EU envoy talks tough to Somalian leaders (08.02.2012)

(Source:Reuters AlertNet)

Somalia's leaders must press ahead with political reforms or risk losing aid from the European Union, its biggest donor, the EU envoy to the Horn of Africa said on Wednesday.

London conference "an opportunity" for Somaliland (07.02.2012)

(Source:Irinnews)

More than two decades after it unilaterally asserted its independence from the rest of Somalia, Somaliland plans to lobby hard at a major conference in London in February for something it has sorely lacked since its inception: international recognition of its sovereignty.

UN and partners insist interim political arrangement must end in August (06.02.2012)

(Source:UN News)

The international group that brings together the United Nations and its diplomatic partners in support of efforts to restore peace and stability in Somalia insisted today that the country’s current transitional governing arrangements must end on 20 August this year, as stipulated in recent agreements, and called for a new draft constitution by mid-April.

Famine conditions in Somalia have ended, UN says (03.02.2012)

(Source:BBC)

Famine conditions have ended in war-torn Somalia six months after being first declared, the UN has said.

'Opportunity' to end terror, piracy in Somalia: Hague (03.02.2012)

(Source:AFP)

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said Friday there was an "opportunity" to end the crisis in Somalia and tackle terrorism and piracy there, after a landmark visit to the war-torn nation.

Britain appoints first ambassador to Somalia in 21 years (02.02.2012)

(Source:The Daily Star)

Britain appointed Thursday its first ambassador to war-torn Somalia for 21 years, with an embassy to open in anarchic Mogadishu when the security situation allows, officials said.

Special report of the Secretary-General on Somalia (31.01.2012)

(Source:S/2012/74)

The Secretary-General’s report presents recommendations on the new strategic concept for the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

UN condemns Al-Shabab's ban on ICRC (31.01.2012)

(Source:Reliefweb)

The UN has expressed concern over a ban by Somalia's Al-Shabab insurgents on aid distributions by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia saying the move would reverse gains made in the country's food security. … The ICRC was one of the last aid agencies operating in areas under Al-Shabab’s control.

AU, Kenyan forces move to squeeze rebels out of Somalia (30.01.2012)

(Source:Reuters)

African Union and Kenyan troops aim to squeeze Somali rebels linked to al Qaeda by pursuing a coordinated war on two fronts, the U.N. chief's special envoy in Somalia said Monday.

Ethiopia opens new front against Somalia's al-Shabab (30.01.2012)

(Source:VOA News)

Witnesses in Somalia say columns of Ethiopian troops have crossed into the country and are marching toward key al-Shabab strongholds, apparently opening a new military front against the Islamist militant group.

Return of UN political presence to Mogadishu “historic” step, says envoy (26.01.2012)

(Source:UN News)

On Tuesday Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, moved to the capital of the Horn of Africa nation from Nairobi along with a number of his core staff from the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).

Somali and African troops hit rebel posts in Mogadishu (20.01.2012)

(Source:New York Times)

Government and African Union forces began a heavy offensive early on Friday against insurgent strongholds on the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu, trying to drive the Islamic militants they have long battled out of the city, officials and witnesses said.

UN clears Eritrea over allegations of arming Somali rebels (17.01.2012)

(Source:Sudan Tribune)

A UN monitoring panel says it has disproved allegations that Eritrea was supplying weapons to Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants towards the end of 2011.

New Report: After the Kenyan Intervention in Somalia (13.01.2012)

(Source:Enough Project)

Al-Shabaab video declares holy war against Kenya (11.01.2012)

(Source:allAfrica)

Al-Shabaab has released a propaganda video declaring war against Kenya. The video was released by Sheikh Ahmed Iman Ali, the self-proclaimed de facto leader of Kenyan al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia.

AU asks UN Security Council to expand Somalia mission (11.01.2012)

(Source:VOA News)

An African Union delegation asked the United Nations Security Council Wednesday to approve the expansion of its mission in Somalia and provide it with logistical and other support it needs to crush Islamist insurgents who have challenged the transitional government and threatened peace and security in the Horn of Africa and beyond.

Al Shabaab war drives new Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda intelligence alliance (08.01.2012)

(Source:allAfrica)

The war in Somalia has led to closer intelligence collaboration between Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda that is thought to have thwarted plans by the Al Shabaab militia to launch terror attacks in the region over Christmas and New Year holidays.

Ethiopian troops „to hand over to AU force“ (06.01.2012)

(Source:BBC)

The decision was made by the AU's Peace and Security Council, which met to finalise boosting its Somali force. It wants the UN to approve a new figure of 17,731, which would include the absorption of Kenyan troops.

Ethiopia forces capture rebel-controlled Somali town (31.12.2011)

(Source:Sudan Tribune)

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in its extraordinary summit in Addis Ababa last November has called on Ethiopia to support the Kenyan and Somalia joint security operation against the extremist group.

Djibouti troops join AU force in Somalia (20.12.2011)

(Source:BBC)

Troops from Djibouti have arrived in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, to bolster the 10,000-strong African Union (AU) force battling Islamist militants. It is just the third country to contribute to the AU force, which says it needs extra troops to hold territory gained from the al-Shabab Islamists.

High-level conference on the constitution (19.12.2011)

(Source:Reliefweb)

Following consultations with the Somali Transitional Federal Institutions and other stakeholders, the United Nations Political Office for Somalia announces that a high-level Conference on the Constitution will take place in Garowe, Puntland State, from 21 to 23 December 2011. This conference follows the Consultative Meeting on Ending the Transition, which took place in Mogadishu from 4 to 6 September 2011.

Somalia’s insurgents embrace Twitter as a weapon (14.12.2011)

(Source:New York Times)

Somalia’s powerful Islamist insurgents, the Shabab, best known for chopping off hands and starving their own people, just opened a Twitter account, and in the past week they have been writing up a storm, bragging about recent attacks and taunting their enemies.

Kenya troops to drive deeper into Somali rebel territory (13.12.2011)

(Source:Reliefweb)

Kenyan forces and their Somali allies battling Islamist Shebab insurgents said Tuesday they plan to advance deeper into rebel-held regions. Two months after Kenya sent troops to fight the Al Qaeda-linked rebels, the fores have made little progress due to bad weather, while the insurgents have multiplied grenade and landmine attacks in areas along the Kenya-Somalia border.

Council appoints EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa (12.12.2011)

(Source:Reliefweb)

The Council today appointed Mr Alexander Rondos, a Greek diplomat, as EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa. … The Council has asked the Special Representative to initially focus on Somalia and the regional dimensions of the conflict there, as well as on piracy, which has its root causes in the instability of Somalia.

New report of the Secretary-General on Somalia (09.12.2011)

(Source:S/2011/759)

The report provides an update on major developments that occurred in Somalia on the three main tracks — (a) political; (b) security; and (c) humanitarian, recovery and development, and human rights — during the period from the issuance of the SGs report of 30 August 2011 (S/2011/549) to 30 November 2011. It also assesses the progress made in carrying out the United Nations strategy for Somalia, as well as the implementation of the road map for ending the transition.

UN office for Somalia moves from Nairobi to Mogadishu (09.12.2011)

(Source:BBC)

The UN office for Somalia is moving to Mogadishu from Nairobi, UN head Ban Ki-moon has announced on a rare visit to the Somali capital.

New clashes in capital Mogadishu (08.12.2011)

(Source:BBC)

The Somali capital, Mogadishu, has been hit by some of the fiercest fighting in the city in months, in a major setback for the government. The clashes began shortly after dawn between Islamist al-Shabab militants and government troops, backed by African Union (AU) troops. … Al-Shabab withdrew from Mogadishu in August and the government then declared that the city was under its control

Kenya: troops join AU Somalia Mission (07.12.2011)

(Source:allAfrica)

Kenyan soldiers fighting Al-Shabaab militants have now become part of the United Nations-sponsored African Mission in Somalia. It follows the unanimous vote in Parliament on Wednesday authorising the Kenya Defence Forces currently in Somalia to serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia.

Somalia's al-Shabab militants close UN aid offices (28.11.2011)

(Source:BBC)

The list of groups banned outright included the United Nations children's agency, Unicef, and other UN bodies, the British charity Concern and groups from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Sweden.

Somalia’s leaders commit to UN process to end recruitment of child soldiers (23.11.2011)

(Source:UN News)

The United Nations envoy for children and armed conflict today secured a commitment from top officials in Somalia’s transitional Government to start a process to end the recruitment and use of children in the country’s armed forces.