Tuesday 31,Dec,2024 {HMC} The Federal Government of Somalia’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Abdullahi Bidhan Warsame, presided over a handover ceremony today between the outgoing Deputy Minister, Ibrahim Mohamed Ali, and the newly appointed Deputy Minister, Senator Osman Ahmed Macow.

Minister Bidhan commended the outgoing Deputy Minister for his dedicated service and significant contributions to the Ministry, expressing gratitude for his commitment to national service. He also warmly welcomed the new Deputy Minister, pledging full support for his leadership in advancing the Ministry’s agenda.

The handover ceremony was attended by the State Minister for Energy and Water Resources and senior officials from the Ministry, reflecting the importance of continuity and collaboration within the institution.

Source SONNA

Tuesday 31,Dec,2024 {HMC} The Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama conducted a working visit to the Ministry of Defense today to reinforce ongoing efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the country and supporting the Somali Armed Forces.

The Deputy Prime Minister was received by the Minister of Defense, H.E. Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, alongside senior officials of the Ministry. During the visit, he was briefed on progress made in training and equipping the armed forces, as well as the challenges facing initiatives to enhance national security.

In his remarks, H.E. Salah Jama praised the Ministry’s leadership and the dedication of the armed forces in safeguarding the country and countering threats from terrorism.

“The Ministry of Defense is a cornerstone in building a peaceful and prosperous Somalia. The Somali Armed Forces are heroes dedicated to defending the dignity and sovereignty of our nation,” he stated.

The Deputy Prime Minister also toured various departments within the Ministry, meeting with staff members and military personnel, expressing his support and encouragement for their critical work.

This visit is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and ensure that national responsibilities are carried out efficiently and effectively. The government remains committed to state-building and enhancing the country’s security infrastructure for a stable future.

Source SONNA

Tuesday 31,Dec,2024 {HMC} Burundi has accused Somalia of betrayal and ingratitude after being excluded from the list of countries permitted to contribute troops to the new African Union mission for peace restoration in Somalia, known as AUSSOM. The decision comes as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) concludes its mandate at the end of December.

A senior Burundian official, speaking to Ugandan media, said Somalia had acted deceitfully in limiting Burundi’s participation.

“We have witnessed betrayal and ingratitude from Somalia despite the immense sacrifices we made in the fight against al-Shabaab,” the official said. The official added that Somalia’s decision to request fewer troops was viewed as a threat to the operational effectiveness of Burundi’s forces.

Burundi had requested to deploy 2,000 troops under AUSSOM but was allocated only 1,041 by Somalia, leading to its withdrawal from the mission. A letter from Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur on December 26 confirmed the “non-participation” of the Burundi National Defense Forces (BNDF), citing a lack of consensus on troop numbers.
Burundi has been a prominent player in Somalia’s stabilization efforts since 2007, deploying thousands of troops under AMISOM and later ATMIS. At its peak, Burundi contributed 5,432 soldiers, making it the second-largest troop contributor to the mission. Burundian forces played a pivotal role in liberating key areas of Mogadishu, including the Ministry of Defense headquarters, from al-Shabaab.

Despite these achievements, relations between the two countries have soured over what Burundian diplomats have described as Somalia’s “disrespect” in troop allocation discussions. Speaking to VOA, another Burundian diplomat criticized Somalia’s approach, saying, “Ungrateful cannot capture enough the sentiments of Burundians towards Somalis. Well done! We deserve an apology.”

Somalia has framed the transition to AUSSOM as a step toward greater sovereignty. The new mission will begin in January 2025 and will have a leaner structure, deploying 12,626 personnel, including 1,040 police officers. Somalia has also secured bilateral agreements to deploy 11,000 troops, aiming to fill potential security gaps left by the drawdown of international forces.

Somalia’s Deputy UN Envoy Mohamed Yusuf emphasized the importance of these agreements, stating they are essential for sustaining progress against al-Shabaab. Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi also expressed gratitude for Burundi’s contributions, describing their legacy as “etched in Somalia’s history.”

The withdrawal of Burundi from AUSSOM comes amid broader regional tensions. Ethiopia’s participation in the mission remains uncertain due to territorial disputes and allegations of arms smuggling. Somali officials have suggested that Ethiopian troops might be excluded from AUSSOM, with other countries such as Egypt potentially stepping in to fill their roles.

Source Hiiraan online 

Tuesday 31,Dec,2024 {HMC} Security forces in Somalia repulsed an attack by Islamic State suicide bombers on a military base in the northeastern region of Puntland on Tuesday, the local state broadcaster and a military official said.

It was the first time Islamic State has attempted such a large and sophisticated attack in the country, coming weeks after the semi-autonomous state announced a major offensive against Islamic State and a rival Islamist group, the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab.

The deputy speaker of Puntland’s parliament was visiting the base at the time of the attack, Captain Yusuf Mohamed, an officer in Puntland’s counter-terrorism forces, told Reuters.
He said nine suicide bombers had been killed and several soldiers had been injured.

Puntland State TV said on Facebook eight suicide bombers were among those killed in the raid near the town of Dharjaale in the Bari region.

Somalia’s information minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The group was officially recognised as the Somali province of Islamic State in 2017 and has been based in the mountainous areas of Puntland. For many years, it was considered a minor security threat in the Horn of Africa country compared with al Shabaab, which controls swathes of southern Somalia.

In recent years, however, the Somali franchise has refashioned itself as an important part of the jihadist group’s worldwide network, with its head, Abdulqadir Mumin, being named its global leader by some media outlets.

Security analysts say Islamic State in Somalia has grown in strength because of an influx of foreign fighters and improved revenue through the extortion of local businesses, becoming the group’s “nerve centre” in Africa.

“This looks like a preemptive strike to send a message before Puntland’s upcoming offensive,” said Jay Bahadur, co-director of Scopus, a regionally focused investigative consultancy.

“If this included a vehicle bomb, it appears that they are directly trying to copy al Shabaab’s tactics of complex attacks.”

Reporting by Abdiqani Hassan in Garowe and Hereward Holland in Nairobi; Additional reporting by Abdi Sheikh in Mogadishu; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Alison Williams