Monday August 25, 2025  {HMC} The President of South West State of Somalia, H.E. Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, held a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Baidoa with Ambassador James Swan, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, who arrived in the city on a working visit accompanied by other diplomats.

The meeting focused on strengthening relations between South West State and the United Nations, voter registration, UN support for development and humanitarian assistance, peace and security efforts — particularly the fight against Al-Shabaab — as well as improving social services and state-building programs.

President Laftagareen thanked the United Nations for its continued support to Somalia, while Ambassador Swan commended South West State for its commitment to peace and stability.

The President was accompanied at the meeting by ministers of Planning, Interior, Women’s Affairs, Labour, and Social Affairs of South West State.

Source SONNA

Monday August 25, 2025  {HMC} Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has drummed up support for President William Ruto’s second term in office.

While addressing Lagdera residents in Garissa, the DP said Ruto deserves a second term for abolishing Identification Cards vetting.

He said that Ruto’s regime has ensured the people of Northeastern are not discriminated against.

“There is no government that has made all efforts to unite Kenyans like the current regime under President William Ruto. For more than 60 year young people from Northern parts of Kenya would not be able to get IDs without passing through the long process and discrimination,” he said.

“President Ruto came here at Wajir town and signed into law the discriminatory process that was there. The process that is being undertaken to get IDs in other parts of Kenya to also apply in Northeastern.”

The DP said the move emphasises that the residents in Northern Kenya are just like other people in the country and should not be discriminated against.

“Ni fire si fire, mtampatia two terms for doing that, will you add him another term for abolishing ID vetting?” Kindiki asked the residents.

On February 5, President Ruto signed a Presidential Proclamation to officially abolish ID vetting for residents of the Northeastern region.

President said the move will see the residents of Northern Kenya acquire national identification documents with ease.

Ruto termed the signing of the Presidential Proclamation on Registration and Issuance of IDs to Border Counties as an end to unjust and disenfranchising practices.

“If it’s about vetting, let all children of Kenya be vetted equally without any discrimination. We want the people of Northern Kenya to feel equal to the rest of the country,” he said.

He made the remarks after publicly signing and reading out the decree at Orahey Grounds in Wajir Town on Wednesday.

The President added that for years, residents of Northeastern have endured extra-vetting and ethnic profiling by the State before they acquire birth certificates and national identity cards.

Kindiki praised North Eastern leaders for choosing to work closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration to develop the area.

The Deputy President promised accelerated development in the region in collaboration with the leaders, highlighting projects worth billions of shillings ongoing in different parts of the area.

“We appreciate the decision by the leaders to support our President and the government. We do not take it for granted. They are good leaders who love their country. We will work together to develop the region,” DP said.

The second-in-command said Ruto’s administration will continue to extend development to every part of the country, including those that have lagged behind for many years.

“We commend President Ruto for uniting the country and ensuring areas that had been marginalized for many years are developed,” he indicated.

Key projects that will transform the region include the LAPSSET corridor project that will connect Lamu- Ijara-Masalani- Garissa- Isiolo, a total of 315 kilometre that will cost Sh27 billion.

The Star 

Monday August 25, 2025  {HMC} The Israeli military has bombed the Yemeni capital Sanaa, Israeli and Yemeni officials say, as tensions in the region continue to escalate amid Israel’s war on Gaza.

The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV said the attack on Sunday targeted an oil facility and a power plant in Sanaa. Israel said it also targeted a presidential palace in the Yemeni capital, which it claimed is located on a “military complex”.

At least six people were killed and 86 others were injured in the attacks, according to Al Masirah.

The Israeli strikes came two days after the Houthis claimed a missile launch against Israel – part of a campaign that the Yemeni group says aims to pressure Israel to end its atrocities and siege in Gaza.

“The attacks were carried out in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the state of Israel and its citizens, including the launch of surface-to-surface missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles towards the country’s territory,” the Israeli military said.

Al Masirah cited a Houthi military official as saying that the group’s air defences were able to “neutralise most of the Israeli enemy aircraft participating in the aggression and forced them to leave”.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed plumes of fire and smoke rising above Sanaa after the Israeli strikes.

The Houthis were quick to reiterate on Sunday that the Israeli attacks will not deter the group’s military operations in support of Palestinians.

“The Israeli aggression against Yemen will not discourage us from continuing our support for Gaza, no matter the sacrifices,” Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said in a statement.

“The issue is settled for us: either eternity in heaven or eternity in hell.”

Abed al-Thawr, an official in the Houthi Defence Ministry, said Israel’s claims that it attacked military targets on Sunday are “lies”. He said Israel bombed civilian infrastructure to make Yemenis suffer.

Al-Thawr told Al Jazeera that the presidential palace hit on Sunday has long been deserted. “So, what Israel is doing is barbarism,” he said.

The Houthi-dominated Government of Change and Reconstruction in Sanaa also called the Israeli attack a “war crime” that aims to hurt Yemenis and create a “fake victory” by showing columns of smoke above Sanaa.

“The aggression proves that the Israeli enemy, with American support, is waging an open war against the Arab and Muslim nation,” it said in a statement.

Hamas also condemned the Israeli strikes on Yemen, calling them “a blatant violation of Arab sovereignty and international law”.

In a statement on Sunday, the Palestinian group said Israel’s “fascist aggression” was aimed at deterring Yemen from backing Palestinians.

Hamas praised the Houthis’ stance, describing it as “courageous”, and called on “all Arab and Muslim countries, and all free forces” to join what it called a collective effort to end the occupation.

Israel has been bombing Yemeni power plants and ports for a month. But Sunday’s attack came shortly after the Israeli navy struck a power station in Sanaa last week.

On Friday, the Houthis said they launched a hypersonic missile and two drones at Israel, vowing to stand with Palestinians “until the aggression against Gaza stops and the siege is lifted”.

Source: Al Jazeera