Sunday 20,April 2025 {HMC} Somali government forces came under heavy attack late Saturday when Al-Shabaab militants launched a coordinated assault on military positions in Elasha Biyaha, a key area southwest of Mogadishu. The fighting left multiple casualties, although the official death toll remains unconfirmed.

The attack began with explosions, followed by an intense firefight between militants and troops from the Somali National Army (SNA) and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Residents reported heavy gunfire lasting for hours, with both sides using a range of weaponry in close combat.

Elasha Biyaha, located about 15 kilometres from Mogadishu, has frequently been a flashpoint due to its strategic location between the capital and militant strongholds in southern Somalia. Last month, sightings of Al-Shabaab fighters in and around the Elasha Biyaha corridor have raised concerns among residents.

Federal authorities have released no official statement regarding the number of casualties or damage from the attack.

The attack marks the latest in a string of escalating Al-Shabaab offensives in southern and central Somalia, where the group has intensified attacks on military outposts. The assault comes as Somali and African Union forces continue a nationwide campaign aimed at dismantling Al-Shabaab’s territorial control.

Despite military gains in regions such as Galgaduud and Hiiraan, the group remains capable of executing complex attacks, particularly near the capital.

Sunday 20,April 2025 {HMC} The Mayor of Mogadishu and Governor of Banadir Region, H.E Mohamed Ahmed Amir, has handed over a consignment of medical supplies to the management of the Somali National Army Hospital. During his visit, the mayor also met with and offered words of encouragement to injured personnel from both the national forces and community defense units currently receiving treatment at the facility.

While receiving a briefing from the hospital’s administration, Mayor Amir reaffirmed the Banadir Regional Administration’s commitment to supporting the Somali National Army. He pledged to help address the hospital’s urgent needs to ensure wounded soldiers receive the quality care they deserve in the fight against the nation’s enemies.

As part of broader support efforts, the Banadir Regional Administration is also implementing a solar lighting project at the hospital — an initiative welcomed by hospital officials who expressed their gratitude for the continued backing.

Sunday 20,April 2025 {HMC} Opposition leaders in Puntland are urging a comprehensive political dialogue following the Somali federal government’s recent recognition of the SSC-Khaatumo administration.

The Puntland Political Forum (PPF), a coalition of prominent opposition figures, welcomed the federal recognition of SSC-Khaatumo and called it a “politically significant milestone” with implications for Puntland’s governance.

“The Puntland Political Forum anticipated that federal recognition of SSC-Khaatumo would trigger a structural rethinking of Puntland’s political framework,” the group said in a statement this week.

Their remarks come just days after Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre visited Las Anod, the seat of the newly recognized SSC-Khaatumo administration. The Forum praised the trip as a sign of shifting dynamics in Somalia’s federal landscape and an opportunity for broader national reconciliation.

The group called on residents of both Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo to strengthen cooperation, emphasizing shared interests and regional stability. It also encouraged Puntland citizens to increase their support for the SSC-Khaatumo administration as it prepares to operate within Somalia’s federal framework.

“The time has come to reassess Puntland’s political direction,” the Forum said, urging Puntland authorities to convene a large-scale political conference aimed at shaping the next phase of the region’s governance.

The SSC-Khaatumo administration governs areas of the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions and has long contested Somaliland’s territorial claims in the north. Many view the federal government’s decision to recognize SSC-Khaatumo this month formally as an attempt to expand federal influence and de-escalate tensions in disputed territories.

Sunday 20,April 2025 {HMC}  Opposition leaders in Puntland are urging a comprehensive political dialogue following the Somali federal government’s recent recognition of the SSC-Khaatumo administration.

The Puntland Political Forum (PPF), a coalition of prominent opposition figures, welcomed the federal recognition of SSC-Khaatumo and called it a “politically significant milestone” with implications for Puntland’s governance.

“The Puntland Political Forum anticipated that federal recognition of SSC-Khaatumo would trigger a structural rethinking of Puntland’s political framework,” the group said in a statement this week.

Their remarks come just days after Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre visited Las Anod, the seat of the newly recognized SSC-Khaatumo administration. The Forum praised the trip as a sign of shifting dynamics in Somalia’s federal landscape and an opportunity for broader national reconciliation.

The group called on residents of both Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo to strengthen cooperation, emphasizing shared interests and regional stability. It also encouraged Puntland citizens to increase their support for the SSC-Khaatumo administration as it prepares to operate within Somalia’s federal framework.

“The time has come to reassess Puntland’s political direction,” the Forum said, urging Puntland authorities to convene a large-scale political conference aimed at shaping the next phase of the region’s governance.

The SSC-Khaatumo administration governs areas of the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions and has long contested Somaliland’s territorial claims in the north. Many view the federal government’s decision to recognize SSC-Khaatumo this month formally as an attempt to expand federal influence and de-escalate tensions in disputed territories.