Mondey 23 Feb 2026 {HMC}A high-level delegation led by the Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hon. MP Ayub Ismail Yusuf, has officially arrived in Dhuusamareeb, the administrative capital of the Galmudug State.

The ministerial delegation, comprising senior officials from the Ministry, project managers, technical experts, and advisors, was warmly received by top officials of the Galmudug administration, including the Ministers of Public Works, Security, National Planning, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, and other senior officials.

During his visit, Minister Ayub Ismail Yusuf is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the construction of the strategic road linking Dhuusamareeb and Cadaado. The project is being implemented under the RIPS Program, overseen by the Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, and is jointly funded by the African Development Bank and the European Union.

The Ministry of Public Works, which is mandated to formulate and implement national policies on construction and infrastructure development, emphasized that the project will play a key role in accelerating national development, strengthening economic infrastructure, and improving access to essential social services across the country.

Dhuusamareeb serves as the capital of the Galmudug State in central Somalia, and the road project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity and economic integration within the region.

Source Sonna

Mondey 23 Feb 2026 {HMC} The Commissioner of the Somali National Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mr. Maxamuud Macalin Cabdulle, today received the newly appointed Country Director of the World Food Programme (World Food Programme) in Somalia, Mr. Hameed Nuru, at the agency’s headquarters.

The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the two institutions, with particular emphasis on disaster preparedness and rapid response, building community resilience, and enhancing early warning systems. The two sides also discussed the country’s humanitarian situation and reviewed findings related to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

In addition, WFP presented its Somalia Country Strategic Plan for 2026–2028, which aligns with the development priorities and strategic frameworks of the Federal Government of Somalia.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration to address humanitarian needs and support long-term resilience across the country.

Source Sonna

Mondey 23 Feb 2026 {HMC}Somaliland has signaled it is prepared to grant the United States access to its mineral resources and potentially host U.S. military bases, as the self-declared republic intensifies efforts to secure international recognition.

In an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) published Saturday, Somaliland’s Minister of the Presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, said the territory is open to exclusive agreements with Washington.

“We are willing to give exclusive access to our minerals to the United States. Also, we are open to offer military bases to the United States,” Abdi told AFP.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the United Nations or the African Union. In December, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence, a move strongly condemned by Somalia’s federal government and widely rejected by African and Arab states.

The United States has not changed its longstanding policy recognizing Somalia’s territorial integrity. However, comments by U.S. President Donald Trump in August when he suggested he was considering the Somaliland issue during a White House news conference fueled speculation about potential policy shifts.

Somalia has denounced Israel’s recognition as a violation of its sovereignty and has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse the decision.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has previously suggested granting Israel preferential access to mineral resources.

Somaliland occupies a strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, opposite Yemen a corridor that has gained heightened geopolitical significance amid regional instability and attacks by Houthi rebels on vessels linked to Israel.

Somaliland officials claim the territory holds deposits of lithium, coltan and other critical minerals increasingly sought for global technology and energy industries. However, independent geological assessments verifying the scale and commercial viability of these resources remain limited.

Source Hiiraan Online