~theguardian-world | Bookmarks (11)

Semi-autonomous state of Puntland refuses to recognise changes to the fragile country’s constitution and has withdrawn from the federal systemAn overhaul of Somalia’s constitution, scrapping its power-sharing system and handing the president increased control, is threatening to destabilise the fragile country, as its wealthiest and most stable state refuses to recognise the changes.The amendments risk worsening violence, the information minister from the semi-autonomous state...

Paris Club of creditor nations agree cancellation as Mogadishu moves towards financial normalisation amid ongoing conflictThe Paris Club, a collection of some of the world’s wealthiest creditor nations, has announced the cancellation of 99% of Somalia’s debt, in a major boost as the country continues its fragile economic recovery from an ongoing three-decade conflict.In a statement released by the Paris Club, which is run...

Police name husbands as suspects in separate deaths of women, two of whom were pregnantThe deaths of three women in one week, all allegedly murdered by their husbands, has caused outrage in Somalia and sparked days of protests over the country’s femicide rates.Police have named the suspects in all three killings, which took place in the first week of February, as the dead women’s...

Republicans, rightwing figures and foreign politicians have seized upon the video despite proof the lawmaker was misquotedA week after a mistranslated clip of Ilhan Omar sparked outrage online, some far-right House Republicans are still following through with calls for the progressive lawmaker to be censured. And the repercussions of the misinformation extend beyond the country.The Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, has gone furthest in...

New show will follow Question Time format answering audience questions on taboo subjects from periods to women in politicsSomalia’s only all-female media team, Bilan, is launching the country’s first TV current affairs show to be hosted by a woman.The debate show, which plans to address some taboo subjects, will also be the first programme on Somali television to have a panel of at least...

Seals from USS Lewis Puller went overboard during mission off coast of Somalia to seize Iranian weapons, according to US militarySee all our Middle East coverageTwo US Navy Seals who went missing during an operation to seize Iranian weapons bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been declared dead after a 10-day search failed to locate them, the US military has said.US Central Command (Centcom)...

Navy searches Gulf of Aden for Seals who fell into the water when trying to board vessel carrying Iranian missile parts to SomaliaUS Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing US Navy Seals on Monday as details emerged about their mission to board and take over a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles headed for...

Somaliland hoped to be recognised as a country after port deal with landlocked Ethiopia - but move has sparked fury in Somalia Somalia is prepared to go to war to stop Ethiopia recognising the breakaway territory of Somaliland and building a port there, a senior adviser to Somalia’s president has said.A memorandum of understanding signed on 1 January allowing landlocked Ethiopia to develop a...

Al-Shabaab fighters attack after aircraft carrying medical professionals and soldiers lands in their territoryAl-Shabaab fighters in Somalia have attacked a United Nations helicopter that made an emergency landing in rebel-held territory, killing one passenger and abducting five others.The minister of internal security of Galmudug state in central Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Aden Gaboobe, said the helicopter made the landing in Xindheere village on Wednesday after...

Mogadishu recalls ambassador to Ethiopia over ‘null and void’ Gulf of Aden port agreementSomalia has promised to defend its territory by “any legal means” and recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia after Addis Ababa struck a deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland.Mogadishu called the surprise pact, which would give landlocked Ethiopia long-sought access to the Gulf of Aden, a “clear violation” of its sovereignty...

Naval and commercial access to Somaliland’s coast granted in exchange for recognising republic’s independenceEthiopia has signed a “historic” deal granting it naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland’s coast, in exchange for recognition for the breakaway republic’s independence, it has been announced.The Somali government, which has long held that Somaliland remains a part of the country, announced that it would convene an emergency...