey, ayna yihiin taariikh tagtey, labada dalna ay u bilaabaneyso bog cusub oo ku saleysan is qaddarin iyo dhowrista qaranimada, madaxbanaanida , midnimada iyo wadajirka dhuleed ee labada dal. Si kastaba, war-murtiyeedkii kasoo baxay shirka ayaa waxaa lagu xusay in heshiis kasta oo dhacaya ay khasab tahay in loo soo maro dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya, taas oo meesha ka saareyso walaacii laga qabay inuu dhaqan-gelo heshiiskii lala galay Somaliland.

Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya oo kaashaneysa Midowga Yurub iyo Hay’adda socdaalka dunida ee IOM ayaa dalka dib ugu soo celisay 147 muwaadin oo si tahriib ah ku tagay dalka Libya, waxaana laga soo badbaadiyey xabsiyo ay muddo dheer ku jireen iyo kooxo magafeyaal ah oo madax-furasho u heystay. Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa dhalinyaradaan ka kala dejisay magaalooyinka Muqdisho iyo Hargeysa, masuuliyiin ka tirsan dowladda ayaana ku soo dhaweysay garoonka Aadan Cadde ee magaalada Muqdisho. Dowladda ayaa sidaan oo kale todobaadyo ka hor dalka dib ugu soo celisay in ka badan 161 muwaadin oo ku xayirnaa dalka Libya, kuwaas oo Muqdisho iyo Hargeysa ka kala degay. Source: goobjoog.com

Shop owners in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, are caught between a rock and a hard place over a government directive that they install CCTV cameras outside their businesses to intensify surveillance of Islamist insurgents who have a strong presence in the city. Source: Hiiraan Online

Qaran News

NAIROBI, KENYA — A Kenyan aid group is helping refugees improve their lives by providing affordable loans that will help finance their businesses. At least 13,000 refugees in exile have received loans. Source: Hiiraan Online

Hargeysa (Caasimada Online) – Warsaxaafadeed kasoo baxay wasaaradda amniga gudaha Somaliland ayaa waxaa looga hadlay dagaalka ka socda magaalada Ceeribaabo oo ay ciidamadooda kula jiraan kuwa SSC-Khaatumo, kaas oo qaatay maalmo badan. Somaliland ayaa sheegtay in guul wayn ay ka gaartay dagaalka, waxayna hambalyo iyo boggaadin u dirtay ciidamadeeda dagaalka kula jira kuwa SSC-Khaatumo. Sidoo kale waxaa qoraalka lagu sheegay in dagaalkii shalay dhacay jab culus lagu gaasiiyay ciidamada SSC, oo iyagu weerarka soo qaaday, sida lagu xusay warsaxaafadeedka, Waxaa kale oo ay Somaliland shaaca ka qaaday in ciidamadooda ay mar kasta heegan ugu jiraan is difaacid, haddii lasoo weeraro, ayna ka hortagi doonaan cadowgooda. Hoos ka akhriso warsaxaafadeedka oo dhammeystiran;- Hargeysa-18-12-2024() Wasaaradda Amniga Gudaha Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland waxay hambalyo iyo boogaadin u diraysaa Ciidamada Qaranka Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland, jabkii ay gaadhsiiyeen kooxaha huwanta ah ee shalay gelinkii danbe weerarka ku soo qaaday fadhiisamada Ciidanka Qaranka ee bariga Magaalada Ceerigaabo. Wasaaraddu waxay si wayn u boogaadinaysaa Ciidamada Qaranka Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland oo markasta u taagan difaaca Qarannimada iyo xaqiijinta Amniga guud ee dalka, Ciidamada Qaranku waa naftood hurayaal waxayna shalay Qaranka u soo hooyeen guul wayn, waxayna cadawga tuseen in cidkasta oo u soo haqal taagta waxyeelaynta Qarannimada jamhuuriyadda Somaliland in ay la kulmayaan tallaabo aanay mahadin. Dawladda Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland waxay u taagan tahay oo astaan u ah nabad, horuumar, Dumuqraadiyada iyo himilooyinka lagu xaqiinayo halka Qarankani higsanayo, balse Dawladda Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland marnaba gorgortan ka gelimayso waxkasta oo taabanaya ama waxyeelaynaya Qarannimada, wada jirka Bulshada iyo amniga guud ee Dalka.

Guddoomiyaha Aqalka Hoose ee Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya, Aadan Maxamed Nuur (Madoobe) iyo wefdi uu hogaaminayo ayaa gaaray Magaaladda Baydhabo ee xarunta KMG ah ee Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur Galbeed. Qoraal ka soo baxay Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya ayaa lagu sheegay in guddoomiye Aadan Madoobe iyo wefdi uu hogaaminayo ayaa gaaray Magaaladda Baydhabo ee xarunta KMG ah ee Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur Galbeed. Wefdiga Guddoomiyaha Golaha Shacabka waxaa Garoonka Diyaaradaha Shaatigaduud kusoo dhoweeyay Madaxweynaha Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur Galbeed, Cabdicasiis Xasan Maxamed (Laftagareen), wasiiro Iyo xildhibaano ka tirsan Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur Galbeed Wefdiga Guddoomiyaha oo ay ka mid yihiin Wasiiro iyo Xildhibaanno ayaa waxay Magaaladda Baydhabo uga qeyb geli doonaan xuska sanad guurada lixaad ee Madaxweynaha Dowlad Goboleedka Koonfur Galbeed Mudane Cabdicasiis Xasan Maxamed (Laftagareen). PUNTLAND POST The post Guddoomiyaha Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya oo maanta lagu soo dhaweeyay magaalada Baydhaba appeared first on Puntland Post.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre announced plans to remove the stone roadblocks scattered across Mogadishu's main streets to enhance the city's aesthetic appeal and accessibility. Source: Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) – Renowned Somali religious scholar Sheikh Muse Nur, widely known as Sheikh Muse Adde, has passed away in the Netherlands, his son Anwar Sheikh Muse Adde confirmed on Tuesday. Source: Hiiraan Online

Masuuliyiinta dowladda cusub ee Suuriya ayaa sheegay in diyaaraddii ugu horraysay oo maxalli ahi ay ka duubashay garoonka magaalada dimishiq tan iyo markii xukunka laga tuuray Bashaar Al-assad. Diyaaradan oo sidda dad shacab u badan ayaa ka duushay Dimishiq iyadoo ku sii jeedday garoonka magaalada Xalab ama Aleppo, waxaana la xaqiijiyay inay tahay duulimaadkii ugu horreeyay muddo 10 beri ah oo maamulka cusubi ay talada dalka hayeen. Isku socodka gudaha dalka ayaa muddooyinkan dambe hakad ku jirey ka dib markii xukunka laga tuuray madaxweynihii hore ee dalkaas, islamarkaana jabhadaha Suuriya qabsaday ay ku dhawaaqeen howlgal dib u hagaajin maamul iyo xasillin nabad-gelyo isugu jira. Source: goobjoog.com

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online) – Ra’iisul wasaaraha xukuumadda Soomaaliya, Mudane Xamza Cabdi Barre oo xalay khudbad ka jeediyay munaasabad uu xilka kula wareegay guddoomiyaha cusub ee gobolka Banaadir Maxamed Axmed Amiir ayaa ku dhowaaqay go’aan culus oo farxad-geliyay shacabka Soomaaliyeed ee ku dhaqan magaalada Muqdisho. Xamza ayaa shaaca ka qaaday in la gaaray waqtigii caasimada lga qaadi lahaa dhagaxaanta ku xiran waddooyinka, si loo fududeeyo isku socodka dadka. Ra’iisul wasaaraha ayaa faray wasaaradda amniga gudaha iyo saraakiisha ciidamada inay fuliyaan amarkan, si shacabka looga hor leexiyo dhagaxaanta. “Waxaan u sheegaya wasiirka amniga iyo laamaha ammaanka inay ka shaqeeyaan sidii dhagaxaanta weli taalla waddooyinka magaalada Muqdisho waxaana la gaaray xiligii shacabka dhagaxaantaasi laga hor wareejin lahaa” ayuu yiri ra’iisul wasaare Xamza. Sidoo kale wuxuu ka hadlay bilicda caasimada, isaga oo maamulka cusub ee gobolka ugu baaqay inuu diirada saaro wax ka qabashada nadaafad xumada, la’iskulana xisaabtamo. Hadalkan ku aadan furista jidadka ayaa ra’iisul wasaaruhu horay u sheegay marar badan, balse ma jirto wax iska beddalay, waxaana weli sababo amaan u xiran waddooyin badan. Si kastaba, magaalada Muqdisho ayaa haatan wajaheyso deganaasho amni, waxaana laga nastay qaraxyadii ka dhici jiray iyo weeraradii tooska ahaa ee kooxda Al-Shabaab.

Maanta oo ay taariikhdu tahay 18-ka Diseembar, waxaa gebi ahaanba xirmay suuqyada ugu waaweyn magaalada Muqdisho, oo ay ku jiraan Suuqa Bakaaraha iyo Suuq Bacaad. xirnaanshaha ayaa ah mid ay ganacsatada kaga cabanayaan cashuuro iyo khidmooyin cusub oo lagu soo rogay ganacsigooda iyo shaqaalahooda. Ilo wareedyo lagu kalsoon yahay ayaa sheegay in cashuuraha iyo khidmooyinka ganacsatada lagu soo rogay ay si gaar ah u culays ku yihiin ganacsatada gobolka Banaadir. Cashuuraha ay cabashada ka muujiyeen ayaa kala ah: Diiwaan-gelinta shaqaalaha (Lacag cusub oo cashuur ah). Diiwaan-gelinta ganacsiga (Merchant registration). Xisaab-diiwaan gelin (Account registration). Kormeerka tayada badeecada (Quality control ). TIN-ku qorista badeecada kasta oo la gato (Khidmo TIN ku saabsan). Ganacsatada waxay sheegeen in gobolka Banaadir si gaar ah loogu kordhiyay cashuuro aan caadi ahayn oo aan laga qaadin gobollada kale ee dalka. Ganacsatada ayaa sidoo kale sheegay in aysan aqbali doonin go’aanka dowladda oo Suuqa uu xirnaan doono ilaa Xal loo lo cabashadooda. Source: goobjoog.com

Guddoomiyaha Golaha Shacabka ee Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya, Aadan Maxamed Nuur (Aadan Madoobe), ayaa maanta gaaray magaalada Caasimadda KMG ah ee maamulka Koonfur Galbeed. Madaxweynaha Koonfur Galbeed, Cabdicasiis Xasan Maxamed (Laftagareen), iyo mas’uuliyiin kale ayaa si weyn ugu soo dhaweeyay garoonka diyaaradaha Baydhabo. Waxaa la filayaa in guddoomiyaha uu kulammo gaar ah la yeesho madaxda maamulka, odayaasha dhaqanka, iyo qeybaha bulshada si looga wada hadlo arrimaha muhiimka ah ee gobolka iyo dalka guud ahaan. Wararka qaar ayaa sheegaya in diiradda lagu saari doono xoojinta nabadda, taageerada dowladnimada, iyo sidii loo horumarin lahaa wada shaqeynta heer federaal iyo heer dowlad-goboleed. Source: goobjoog.com

Mogadishu (HOL) – The newly appointed Mogadishu mayor, Mohamed Ahmed Amiir, officially took office during a handover ceremony held on Tuesday at the local government headquarters in the Somali capital. Source: Hiiraan Online

Garbahaarey (Caasimada Online) – Madaxweynaha maamul goboleedka Jubbaland, Mudane Axmed Maxamed Islaam (Axmed Madoobe) ayaa qaaday tallaabo culus oo la xiriirta gobolka Gedo, oo mar kale laga dareemay dhaq-dhaqaaq ay ka waddo dowladda. Axmed Madoobe ayaa maamul cusub u magacaabay gobolkan, kadib digreeto uu soo saaray, si uu uga hortago dhaq-dhaqaaqa dowladda. Guddoomiyaha cusub ee gobolka Gedo ayaa waxaa loo magacaabay Maxamed Xuseen Isaaq (Alqaadi) oo beddalaya Cabdullaahi Shimbir oo hadda ah guddoomiyaha gobolka, balse ka horyimid Axmed Madoobe, toosna ula safray dowladda dhexe. Tallaabada ayaa kusoo aadeyso, xilli dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya ay dhankeeda Gedo ka abaabuleyso dhaq-dhaqaaqo ciidan, si meesha looga saaro maamulka Axmed Madoobe. Dowladda ayaa sidoo kale lasoo wariyay in saanad milatari ka dajisay degmada Baardheere ee gobolkaasi, taas oo la gaarsiiyay qaar kamid ah ciidamada ku sugan degmadaasi. Wararka ayaa intaasi kusii daraya in maalmaha soo socda ciidamo dheeraad ah laga dajin doono gobolka, kuwaas oo bilaabi doono guluf ka dhan ah Jubbaland. Si kastaba, lama oga sida ay wax noqon doonaan, waxaana arrimahan ay kusoo beegmayaan kadib markii lagu kala baxay dagaalkii Raaskambooni oo ay ku adkaatay Jubbaland, kadib markii hal maalin lagu soo afjaray ciidamadii lagu daabulay halkaasi.

Shacabka ku nool dalka Suuriya ayaa soo bandhigay xabaal-wadareedyo ku yaala qeybo kala duwan oo ka tirsan magaalada Dimishiq ee dalka Suuriya. Goob in ka yar 10 kiilomitir (Lix meyl) u jirta magaalada mashquulka badan ee Dimishiq ee duleedka waqooyi galbeed ee magaalada Adra, waxaa ku yaala dhul qalalan oo ballaaran, kaas oo u uku hareereysan darbi shamiito ka sameysan. Waxaa halkaas gaaray koox badbaadiyeyaal ah oo ka socda hay’ado ka shaqeeya arrimaha bini’aadanimo, kuwaas oo la arkayo iyagoo baaraya xabaal wadareeyo la sheegay inay halkaas ku yaalaan. Maalmihii la soo dhaafay, waxaa baraha bulshada lagu faafiyay muuqallo muujinaya, xabaal-wadareedyo lagu aasayay dadka la jirdilo ilaa ay ka dhintaan, ama kuwa la daldalo, kuwaas oo ku jiray xabsiga aadka u xun ee Suuriya, xiligii uu xukunka hayay Bashaar al-Assad. Qaar kamid ah maxaabiista, waxaa lagala bixi jiray halka lagu hayo marka uu gabbalka dhaco, isla habeenkaas ama maalinta xigta si loo dilo. Si toos ah ayaa dadka loo dili jiray iyadoo lagu daldali jiray qolal loogu talogalay, dilka waxaa la socday jirdil. Kooxaha tegay Adra, waxay halkaas ku arkeen godad ay ku jiraan meydadka dad lagu riday baco cadcad oo caag ka sameysan. Farrin ayaa lagu yiri, “todoba meyd, qabrigii sideedaad, lama aqoonsan”. Kooxda ayaa soo saaray meydadkaas, oo lafa keliya ay ka soo hareen, kuwaas oo ay meel isugu geeyeen. “Kumanaan qof ayaa weli la la’ayahay, wakhti ayayna qaadan doontaa in la ogaado waxa ku dhacay”, ayuu yiri Ismaaciil Axmed oo kamid ah kooxda baaritaanka wadda. Waxaa uu intaa ku daray in mustaqbalka la ogaan doono dadka la dilay ee lagu aasay xabaal-wadareedyadaas. Bbcsomali Qaran News

Madaxweynaha Somaliland, Cabdiraxmaan Maxamed Cabdillaahi Cirro, ayaa waxaa uu shalay kulan degdeg ah uu la qaatay Guddoomiyeyaasha labada shir-gudoon ee aqalka Baarlamaan ee Guurtida iyo Wakiillada, Saleebaan Maxamuud Aadan iyo Prof, Yaasiin Xaaji Maxamuud Xiir Faratoon. Kulankan dhexmaray Madaxweynaha Somaliland iyo Guddoomiyeyaasha labada gole ee Guurtida iyo Wakiillada, ayaa ka dhacay xarunta qasriga Madaxtooyada. Sidoo kale, kulanka ayaa waxaa goobjoog ka ahaa Madaxweyne ku xigeenka Somaliland Maxamed Cali Aw Cabdi iyo Guddoomiyaha Maxkamada Sare, Garyaqaan Adam Xaaji Cali Axmed. Madaxweynaha, ayaa waxaa uu uga mahadnaqay Guddoomiyeyaasha, ka wada shaqaynta danaha qaranka dalka Somaliland. Kulanka, ayay Madaxweynaha iyo Guddoomiyeyaasha kaga arrin sadeen sidii tallo qaran looga yeelan lahaa shaqaaqooyinka ka dhacay magaaladda Ceerigaabo ee xarunta gobolka Sanaag iyo sidii xasiloonida bulshada loo adkayn lahaa. Ugu danbayntii Madaxweynuhu waxa uu Hay’addaha Qaranka ee sharci dejinta iyo Garsoorka u balan qaaday inuu la yeelan doono wada shaqayn dhaw Qaran News

Las Anod (HOL) – Intense fighting broke out on Tuesday afternoon between Somaliland forces and SSC-Khaatumo forces in a rural area of the southern Sanaag region, leaving both sides with heavy casualties. Source: Hiiraan Online

Somaliland’s Peaceful Handover Withstands Neighbourhood Strains Somaliland reinforced its reputation as one of the Horn of Africa’s stronger democracies by staging a successful presidential election and ushering in a peaceful transfer of power. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Omar Mahmood explains the challenges facing the new administration. Share Save Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa Tweets by OmarSMahmood What happened? Somaliland held its long-awaited presidential election in mid-November, ending in victory for the opposition and a swift concession by the incumbent. The vote and its aftermath underlined Somaliland’s standing as a consolidating democracy with a reputation for political stability while the peaceful transfer of power marked a welcome outcome in the Horn of Africa, where such handovers are a rare occurrence. That said, the run-up to the vote was far from smooth, due to rising internal tensions and an unresolved conflict in the east. The harassment of government critics and the concentration of political power in the hands of a single clan also fuel concerns as to the degree of openness in Somaliland’s political system. Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Over the last three decades it has developed many of the trappings of a state, including its own currency, security forces and civilian administration in the capital, Hargeisa. Even so, Mogadishu rejects Somaliland’s independence and no country has recognised it. At the same time, its reputation for orderly polls and relatively consensual politics has come under strain recently, and disputes among politicians caused a two-year delay of the presidential vote. In the end, Somaliland’s institutions and political establishment largely withstood the stress test. The results saw Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Cirro”, leader of the Waddani party, secure the presidency with 64 per cent of the vote, defeating incumbent Muse Bihi of the Kulmiye party. Approximately 53 per cent of registered voters turned out – lower than the previous presidential election in 2017, when 64 per cent of those registered voted. This was partly because polls did not take place in most of conflict-hit Sool and parts of Sanaag, both of which lie in the east. What are the main political divides in Somaliland? Voters largely cast their ballots along clan lines, revealing the continuing dominance of these loyalties in Somaliland while also raising doubts as to the diversity and fairness of political representation. Politics in Somaliland is dominated by members of the Isaaq clan family. A number of clans exist within the Isaaq, but three main ones – the Garhajis, Haber Jeclo and Haber Awal – have the greatest political prominence. Other, non-Isaaq clans reside in Somaliland’s western and eastern regions. In the western region of Awdal, members of the Dir clan family have long complained of marginalisation by the Isaaq. In the east, members of the Darod clan family, comprising Sool clan and East Sanaag Clan clans, have mostly rejected inclusion in Somaliland, favouring instead a closer relationship with Mogadishu or neighbouring Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in northern Somalia with which they share close clan ties. These frictions were at the heart of the conflict that erupted between the Somaliland administration and the Sool clan in Sool in 2023 (for more on this, see below). The past two Somaliland presidents … were swept to victory by a Haber Awal-Haber Jeclo clan alliance, under the Kulmiye party. The past two Somaliland presidents – Bihi and his predecessor Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud, or “Silanyo” – were swept to victory by a Haber Awal-Haber Jeclo clan alliance, under the Kulmiye party. This fractured in 2024, with many Haber Jeclo turning against the incumbent. Instead, they voted for Waddani and its candidate Cirro, complaining that Bihi favoured his Haber Awal clan when in power. Prominent members of the Haber Jeclo clan also argued they had suffered most from the conflict in Sool which erupted during Bihi’s presidency, given that their homelands are on the front lines and many prisoners of war captured by Sool clan militias hail from their clan. Alongside the presidential polls, Somaliland’s political organisations also contested elections to determine which of them would be permitted to compete as parties in future polls, with Somaliland’s political system licensing only three parties for up to ten years each. This system, in which political associations that want to become parties are subjected to a popular vote, is designed to avoid the proliferation of parties representing specific clans. Kulmiye and Waddani retained their official standing for the third and second time respectively. They are joined by a new party, Kaah, led by veteran politician Mohamoud Hashi Abdi, previously a member of Kulmiye. All three of these parties are headed by leaders from the Haber Jeclo – a first in Somaliland politics. What were the challenges leading up to the polls? The last few years have been difficult for Somaliland, sullying its reputation as a relative beacon of stability and democratic progress in the Horn of Africa. First, presidential and local council elections had been delayed for several years due to domestic political tensions. When the licenses for Somaliland’s three permitted parties expired in late 2022, there was also little clarity on how or when the next slate of parties would be chosen. Presidential polls were due in November 2022, but confusion over the elections for licensed parties delayed the timetable: the government insisted on holding the party polls before the presidential contest, while the opposition argued the reverse should be the case. A compromise was hammered out in August 2023, paving the way for a joint presidential and party election in November 2024 after a two-year delay. The agreement came after violent clashes between government forces and protesters in major cities in August 2022 as well as a short-lived clan-based rebellion near the town of Burco, the region’s second-largest city, in mid-2023. Secondly, the conflict in Sool between the Somaliland government and Sool clan clan militias dented Somaliland’s reputation for internal stability. Members of Somaliland’s Isaaq clan led the agitation for independence from Somalia following years of insurgency against the country’s strongman ruler Siad Barre, who held power in Mogadishu from 1969 to 1991. But the majority of Sool’s population are Sool clan, a community that belongs to a non-Isaaq family, the Darod. The desire for independence is not shared by all communities in the territory claimed by Somaliland, and the outbreak of violence demonstrated this. In early 2023, Sool clan elders and elites formed the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn-Khatumo (SSC-K) administration in Sool region, representing the clan, along with Fiqishine and Madiban clans in the area. The administration led the campaign to expel Somaliland forces in August 2023, and has since declared itself part of Somalia rather than Somaliland. The immediate inception of the conflict in Sool can be traced to the assassination of a Sool clan opposition member in Las Anod, the region’s administrative capital, in December 2022. Protesters gathered in the town after the assassination, complaining that the Somaliland authorities had not made enough effort to stop the repeated killings of civic leaders. Police moved in to disperse the demonstrators, using excessive force. A full-fledged insurgency ensued. The Somaliland military and Sool clan clan militias, backed up by other related clans, fought a fierce war between February and August 2023 in which more than 150,000 civilians were displaced, many of them fleeing to Ethiopia. Somaliland forces fell back to the town of Oog in August 2023, where they remain. Fighting has not restarted since, although troops remain deployed on the front lines. Coupled with the lack of engagement between Sool, Sanaag and Cayn-Khatumo and the Somaliland government, the risk of the conflict reigniting remains. Outgoing President Bihi’s moves to achieve the first-ever foreign recognition of Somaliland helped shape the outcome of the election. Thirdly, outgoing President Bihi’s moves to achieve the first-ever foreign recognition of Somaliland also helped shape the outcome of the election. In January 2024, he hastily signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed which reportedly stated that Ethiopia could lease land on the Somaliland coast to build a naval base, in exchange for Addis Ababa providing official recognition of the administration as a sovereign state. The agreement sparked a regional uproar: Somalia condemned it as a violation of its sovereignty and subsequently demanded that all Ethiopian forces deployed in the country depart. (Ethiopia has troops there as part of the African Union mission and on a bilateral basis in support of Mogadishu’s fight against Al-Shabaab militants.) The reactions within Somaliland were more equivocal. Some hailed it as a bold step towards securing independence. Others, however, criticised the lack of transparency, as well as the prospect of Ethiopia establishing a military installation on soil inhabited by ethnic Somalis, many of whom regard the country as a regional rival. Others viewed the agreement as no more than a ploy by Bihi to strengthen his flagging political prospects through an appeal to Somaliland nationalism. With Ethiopia facing concerted diplomatic pushback, the deal has as of yet had no meaningful effect in practice. But it remains a source of contention – particularly in the Horn of Africa – and the mere existence of the memorandum of understanding contributed to a tense pre-electoral environment. None of these controversies, however, managed to override the smooth conduct of elections, demonstrating Somaliland leaders’ commitment to the ballot box and sustaining the progress that the region has made toward developing democratic institutions. The National Electoral Commission and Supreme Court in particular showed leadership and independence during the electoral process. Bihi’s administration, meanwhile, successfully oversaw logistical challenges and refrained from manipulating the vote. What should be the incoming administration’s domestic priorities? The conclusion of the elections is an opportunity for Somaliland to move on from an electoral process that concluded peacefully while also exposing the extent of its divisions. Somaliland’s new leadership faces a clutch of major challenges. Its domestic politics are increasingly fractious; the relationship with the Sool clan clan (and the frozen conflict in Sool) remains tense; and the memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia continues to stir diplomatic bickering. Meanwhile, electoral democracy itself could face a new threat as the benefits of holding political power and the costs of losing it rise due to mounting foreign investment in Somaliland, giving top government officials far greater economic sway and access to financial resources. Important economic developments include the 2016 arrangement for the DP World logistics company, based in the United Arab Emirates, to manage and expand Somaliland’s main port of Berbera. This will allow Somaliland to profit from an important trade route linking states in the Horn of Africa to the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea shipping lanes. But for now, successful polls, and a smooth transfer of power, will go some way to cooling domestic political tensions and redressing the reputational damage Somaliland suffered as a result of the delayed polls and conflict in Sool. Incoming President Cirro – a long-time opposition leader who was speaker of Somaliland’s lower house from 2005 to 2017 – should take the opportunity to prioritise dialogue and de-escalation, moving on from the aggressive and antagonistic approaches that have prevailed over the last few years in Somaliland. To minimise post-election tensions, the incoming administration should demonstrate its commitment to governing on behalf of all Somalilanders, rather than just the communities that form its clan-based coalition. A first step would be to ensure that ministerial appointments in the new administration reflect a wide range of clans, not simply those that are most politically dominant, while also including more women’s voices to counter the marked gender bias in Somaliland’s political establishment. The new administration should also work to respect civil liberties and reverse recent efforts to curb these, a trend that has been manifested in the rising number of arrests of journalists and opposition politicians, including the detention of a member of parliament during the pre-electoral period. Long overdue reforms to the political system should be another priority. Long overdue reforms to the political system should be another priority. One important step would be to devise a new way to select representatives to the Guurti, the parliament’s upper house. Its current members were picked in the late 1990s and have long since exceeded their original six-year mandate. Many clan elders who were initially chosen have died and their successors, who mostly inherited the roles, often lack a similar level of public influence or interest in reaching compromise with political rivals. Not unlike the Guurti, mandate extensions are common across Somaliland – all branches of elected government (presidency, parliament, local councils) have previously seen terms of office extended. The new administration could beef up its democratic credentials by sticking to constitutionally-mandated term limits. More broadly, the new administration should also seek ways to boost the inclusiveness of Somaliland’s political system. This will not be easy. Dialogue with communities that feel underrepresented, particularly non-Isaaq communities like the Gadabursi and Issa in the west and the Sool clan and East Sanaag Clan in the east, is critically important. The Sool clan have effectively abandoned the Somaliland project, and prefer to see themselves as part of Somalia. Talks between both sides on the subject of releasing prisoners of war would be a sensible first step to avoid a resumption of conflict between the Sool clan and the Somaliland government, and could pave the way to more substantive discussions on their future relationship. In recent weeks, clan conflict has also flared in Erigabo, capital of Sanaag region, which had been a model of civic tranquillity despite the city’s diverse population. Dialogue sponsored by the new government could help calm tensions before they escalate further. How should the government approach its foreign relations? Two key issues are set to dominate Somaliland’s foreign relations: the status of the memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia, and Somaliland’s ties with Mogadishu. Relations between Somaliland and the Somali government had been improving prior to the signing of the memorandum. Toning down bellicose rhetoric deployed by both sides since the deal with Ethiopia was announced in January 2024 could help the two governments get back on the road to dialogue. There is a potential window of opportunity ahead of Somalia’s next elections in May 2026, in part because Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud may want to demonstrate progress on the Somaliland issue before his mandate expires. The memorandum of understanding will be tricky to navigate. If implemented, it would represent a breakthrough for foreign recognition of Somaliland, but could also spark a backlash in the region, particularly from Mogadishu. One approach could be for Somaliland and Ethiopia to focus on commercial aspects of the agreement – which are easier to put into effect immediately and less controversial. This would mean linking the revamped infrastructure around Berbera port to the Ethiopian market by improving the transport network connecting Ethiopia and Somaliland, while also finalising a bilateral trade agreement that had been under discussion prior to the memorandum of understanding. Somalia has noted it has no objection to Ethiopia and Somaliland deepening their commercial ties. At the same time, wider discussion between states in the Horn of Africa is needed to address the unresolved questions that the memorandum highlighted: namely, Ethiopia’s limited sea access and Somaliland’s legal status. Another potential flashpoint surfaced in the aftermath of the U.S. election. Although not an official publication of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign, the Project 2025 conservative manifesto issued by some of his allies makes the case for official recognition of Somaliland. It argues that such a step would reward the entity for its relative stability, while also countering what the document’s authors describe as neighbouring Djibouti’s pro-Beijing orientation. (Djibouti hosts a major Chinese naval base located a stone’s throw away from a large U.S. base; its decision to grant China basing rights in 2016 irritated Washington.) On paper, Somaliland would welcome official recognition by a great power. But if this is done unilaterally and with no major diplomatic spadework in advance, it would also supercharge tensions between Somaliland and Somalia, particularly along the contested boundary with Puntland. It would likewise prompt furious objections from Mogadishu’s allies in the region, such as Djibouti and Eritrea, as well as their friends farther afield, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and Egypt – further dividing the wider region. Navigating the issue of recognition will be an especially nettlesome challenge for Cirro. All parties – particularly the incoming U.S. administration – should avoid rushing into decisions that could create new fault-lines in the Horn of Africa. Washington should rather prioritise the resumption of dialogue between Mogadishu and Hargeisa, with regional backing, through sustained diplomacy and diplomatic pressure, in order to move toward a lasting solution. Qaran News

The Federal Court has granted judicial review of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) decision to refuse a Somali refugee’s application for permanent residence, ruling that the decision was unreasonable due to a failure to consider critical evidence. Source: Hiiraan Online