Sunday 16,March -2025 {HMC} The Chinese government has strongly condemned the growing diplomatic ties between Somaliland and Taiwan, vowing to pressure Hargeisa into severing its relationship with Taipei.

In an interview with Somali broadcaster Dalsan TV, China’s Ambassador to Somalia, Wang Yu, reiterated Beijing’s stance that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and accused Taiwan of fueling separatism in Somaliland.

“There is only one China in the world; Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. There are many countries that support the reunification of the country. That is the fundamental truth,” Wang Yu stated.
The ambassador further warned Somaliland against deepening its cooperation with Taiwan, saying China views such engagement as a direct challenge to its sovereignty.

“Taiwan is cooperating with the political forces in Hargeisa, openly advocating for separatism. We condemn and warn against strengthening such ties,” he added.

Wang Yu also emphasized that China has taken measures to prevent Somaliland from gaining recognition as an independent state. He noted that Beijing is working closely with the Somali government to uphold Somalia’s territorial integrity.

“China supports the Somali government in safeguarding the territorial integrity of their nation,” he said.

Despite China’s objections, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro recently reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening ties with Taiwan, a prosperous yet diplomatically isolated island that Beijing considers a breakaway province.

Sunday 16,March -2025 {HMC}  President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 18 civilians were killed.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S. leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.

The Houthis reported explosions in their territory Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early Sunday. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.
At least 18 people were killed, including 13 in Sanaa and five in Saada, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. At least 24 others were wounded, including nine in Sanaa and 15 in Saada, it said.

A U.S. official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added on social media.

Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes “false and misleading.”

The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel’s latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.

There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.

Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war isn’t extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.

The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect.

The attacks raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic and other problems at home amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated war that’s torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.

The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit a residential neighborhood in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying women and children.

“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”

The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels’ political bureau, located in a densely populated area.

The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.

The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.

However, Saturday’s operation was conducted solely by the U.S., according to a U.S. official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration.

Such broad-based missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.

The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday’s mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.

Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.

Sunday 16,March -2025 {HMC} More than 100 Somali lawmakers have denounced the expulsion of MP Abdullahi Abib, calling the decision by the Speaker of the House of the People unconstitutional and an abuse of power. They argue that the move violates Somalia’s legal framework and undermines democratic institutions.

The dispute began when the Speaker issued a directive on Saturday, removing Abib from Parliament and declaring his seat vacant. Lawmakers contend that the Speaker acted beyond his authority, insisting that such a decision requires parliamentary approval and adherence to due process.

The protesting MPs outlined several legal and procedural breaches, arguing that the expulsion does not adhere to Somalia’s constitutional and parliamentary guidelines:

Lack of Legal Justification: Article 59, Section (D), and Article 8 of Somalia’s parliamentary rules specify that an MP’s seat can only be declared vacant under legally defined circumstances. Lawmakers maintain that the Speaker’s directive does not meet these conditions.

Violation of Parliamentary Immunity: Article 70, Section 9, Subsection 5, of the Provisional Constitution states that an MP’s immunity can only be revoked through a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote in Parliament. The lawmakers stress that no such vote was conducted before Abib’s removal.

Overreach of Authority: Article 14 of the Rules of Procedure limits the Speaker’s powers, which do not include the authority to expel MPs unilaterally.

Breach of Parliamentary Process: The expulsion contradicts Article 6, Section 2, which outlines the procedures for legislative sessions and recesses. MPs argue that removing an elected official outside of the prescribed process is a misuse of power.

The 106 lawmakers are demanding that the Speaker rescind the expulsion and issue a formal apology to Parliament and the Somali public. They warn that failure to reverse the decision could set a dangerous precedent, weakening public trust in governance and threatening democratic stability.