Monday 24, March-2025 {HMC} The Commander of the Somali Police Force, Major General Asad Osman Abdullahi, officially inaugurated the newly renovated and equipped Vehicle Command Headquarters.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Osman Hirsi, who was recently appointed as the head of the Vehicle Command, swiftly accelerated operations within a short period, aligning with the Commander’s directive to enhance police offices and improve the force’s capacity.

Speaking at the event, Commander Abdullahi emphasized the importance of creating a conducive working environment for both police officers and the public they serve, highlighting that the upgrades align with the new plans guiding the Somali Police Force.

Source SONNA 

Monday 24, March-2025 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with the new Chairperson of the African Union, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, in Mogadishu on Sunday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing strategic cooperation between Somalia and the continental body.

The meeting focused on regional security, economic development, institutional reform, and Somalia’s ongoing fight against terrorism. President Mohamud praised the African Union’s longstanding support for Somalia, particularly through peacekeeping, state-building, and stabilization efforts.

“The African Union has played a vital role in Somalia’s progress,” President Mohamud said. “We deeply appreciate the courage and sacrifice of AU peacekeepers in our country, and we are committed to strengthening our collaboration.”

Mohamud reiterated Somalia’s determination to eliminate terrorism and thanked regional partners for their continued support in counterterrorism operations.

“Terrorism has no place to hide in Somalia,” the president declared. “It has been rejected by the land and the people. God willing, we will succeed in completely eradicating it. We will not tolerate their plots, looting, and massacre of our people.”

The two leaders also agreed to boost economic cooperation and accelerate government reforms to increase stability and inclusive growth. President Mohamud reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to actively contribute to the African Union reform agenda and share lessons from its own state-building journey with other post-conflict countries on the continent.

Chairperson Youssouf, elected to lead the African Union in February 2025, is a veteran diplomat who previously served as Djibouti’s foreign minister. His appointment, backed by Somalia, is seen as a strategic move to improve AU coordination in the Horn of Africa, especially regarding counterinsurgency operations against al-Shabaab and the reconciliation process among Somalia’s federal member states.

Monday 24, March-2025 {HMC} Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh on Sunday to discuss regional stability, support for Somalia, the situation in Sudan, and Red Sea security. The talks took place amid ongoing concerns regarding Ethiopia’s desire for sea access.

The meeting was attended by Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hassan Rashad, Head of the General Intelligence Service.

According to the Egyptian Presidency, the Eritrean Foreign Minister conveyed greetings from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, which Al-Sisi reciprocated, affirming the strong relations between the two countries and Egypt’s commitment to strengthening them across all sectors.

Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, the official spokesman, stated that discussions focused on the Horn of Africa and ways to promote regional stability through joint efforts and the tripartite coordination mechanism with Somalia. Both Egypt and Eritrea reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Somalia in combating terrorism and preserving its territorial integrity.

The meeting also addressed the restoration of peace and stability in Sudan, and the protection and governance of the Red Sea, emphasizing the need for coastal states to lead such efforts and rejecting the involvement of non-coastal states.

The discussions took place against a backdrop of concerns regarding Ethiopia’s desire for sea access. While landlocked Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stated that his country has no intention of starting a war with Eritrea to gain access to the sea, a previous statement that a seaport was an “existential issue” sparked concerns. Abiy recently told parliament that the issue should be resolved through diplomacy and mutual benefit. The neighbours have had a fractious relationship in the past, raising fears of renewed conflict.

Monday 24, March-2025 {HMC}  Officials are investigating an incident in which an aircraft registered in Kenya crashed at least 24 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu, Somalia, killing five people on board.

The Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) confirmed the incident on Saturday, March 22.

SCAA stated that all the crew members on board “tragically” perished on the spot.

The families of the victims have since been informed of the tragedy.

The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.

The cargo plane was returning from Dhobley town in the Lower Juba region after delivering supplies to the African Union forces when it crashed on Saturday at around 5:43 p.m. local time, the Aviation Authority said while condoling with the families of the deceased.

Dhobley is the headquarters of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops from Kenya, who operate Sector II within Jubaland state. The identities of the crew members were not immediately revealed.

“The aircraft involved was a DHC-5D Buffalo with serial number 109 and registration 5Y-RBA,” the Authority said in a statement a few hours after the crash was confirmed.

The team was about to land at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. There were five people on board, all of whom had tragically lost their lives.

“The flight departed from Dhobley and was headed to Aden Adde International Airport. With the aviation teams working to gather more information, it was established that the aircraft was operated and registered in Kenya,” said a statement from the authority.

The authority added that Trident Aviation Limited, which operates in Kenya, owns the aircraft.

Somalia’s dilapidated road infrastructure makes many people prefer air transport, which is faster, safer, and more secure due to the al-Shabaab menace in the country.

The DHC-5D Buffalo is a short-takeoff-and-landing aircraft typically used for transporting cargo, particularly in rough terrains and remote locations.

Somalia has been notorious for aircraft accidents, with experts blaming the phenomenon on aging aircraft, limited infrastructure, and difficult operating conditions.

In January 2024, another Kenyan cargo aircraft crashed in Somalia, killing two people on board.

The plane was transporting humanitarian supplies to the World Food Programme (WFP) regional offices when it veered off the runway.

The cargo plane crashed moments before landing at the airport.

Months later, in July 2024, a domestic flight operated by Halla Airlines from Garowe to Mogadishu crash-landed at Aden Adde International Airport, leaving two people injured.

Officials said they are investigating the incidents.

Monday 24, March-2025 {HMC} At least six police personnel have been killed and four were injured after an attack on a police camp in Kenya by suspected fighters from Somalia’s al-Shabab group.

Kenyan police said in a report on Sunday that the attack was carried out in Garissa County, eastern Kenya, on the border with Somalia.

The report added that attackers launched an assault around dawn on a camp housing police reservists and “used assorted weapons to overrun the camp”.

“Six fatalities have been confirmed with four injured and in hospital,” it said.

While al-Shabab has not yet commented on the attack, the group frequently carries out cross-border operations against military and civilian targets.

The attacks come a week after the United States embassy issued an advisory warning, cautioning travellers against visiting some places in Kenya, including Garissa County, along the border with Somalia, due to the threat of an attack.

For years, al-Shabab, which has ties to al-Qaeda, has been fighting to overthrow Somalia’s central government and establish its own rule of law based on its interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

The latest attack comes after al-Shabab claimed responsibility for a roadside bomb near Somalia’s presidential palace on Tuesday.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack targeting the convoy and reaffirmed the UN’s support for Somalia’s people and government “in their fight against terrorism and in furthering efforts towards peace and stability”, said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

The British Embassy in the capital, Mogadishu, also condemned the attack and reaffirmed support for Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts.

“The UK remains a steadfast partner of the Somali government as they fight the violent extremists responsible for this despicable attack,” the embassy said in a statement.

Earlier in March, al-Shabab fighters stormed a hotel in central Somalia, where government officials and tribal leaders were meeting to discuss efforts to control the group. Several people are reported to have died in the attack.

Source: News Agencies