Somalia

[…] The al-Shabab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. Tuesday’s attack came as the U.S. military increased airstrikes against al-Shabab. … The latest two strikes bring the total number of airstrikes against al-Shabab this year to 11. Last year the United States carried out 47 strikes, all of them against al-Shabab.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is set to be reduced by 1,000 soldiers this month in line with the United Nation Security Council resolution. In a statement, AMISOM said the resolution authorizes the member states of the African Union to reduce the number of uniformed AMISOM personnel by February 28 without "further delay".

Since 2017, the US military has stepped up air raids against the group in Somalia, carrying out 47 attacks last year.

A region of war-ravaged Somalia elected a new president on Tuesday, a peaceful transfer of power in a part of the country notorious for piracy and Islamist militias. Said Abdullahi Deni, who is likely to continue Puntland’s close cooperation with the United States, defeated his closest rival, Asad Osman Abdullahi.

In the wake of the Somali Government's decision last week to expel the head of the UN's assistance mission, UNSOM, the Security Council on Saturday cautioned that 2019 would be "a critical year" for the east African nation that is reconsituting itself after decades of conflict.

The UN Secretary-General said on Friday he “deeply regrets” the Somali Government’s decision to expel his Special Representative in the country, adding that he had “full confidence” in Nicholas Haysom’s abilities and track record as an international civil servant. According to news reports, Mr. Haysom was accused of violating diplomatic rules and overstepping his authority by the Government, in questioning the legal basis for the arrest of a former al-Shabab deputy leader early last month, who was standing for election in South West state.

Nicholas Haysom, a South African, had served only a few months as the special representative for U.N. Secretary General António Guterres. Somalia’s Foreign Ministry declared him “persona non grata” and ordered him to leave the country.

Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Tuesday’s attacks against the UN compound in Mogadishu … saying that intentionally attacking UN personnel may constitute "a violation of international humanitarian law.” Seven mortars landed inside the compound, injuring two UN staff members and one contractor.