English News

Irish behind new campaign against FGM in Somalia

Acampaignagainstfemale genital mutilation(FGM) inSomaliainvolving Irish people is hopeful of winning a strong endorsement this weekend from religious leaders inMogadishu. As organisers were putting the final touches to the campaign, its urgency was underlined by reports emerging this week that a 10-year-old…

One person dies in Mogadishu bomb blast

One person has been killed after a bomb fitted in a vehicle went off Saturday morning in Mogadishu. Three others were injured in the blast and were rushed to a hospital where they are undergoing treatment. Witnesses said that the car was partly destroyed after the bomb went off in the front part of…

Somali 10-year-old dies after undergoing female genital mutilation

A 10-year-old girl in central Somalia has died after undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM), prompting calls from campaigners to criminalise the internationally condemned practice in a country with the world's highest rates. The girl was taken by her mother to a traditional circumciser on July…

NUSOJ organizes a consultative discussion on Somalia Media Law and Ethics in Mogadishu

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) organized a one-day consultative discussion on the Somalia Media Law and Ethics of Media Industry in Mogadishu on Tuesday July,2018 attended by civil society, parliamentary committee on media and communication and senior government officials who got an…

UAE reiterates commitment to Somalia's unity, security and stability

Mohammed Issa Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, EU and Luxembourg, has reiterated the UAE's commitment towards the people of Somalia and its support for efforts aimed at bringing unity, security and stability to Somalia and addressing security, political and developmental challenges…

BBC News Somali Young Female Poet 2018 Award Revealed

The winner of the BBC News Somali Young Female Poet 2018 award is 18 year old Shugri Jama Ibrahim, a form three Student from Bosaaso, Somalia. Shugri's winning poem explores old Somali culture and the cultural utensils that were in use in nomadic life.

Abdow, Mandera's only newspaper vendor for 20 years

As he walks on the sandy roads of Mandera town, a trail of dust struggles to catch up with Ibrahim Khalif Abdow. He carefully balances a bundle of the day's newspapers in his hands. He is known by his nickname 'Dikaya', which in his mother tongue means a 'famous person', thanks to…

Somalia is opening a 'new chapter of its history' declares UN political affairs chief as forum ends with renewed commitments

A high-level gathering of representatives from the Somali government and the international community, including the United Nations, ended in Brussels with renewed commitment to support the Horn of Africa country's progress in a range of areas, such as state and peace-building efforts. Somali Federal…

Somali elder wants to meet Obama

Mr Mohamed Hassan Mumin, a peace elder from Wajir County who dressed former US President Barack Obama in traditional Somali outfit in 2006, is now seeking to meet him. Yesterday, Mr Obama held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga before proceeding to his father's…

Senior Somali Commander of terror group Killed in Syria

The sources further pointed to the intensified assassination attempts on the lives of terrorist commanders and tensions among militants, adding that at least four terrorist commanders have been assassinated in the region only in the last few days. Other sources, meantime, said that heavy fighting is…

Obama to attend his sister's event in Kenya before heading to South Africa

Former President Barack Obama is visiting his father's homeland of Kenya before heading to South Africa, where he'll take part in events honoring Nelson Mandela's birthday. Obama meets Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta, and opposition leader Raila Odinga on Sunday before attending the…

Rep. Ilhan Omar's open seat draws wide pack of DFLers

Mohamud Noor hopes to maintain Somali-American voice at the State Capitol, but he's got plenty of company

2 blasts, gunfire heard near Somalia's presidential palace

The midday blasts came a week after a similar attack on the interior ministry compound in Mogadishu killed at least nine people. Police Capt. Mohamed Hussein confirmed the deaths in the new attack to The Associated Press, saying a car bomb detonated near a checkpoint close to the presidential palace…

Eritrea leader visits Ethiopia on Saturday in historic thaw

Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki is visiting Ethiopia on Saturday, the latest step in an unprecedented diplomatic thaw between the former archrivals that is ending one of Africa's longest-running conflicts.

Call for nominations: Pan-African Shield Award

The Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRDN) has opened the call for nominations for the 3rd Edition of the African Human Rights Defenders Shield Awards, in celebration of 20 years of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The awards will honor exceptional individuals who have contributed…

Eritrea: DefendDefenders submits report ahead of January 2019 Universal Periodic Review

In a report submitted today to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) calls on the Government of Eritrea to end its consistent refusal to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms, and to take concrete steps to…

Canada: Ontario going back to old sex-ed curriculum in fall, PCs say

Ontario's education minister says the sex-ed curriculum taught to children in the coming school year will be an older version, not the controversial updated program brought in by the previous government. Lisa Thompson said Wednesday ministry staff are working to inform school boards of the decision…

PRESS RELEASE:-The Federal Government of Somalia condemns the latest terrorist attack as barbaric and inhumane, meant to harm civilians

08 July, 2018, Mogadishu: The minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, H.E. Dahir Mohamud Gelle has briefed the media about the terrorist attack on the Ministry of Interior and Federalism Affairs in Mogadishu on Saturday 7 July 2018. The minister said that the terrorist attack was reduced to the…

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network Final Communiqué on the 5th Focal Point Meeting 2 and 3 July 2018 Kampala, Uganda

1) The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (Network) held its fifth Focal Point Meeting from 2 to 3 July 2018, at Skyz Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. 2) The Focal Point Meeting brought together national coalition representatives, country focal points, and human rights defenders (HRDs)…

Foes Ethiopia, Eritrea pledge to open embassies as leaders embrace

The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea announced on Sunday they would re-open their embassies, hailing a stunningly swift rapprochement between bitter regional enemies at their first summit since a war two decades ago. The two leaders personally symbolised the breakthrough, embracing warmly and swaying…

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