Saturday 16, Aug 2025 {HMC}  The Federal Republic of Somalia expresses its deepest condolences to the Government and people of the brotherly Islamic Republic of Pakistan following the tragic loss of life caused by the recent severe monsoon rains, flash floods, and landslides that have affected several regions.

These catastrophic events have claimed numerous lives, left many injured, and displaced countless individuals, bringing profound grief to the affected communities.

【• We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones and pray for Allah’s mercy upon the departed, asking for strength and patience for those left behind during this time of sorrow.•】

Somalia stands together with Pakistan in sincere mourning during this difficult time, extending its deepest thoughts and solidarity.

Saturday 16, Aug  2025 {HMC} Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Charles Kahariri has warned that the recent reduction of African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops could erode hard-won gains in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Speaking during high-level bilateral talks with US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander General Michael Langley at AFRICOM Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, on August 14, Kahariri cautioned that the security gap left by the drawdown threatens to destabilise Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.

“Some troop-contributing countries, including Kenya, have entered bilateral arrangements with Somalia to temporarily bridge the gap,” Kahariri said. “However, such measures are unsustainable without enhanced international backing.”

The Kenyan military chief urged the global community to renew and strengthen its commitment to the Somali peace process, warning that without sustained support, years of military progress and political stabilisation could be undone.

Launched in January 2025, AUSSOM is the latest iteration of international peace efforts that began nearly two decades ago with AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia), followed by ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) — all aimed at helping Somalia counter violent extremism.

The meeting reaffirmed the enduring strategic partnership between Kenya and the United States in advancing peace, stability, and security across the Horn of Africa and its maritime domains.

Pivotal contribution

Gen. Langley commended the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) for their sustained contributions to peace support operations in Somalia, describing them as pivotal to shaping regional security outcomes.

Both commanders also released the inaugural Joint Communiqué from the African Chiefs of Defence Conference (ACHOD), co-signed in Stuttgart on August 14.

The communiqué consolidates priorities agreed upon by 38 African delegations during ACHOD 2025 in Nairobi, outlining five key focus areas: expanding security partnerships, standardising doctrine and information sharing, countering emerging threats through innovation, strengthening defence institutions, and advancing African-led security initiatives.

“This is more than a record of what was discussed,” said Gen. Langley.

“It is a shared commitment to move forward together, build on progress, and deliver results that strengthen security across Africa.”

Gen. Kahariri added that the communiqué would serve as a roadmap for joint action, innovation, and institutional reforms ahead of ACHOD 2026, ensuring Africa’s defence leaders turn dialogue into measurable results.

By BRUHAN MAKONG

Saturday 16, Aug  2025 {HMC}  Over 100 families in Galgadud region, who were left destitute after drought wiped out their livestock, have successfully transitioned to farming and found a new source of livelihood.

These families, a mix of former pastoralists and long-time farmers, live in Faragoy, Duduma-cade, Ilaanle, and Marargur, whilst some are in internal displacement camps.

In both dry and rainy seasons, they are now harvesting a variety of vegetables and crops, which they sell in Dusamareb and surrounding areas. The steady income they earn from this new livelihood allows them to provide food, education, and other basic needs for their families.

Cadar Abdi Osman, a former pastoralist, started farming in February last year. Since then, she has had five harvests and earned nearly $1,000.

“My farm produces many crops, such as watermelon, beans, maize, tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage. It is more than enough for my life. Before, I was a pastoralist, and I didn’t know much about farming. When my livestock were wiped out, I was left in a dark place. Now, farming is the best thing for our lives because I get a good income from it,” she said.

Cadar is the sole provider for her six children and her elderly mother, having separated from the children’s father three years ago. Her two-hectare farm in Faragoy has been their lifeline. Before farming, her family was destitute, often struggling to get even one meal a day.

“My family now gets two or three cooked meals a day. We use some of the vegetables from the farm and buy other things we need. Our life is much better today, but there was a time when we had nothing after our livestock died, and we couldn’t even get one meal. At that time, we would ask for help from our neighbours and relatives. Farming has changed our lives so much. It covers all my burdens.”

The income from her farm has enabled Cadar to send two of her children to primary school for monthly fees of $14. In addition to food crops, she also grows livestock fodder, which she sells and uses to feed the 15 goats that survived the drought that killed off the rest of her herd. She earns about $150 every two months from selling the fodder.

“People who are regular customers buy fodder from me, and I also sell it in Dusamareb. I sell a bundle for a dollar, and it sells well every time. I used to be a pastoralist living in the countryside with 50 goats. The drought killed most of them, and I was left with just 15. Since livestock were no longer profitable, I turned to farming. The land where the farm is located is my land. I lived here before, and then I turned it into a farm,” she told Radio Ergo.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) provided these families with seeds, training, simple farming tools, and a borehole for irrigation, with the aim of helping them become self-sufficient.

Naimo Ali Ibrahim also benefited from this project. She is part of a 30-person cooperative that shares a five-hectare farm in Dudumacadde area on the outskirts of Dusamareb.

Since 2024, they have had six harvests, including tomatoes, watermelon, bell peppers, maize, and fodder, which they sell to the local community. Naimo said she has been earning about $300 a month and has used the money to support her 10 children.

“It has changed my family’s life so much because with it you can buy rice, sugar, pasta, and oil. Now we are well-off. The farm means a lot to me. We want to get more help so we can become big farmers who export produce to other regions and districts,” she said.

Naimo, who was displaced from Lower Juba region in 2021 due to conflict, said the cooperative members do all the work themselves, including tilling, irrigating, harvesting, and selling the produce. They are a mix of long-time farmers and former pastoralists who were impoverished by the drought.

She used to support by begging. “Before, I was a destitute person who had nothing. I used to knock on people’s doors and ask, ‘Can I do your laundry?’ or ‘Can I fix your house?’ Whatever I earned, we would cook one meal at a time. But after I was included in the farming, thank God, we now cook two meals a day. In the morning, they have injera and cabbage, and at night, I cook rice or pasta. The farm has changed our lives so much.”

She is now the sole breadwinner for her family, and pays $60 a month for five of her children to attend Al-Mamun middle and high school. She still owes the school $180 from her difficult times, which she now plans to pay off.

According to Hirsi Farah Osman, the chairman of the Dusamareb farmers’ cooperative, many pastoralists have now become farmers after drought killed their livestock. He noted that the local farmers produce vegetables that were previously imported from southern Somalia, and the local produce is cheaper than the imported ones.

“People here did not know about farming; they used to be pastoralists, but their livestock were killed by droughts and conflicts. When we saw the problem, I and some other men from Mogadishu and Dusamareb decided to help our people escape the upcoming problem of hunger. People need to eat, and if their livestock are gone, they have to farm the land. A person who doesn’t farm the land will not be satiated,” Hirsi said.

The number of farms in Dusamareb and its surroundings has increased to over 400, Hirsi said, which shows a development in the region and a growing understanding of the importance of farming. A major challenge remains the lack of deep, non-seasonal wells, which require thousands of dollars to drill.

Saturday 16, Aug  2025 {HMC} A 44-year-old woman was killed after stepping on an explosive device at the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera Town.

Fatuma Madnur Mohamed died on the evening of Wednesday, August 14, after stepping on a suspected explosive remnant of war, police said.

The device had landed about 100 meters from the main border after being launched from Bulahawa, Somalia, where local security agencies are clashing for control of the region.

Tension remains high in the area amid fears of spillover into Kenya. Security officials said they had heightened alertness as fighting rages.

Witnesses and police said the explosion dismembered the woman’s right leg and badly damaged her stomach, leading to her death. Her 11-year-old daughter sustained serious injuries to both legs and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The family has demanded justice.

Witnesses said the woman’s body and the injured girl were taken to the local mortuary and hospital, respectively, but it took longer for officials to revisit the scene due to ongoing clashes nearby.

Authorities fear more casualties on the Somalia side as fighting between federal troops and forces loyal to Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe intensifies.

The confrontations centre around the strategic town of Bulahawa in the Gedo region, deepening tensions between Mogadishu and the semi-autonomous Jubaland administration.

Efforts are ongoing to de-escalate the conflict.

Kenyan officials have increased patrols along the border to prevent any spillover. Sporadic fighting has been reported just a few kilometres from the crossing point.

by CYRUS OMBATI