Monday 11, August 2025 {HMC} The State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Ali Mohamed Omar, received on Monday at his office in the Ministry in Mogadishu, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Wang Yu, and discussed with him ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen cooperation, and expand partnership between the two friendly countries.

During the meeting, both sides highlighted the need to raise the level of strategic collaboration across key sectors and reaffirmed mutual commitment to advancing regional stability and sustainable development through strengthened diplomatic partnership and coordinated efforts.

Monday 11, August 2025 {HMC} The Somali National Army (SNA) operating in the Gedo region has repelled an attack launched by militias acting under the command of the court-wanted Ahmed Madoobe.

In the early hours of this morning, militias loyal to the court-wanted Ahmed Madoobe, led on the ground by Mahamoud Sayid Adan, carried out an unprovoked assault on SNA positions on the outskirts of Beled Hawo district.

The National Army successfully repelled the attack, dispersed the assailants, captured ten of the militia members alive, and took full control of the locations from which the assault had been organised.

During the defensive operation, two brave soldiers of the national army: Lieutenant Mohamed Hassan Guutaale and Private Ali Muhumed Gooni, were martyred. The Ministry of Defence prays that Allah accepts their sacrifice. Three other soldiers were wounded and are currently receiving medical care.

The situation in the area is now calm, and the national army remains fully engaged in securing the region, maintaining stability, and safeguarding the civilian population of Gedo.

The Ministry of Defence strongly condemns the criminal acts carried out by these militias and commends the professionalism and courage of the national forces in foiling attempts to undermine the country’s security and unity.

Finally, the Ministry issues a clear warning to the militias misled by the court-wanted Ahmed Madoobe to lay down their arms, surrender to the national army, and cease their involvement in actions that target the existence of the Somali state.

The Ministry also calls on the people of Gedo to continue standing alongside the national forces and their commanders to prevent any threat to the country’s security.

Monday 11, August 2025 {HMC} Harambee stars have beaten Morocco 1-0 in their third CHAN group stage match at the Moi Kasarani International Stadium in a thrilling match on 10 August 2025.

The lone goal was scored by Tusker FC forward Ryan Ogam in the 43rd minute after capitalizing on a 50/50 ball in the Moroccan defensive box.

Impressive Kenya

McCarthy named a very different squad from the side that hardly fought for a draw against Angola at the Moi Kasarani International Stadium.

Most notably in the interesting lineup named by the South African international was the exclusion of wonderkid Austine Odhiambo and first choice captain Aboud Omar who both started on the bench for the first time in the tournament.

The game started off with Morocco with the upper hand, as they tested Kenya’s defence with two quick attacks that were both saved by Kenya’s goalkeeper Bryne Omondi.

In the 8th minute, Harambee stars players were given a wakeup call as Morocco’s Ait Oukhmane hit a well-timed header towards the Kenyan post only for Bryne Omondi’s heroics being deployed to save Kenya again as he parried the ball away for a corner.

Kenya responded immediately, forcing Morocco to commit several fouls in the early minutes but Kenya were persistent, and the ball was majorly in the Moroccan half of the pitch in the first 20 minutes.

Morocco’s Mohammed Moufiq was injured in the Moroccan box in the 20th minute while defending against Ryan Ogam and he could not continue two minutes later, having to be stretched off and was substituted.

The game was fair from them on, and it got physical as it progressed with the referee having to give out stern warnings to both sets of players.

Kenya’s golden moment came in the 42nd minute when Tusker FC forward Ryan Ogam in the 43rd minute after capitalizing on a 50/50 ball in the Moroccan defensive box.

The Moroccan defenders were found flat footed as they poorly and desperately tried to clear the ball away from their defensive box.

However, Kenya’s joy was short-lived as in the third minute of additional time in the first half, Harambee Stars midfielder Chrispine Erambo was shown a straight red card after a serious untimed tackle on Anass El Mahraoui.

For the second consecutive time in the tournament, Harambee Stars had to go through the majority of a match with a man less, after Marvin Nabwire fouled Angola’s Deivi Viera.

Coach Benni McCarthy and his technical bench were visibly angry at the red card and immediately asked all Kenyan players to come back and defend.

For the next two minutes, the whole stadium was quite quiet as Kenyan fans were left in shock after the red card and the half time whistle offered both the players and fans a chance to catch a breath after a very eventful last five minutes of the first half.

Calculated Second half
The second half begun with changes from both sides as Morocco made two substitutions, bringing in Saber Bougrine and Youssef Mehri to replace Ait Ourkhane and Elmehdi Harrarr.

Kenya brought in Alpha Onyango to replace Edward Omondi as McCarthy tried a more defensive approach as the two Moroccan substitutions were both offensive.

With ten men on the field, Harambee Stars struggled to maintain possession and did more defensive work as Morocco doubled their attacking efforts.

The goal scorer of the lone goal Ryan Ogam and Ben Stanley were replaced in the 63rd minute by Sebastain Wekesa and Omija Alphonce.

The rest of the match saw Harambee Stars maintain their defensive discipline and avoided conceding another goal.

Harambee Stars remain top of Group A in CHAN 2024 and Harambee Stars have automatically qualified for the next stage which is the quarter stage.

Kenya face Zambia on Sunday 17, 2025, in what is expected to be another hugely changed lineup by coach Benni McCarthy.

Monday 11, August 2025 {HMC} Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua was on Saturday asked to record a statement of his claims that President William Ruto’s administration has links with terror groups.

In his ongoing tour of the United States, Gachagua has alleged that Ruto met with three Al-Shabaab militia members at night to discuss “business.” He has further linked the Head of State to financing Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The remarks caught the attention of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who demanded that Gachagua record a statement with police upon his return to Kenya.

Now hitting back at Kindiki, Gachagua says he does not owe any explanation to the Kenyan government, but to the American Senate, which is actively investigating the matter.

“We can not help in any investigations because the Kenyan government has not initiated any investigations against William Ruto. The people who have initiated the investigation are the American Senate, so if there is a need for us to help in investigations, we will help the American Senate, not the Kenyan government,” Gachagua said in a rejoinder on Saturday.

According to Gachagua, Kenya can not objectively investigate Ruto because police officers work under him.

The former Deputy President went on to caution his successor, Kithure Kindiki against “selling fear to him”.

“It is the same CS [Kindiki] who, when 5 chiefs were abducted by Al-shabaab, said they would negotiate to have them released. How can you negotiate with people you do not know?” paused the DCP leader.

Gachagua claimed that the five chiefs abducted in Mandera in February 2025 were released in April 2025 after the said “negotiations” by Kindiki.

“The interior CS knows much more on who the leaders of Al-shabaab are because he said publicly that he will initiate negotiations. The five chiefs were released after successful negotiations with Al-Shabaab,” said Gachagua.

“He is in a better position to tell the people of Kenya and Americans who the Al-Shabaab leaders are because he has already had successful business with them.”

Gachagua said he is ready to ‘help American government probe Kenya’s dealings with Al-Shabaab and RSF.

In a move to strip off Kenya’s major non-NATO ally status, the US Senate is probing Kenyan leaders’ links to Al-Shabaab and RSF.

Idaho Senator Jim Risch is leading the push to review Kenya’s status due to the terror links and its trade relations with China.

By Nelson Ledama