Somalia

Somalia is prepared to offer the United States exclusive control of strategic air bases and ports, its president said in a letter to President Donald Trump seen by Reuters on Friday.

[…] Despite progress over the past few decades, Somalia continues to grapple with terrorism, humanitarian crises and domestic struggles over federalism and security governance. Peace also remains elusive among Somalia’s international partners, as agreement on financing for the newly established African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is yet to materialise.

No group has claimed responsibility, but Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo told the BBC the style of the attack followed a pattern of raids by Somali-based Islamist militant group al-Shabab. 

The Somali forces from the semi-autonomous Puntland region have made significant gains against Islamic State (IS) militants in the Cal Miskaad mountains, capturing key strongholds. The month-long campaign, which has been supported by air strikes from the United Arab Emirates and the United States, has resulted in over 100 IS deaths and the loss of strategic positions, such as the Togjaceel Valley.

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, is expected to have 11,900 personnel operating on the ground in Somalia, including soldiers, police and civilian support staff, according to Somali and AU officials. The new arrangement allocates 4,500 soldiers to Uganda, 2,500 to Ethiopia, 1,520 to Djibouti, 1,410 to Kenya and 1,091 to Egypt, according to the official.

The strikes were carried out in north Somalia, where the Puntland Security Forces is carrying out operations against ISIL since December.

Somalia announced that obstacles to Ethiopia's participation in the new African Union mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have been overcome, and the final stage of the composition and size of Ethiopian forces is expected to be sorted out shortly.

Ethiopia on Friday announced that it will collaborate with a new African Union force against Islamist Al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia, which is set to deploy later this month.

As of 1 January 2025, Somalia is officially a member of the United Nations Security Council, having been elected for a non-permanent seat for the 2025-2026 term. … The country was elected along with Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, and Panama.

The Security Council today endorsed the African Union Peace and Security Council’s decision to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) with the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), marking a further step in transitioning national security responsibilities to that country’s own forces.