Tuesday 25,Febr-2025 {HMC} The Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, witnessed on Monday the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the municipalities of Tripoli and Mogadishu to support partnership in the areas of local administration and urban development.

A number of other memoranda were also signed, including mutual exemption from entry visas for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports, in addition to an agreement for political consultation between the two foreign ministries to enhance diplomatic coordination on issues of common interest, according to Hakomitna media platform.

The two sides agreed to form a joint high-level committee to review previous agreements, discuss Libyan investments in Somalia, and enhance economic and development cooperation. They stressed the importance of joint coordination on regional issues, especially in the Horn of Africa region, in light of the role that Somalia will play after its election to the UN Security Council to contribute to supporting regional stability and security and enhancing cooperation.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud arrived in the capital, Tripoli, on Sunday evening, at the head of a high-level delegation on an official visit to Libya, according. The Somali President and his accompanying delegation were received at Mitiga Airport in Tripoli by the Acting Foreign Minister, Taher Al-Baour.

Tuesday 25,Febr-2025 {HMC} Intense fighting broke out on Tuesday in the Beera Yabaal area of the Hiran region as Somali government forces, supported by local militias, clashed with AS militants.

The battle erupted after AS fighters launched an attack on allied forces stationed near Beera Yabaal, which falls under the Bula Burte district.

Both sides reportedly sustained heavy casualties, with fierce combat involving heavy weaponry. However, there has been no official statement from government forces or local residents regarding the exact number of casualties.

In recent weeks, nearly 100 AS militants have been killed in intensified military operations by Somali forces in the Hiran region, following a series of defeats suffered by the militant group in direct confrontations.

Tuesday 25,Febr-2025 {HMC} Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalin Fiqi reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to holding universal suffrage elections in 2026, including Puntland and Jubbaland.

Speaking to VOA Somali, Fiqi said the nation must move away from indirect elections. “We are ending the old practice where regional administrations dictate our choices. The people will no longer be forced into selections against their will. Elections will be held in Puntland, Jubbaland and throughout Somalia,” he said.

The minister’s remarks come as the Jubbaland and Puntland leaders and opposition politicians have opposed the shift to a one-person, one-vote system and accused the federal government of unilaterally managing the election.

Somalia last held a direct election in 1969, more than five decades ago, and has since relied on indirect voting methods.

The National Independent Electoral Commission said it is ready to break the current impasse and facilitate historic elections in which Somali citizens directly elect their leaders.

Source Hiiraan Online

Tuesday 25,Febr-2025 {HMC} US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, agreed Monday that the costs of securing the peace in Ukraine must be shared mutually by the US and Europe.

Addressing reporters at the White House after he met with Macron behind closed doors for over an hour, Trump said he was pleased that the French president “agrees with me on many of the most important issues,” including chiefly that it is “the right time” to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“I’m also pleased that President Macron agrees that the cost and burden of securing the peace must be borne by the nations of Europe, not alone by the United States, and Europe must take that central role in assuring long-term security of Ukraine, which they want to do, and that’s not a very big step,” he said.

“The big step is what’s going to happen over the next few weeks,” he added, likely referring to ongoing peace talks.

Macron acknowledged that Europe must do more “for security in Europe, for defense in Europe, and to more fairly share the security burden that your country has been carrying for so many years.”

“Europe is very clear eyed about this. We know what we need to do as Europeans, given the threats surrounding us and the responsibilities that we must shoulder,” he added.