Saturday 28, Dec,2024 {HMC} The Speaker of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe), chaired an extraordinary meeting of the Standing Committee at Villa Hargeisa, the headquarters of parliamentary leadership and committees.

The agenda focused on swearing in newly appointed cabinet members and officials of the National Independent Electoral Commission and Boundary Commission. A judge from the Supreme Court administered the oath to the appointees during the session.

Additionally, the meeting addressed recent clan conflicts that have erupted in various regions of the country. Speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe expressed deep concern over the violence, condemning the bloodshed caused by clan disputes. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and emphasized the need for urgent reconciliation efforts.

In his closing remarks, the Speaker urged relevant authorities to mediate between the conflicting communities and resolve grievances through dialogue and negotiation. He stressed the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence among Somali citizens.

Source SONNA

Saturday 28, Dec,2024 {HMC} The President of Somalia’s Southwest State, H.E Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) received the Deputy Commander of the Somali Police Force, Gen. Kaniif Abdullahi Mohamed who is on a working visit to Baidoa.

The meeting focused on the police situation on the ground in the Southwest region, the Minister of Defence and the Commander of the Southwest President’s detail.

Source SONNA 

Saturday 28, Dec,2024 {HMC} Hirshabelle State has suspended the district commissioner of El Baraf following the ambush and killing of six Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers in what officials have described as a clan-related attack.

Minister of Interior Abdi Daahir Gure Karore announced the suspension of Yusuf Hassan Hurshow, citing failure to perform his duties. The soldiers were attacked on Friday while travelling through the outskirts of El Baraf en route to the Hiiraan region, an area plagued by recurring insecurity and clan tensions.

“The district commissioner failed in his responsibilities, which has cast doubt on his ability to lead. This is why he has been removed from his position,” Minister Karore said in a press briefing. He added that suspicions surrounding the commissioner’s role necessitated swift action to ensure accountability.

Authorities have identified the attack’s perpetrators and are intensifying efforts to apprehend them. “The individuals responsible for this heinous crime are known and are being actively pursued by federal and Hirshabelle security forces,” Karore confirmed. “Justice will be served, and I urge the affected families to remain calm as we address this tragedy.”

Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Gudlawe has also condemned the killings, calling for swift action to apprehend the perpetrators. “I am ordering the security forces to bring to justice anyone involved in this horrific incident,” the Hirshabelle Presidential Palace said in a statement. President Gudlawe urged residents to remain calm and avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.

The attack highlights long-standing tensions between the Hawadle and Abgaal clans in areas bordering the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions. Federal lawmakers from Hiiraan have attributed the killings to Al-Shabaab operatives attempting to exploit inter-clan disputes. MP Abdimalik Abdala noted, “Those responsible recorded evidence and took pictures—they are known. Al-Shabaab aims to provoke inter-clan fighting, and they will be arrested.”

This is not the first time El Baraf has witnessed violence targeting Somali National Army personnel. In a similar incident 18 months ago, members of the elite Danab unit, originally from Hiiraan, were killed in an ambush in the area. Such attacks underscore the persistent challenges faced by Hirshabelle in addressing localized violence and ensuring the safety of security forces operating in the region.

The suspension of the district commissioner is part of efforts by Hirshabelle’s administration to reestablish trust and improve governance in volatile areas. However, the incident highlights the ongoing struggle to address the root causes of clan-based conflict and ensure the safety of personnel tasked with stabilizing the region.

Minister Karore confirmed that security forces are actively pursuing the attackers. “The individuals responsible for this heinous crime are known and are being tracked by federal and Hirshabelle security forces. Justice will be served,” he assured.

Source Hiiraan online 

Saturday 28, Dec,2024 {HMC} The United Nations Security Council has approved the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), marking a shift in Somalia’s security landscape as the country takes greater control over its stability. Resolution 2767 (2024), adopted with 14 votes in favour and one abstention by the United States, replaces the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). This new mission is set to begin in January 2025, with operations concluding by June 2025.

AUSSOM will deploy up to 12,626 personnel, including 1,040 police officers, under a 12-month mandate to assist Somalia’s security forces in countering Al-Shabaab and other terrorist threats. The Somali government emphasized that its bilateral agreements have secured 11,000 troops for AUSSOM, addressing concerns over potential security gaps.

Somalia’s Deputy UN Envoy, Mohamed Yusuf, welcomed the resolution, calling it a “significant step” and highlighting the hybrid funding model’s role in ensuring predictable and sustainable financial support. The model allocates 75 percent of the budget to UN-assessed contributions, with the remaining 25 percent sourced from the African Union and other partners. However, this model’s implementation depends on a strategic review by the UN Secretary-General in May 2025.

Ethiopia voiced deep concerns at the United Nations Security Council about the escalating threat posed by Al-Shabaab and its alleged growing alliances with global terrorist networks like ISIS. Ethiopia emphasized that the mission’s success hinges on enabling Somalia’s security forces to assume full responsibility, alongside achieving national consensus and a unified regional front against terrorism. Stressing its long-standing contributions to Somalia’s stabilization, Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to counterterrorism efforts and called for sustained international and regional collaboration. However, it cautioned against interference by external actors pursuing destabilizing agendas, urging a focus on collective peace and prosperity in the Horn of Africa.

Somalia, in response, pointed to its comprehensive review of security arrangements after 11 months of “documented actions” from Ethiopia, a reference to several incidents and disputes that have strained relations between the two countries. These actions include allegations of arms smuggling into Somalia, which Somali officials claimed were fueling clan conflicts and undermining the country’s sovereignty. Multiple reports indicated Ethiopia’s involvement in illicit arms shipments to Puntland and other regions, prompting Somalia to raise formal concerns at international forums.

The tension between the two countries also stems from Ethiopia’s dealings with Somaliland. Since August, Somalia asserted that Ethiopian troops could not participate in AUSSOM unless Ethiopia nullified its Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, a move Somalia viewed as undermining its territorial integrity.

In December 2024, under Turkey’s mediation, Somalia and Ethiopia signed the Ankara Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The declaration implicitly addressed the Somaliland issue without directly mentioning it.

More recently, regional security incidents have heightened distrust. Ethiopian forces reportedly clashed with Somali troops in Dolow this week, raising questions about Ethiopia’s respect for Somalia’s sovereignty.

Somalia firmly outlined its position, emphasizing its sovereignty in determining the structure of AUSSOM. “In that period, our regional partners from three contributing countries have shown remarkable solidarity, pledging to maintain our necessary force of 11,000 troops for AUSSOM,” Somalia’s representative stated. The Somali delegation framed this as a decisive measure to address potential security gaps, adding, “This commitment addresses any security vacuum created by Ethiopia while sustaining progress in the fight against Al-Shabaab.”

The representative reiterated Somalia’s commitment to pursuing future security partnerships aligned with its national and regional interests.

The path to excluding Ethiopia’s exclusion from AUSSOM has sparked raised eyebrows. Somalia’s decision to rely on bilateral agreements for troop contributions, potentially sidelining Ethiopia, reflects a broader recalibration of its regional relationships. Analysts have framed this as a significant assertion of Somalia’s sovereignty and a step toward reshaping power dynamics in the Horn of Africa.

Abdirashid Hashi commented, “Somalia made it clear: ‘Thanks, no tanks.’ Ethiopia is finally out of Somalia.” Another analyst, Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad, described the move as “a decisive shift in Somalia’s approach to regional dynamics and security.”

The resolution has drawn widespread international support, with the United Kingdom, France, and China among the key backers. The UK’s representative praised ATMIS’s contributions and called AUSSOM a crucial step forward in stabilizing Somalia. France highlighted its financial support, noting that the European Union has contributed over 2.6 billion euros to African Union peacekeeping missions since 2007.

The United States abstained from the vote, citing concerns over deviations from Resolution 2719 (2023), which caps UN-assessed contributions at 75 percent of the mission’s budget. U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea argued that exceeding this cap could undermine the framework’s credibility and set a risky precedent for future peacekeeping operations.

Switzerland and Slovenia prioritized civilian protection and adherence to international humanitarian law under AUSSOM.

China and the Republic of Korea stressed the importance of avoiding a security vacuum, warning that any delays in AUSSOM’s implementation could embolden terrorist groups. Switzerland and Slovenia emphasized civilian protection and adherence to international humanitarian law under AUSSOM.

The transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM presents both opportunities and challenges. Somalia’s government has urged donors to address funding gaps to ensure the mission’s effective implementation. The hybrid funding model’s success depends on sustained international support and the timely operationalization of mechanisms outlined in Resolution 2719.

Somalia’s firm stance at the UN underscores its commitment to self-reliance and a future defined by Somali-led security solutions. This marks a pivotal moment in the country’s efforts to rebuild its institutions and assert its sovereignty.