Somalia

At least 26 people, including a prominent journalist and several foreigners, have been killed in an attack on a hotel in southern Somalia. … Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed the attack, the worst to hit Kismayo since they were forced out in 2012.

The United States is resuming some assistance to a unit of the Somali military that is not working directly with U.S. forces, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, around 18 months after aid was suspended to such units over widespread corruption concerns.

The UN migration agency said it has relocated more than 3,900 internally displaced persons (IDPs) at risk of eviction to newly developed public sites in Baidoa, southwestern Somalia.

The United States on Tuesday vowed to intensify its security operations against al-Shabab to help stabilize Somalia.

South African Nicholas “Fink” Haysom has been replaced as the United Nations special representative in Somalia by James Swan. In addition to being Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ special representative in the troubled East African country, Swan is also head of the UN mission (UNSOM).

The United Nations Security Council decided Friday to cut 1,000 troops from a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia, despite a rise in attacks by the Al-Shabaab militia in Mogadishu. The council voted unanimously to draw down the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), but left the door open for the council to revisit that decision if violence worsens. … The force's mandate was extended for a year.

Despite Somalia’s persistent security threats, recurrent political crises, capacity constraints and the difficulties in navigating political obstacles to its reform agenda, the Horn of Africa country remains on a “positive trajectory,” the UN Security Council was told on Wednesday.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the civil societies have resolved to come up with programmes that will help empower citizens to actively participate in the affairs of the country.