Somalia

The Egyptian government has confirmed sending arms shipments to Somalia amid regional tension over Ethiopia’s controversial deal with the self-declared republic of Somaliland. Ethiopia agreed to recognize Somaliland in return for the lease of 20 kilometers of sea to Ethiopia, according to Somaliland officials. Somalia sees the deal as an infringement of its sovereignty. … Egypt, which has a separate dispute with Ethiopia over the sharing of Nile river waters, strongly supports Somalia.

Turkey aims to meet separately with Somalia and Ethiopia as part of its efforts to resolve a dispute between the sides over a deal that Ethiopia agreed to lease a stretch of coastline from Somaliland, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday. Turkey has so far hosted two rounds of meetings between the East African neighbours in an attempt to repair their relations. A third round of talks that had initially been set to take place in Ankara on Tuesday was cancelled.

An Islamic State branch has acquired a foothold in Puntland, in north-eastern Somalia, and has been channelling funds to the jihadist network’s other African affiliates. Curtailing the group’s activities will require the Somali government and Puntland authorities to overcome their divisions to take concerted action.

Seventeen years after the first African Union (AU) mission was deployed in Somalia to degrade the violent extremist group al-Shabaab, the country is set to have a third peace support operation starting on 1 January 2025. This month, the AU Peace and Security Council endorsed a proposal to form the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). 

The Security Council today extended its authorization of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) until the end of the year, expressing grave concern that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the peace, security and stability of Somalia and the region. Today’s vote follows the adoption on 12 August of resolution 2747 (2024), a technical rollover that extended the Mission’s authorization by three days.  

The Security Council today extended its authorization of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) by three days, until 15 August 2024, expressing grave concern that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the peace, security and stability of Somalia and the region.

The meeting … is expected to discuss securing financial support for the new mission, named the African Union Stabilization and Support Operation in Somalia (AUSSOM). … The post-ATMIS mission is anticipated to comprise 11,911 personnel, including 85 civilians, 11,146 military personnel, and 680 police officers, to be deployed in four sectors.

At least 37 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in a suicide bombing and gun attack at the popular Lido beach in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, police said. The attack happened on Friday night, when residents of the city typically gather at cafes near the seaside. 

Turkey has begun mediating talks between Somalia and Ethiopia over a port deal Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland earlier this year, Ankara and four officials familiar with the matter said.

A UN Security Council meeting on Monday detailed Somalia’s “exacerbated” humanitarian needs in the face of climate shocks and ongoing Government efforts to counter the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab.