Tuesday 3, June ,2025  {HMC} A Kenyan and a Ugandan human rights activist who were detained in Tanzania for several days last month said on Monday that Tanzanian security officers sexually assaulted them while in custody.

Spokespeople for Tanzania’s government, foreign affairs ministry and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations by Kenya’s Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire.

The spokesperson for Kenya’s ministry of foreign affairs and Uganda’s information minister did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Mwangi and Atuhaire were detained after arriving in Dar es Salaam to attend the first court appearance of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
Tanzanian authorities have not commented on Mwangi and Atuhaire’s detentions, though in public remarks on May 19, the day they were detained, President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned foreign activists against “invading and interfering in our affairs.”

After being taken into custody at their hotel in Dar es Salaam, Mwangi said they were blindfolded by police officers and taken to a house. He said that while questioning him about the whereabouts of his phone and laptop, his interrogators stripped him, blindfolded him and sexually assaulted him.

He cried as he described his ordeal at a press conference in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, adding that the security personnel had also photographed him while assaulting him.

Atuhaire said she too had been blindfolded, tied up and similarly assaulted.

Both activists were eventually dumped near the borders of their countries, where they crossed back home.

Lissu, who came second in Tanzania’s last presidential poll, was arrested in April and charged with treason over what prosecutors said was a speech calling on the public to rebel and disrupt elections due in October.

The case has highlighted a growing crackdown on opponents of Hassan, whose party has nominated her to stand in the October vote.

She won plaudits after coming to power in 2021 for easing the political repression that had proliferated under her predecessor, but has faced mounting criticism over a series of arrests and unexplained abductions of political opponents.

Hassan has said the government is committed to respecting human rights, and ordered an investigation into reported abductions last year.

Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom. Editing by Aaron Ross and Aidan Lewis

Tuesday 3, June ,2025  {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a phone conversation with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Monday, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations.

The meeting also addressed key regional and international issues, with an emphasis on development and security, according to sources.

The discussion between the Somali and Qatari leaders comes amid a series of diplomatic engagements by President Mohamud aimed at bolstering Somalia’s ties with its key allies.

Just a day earlier, President Mohamud also spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who reaffirmed Türkiye’s unwavering support for Somalia’s state-building efforts, including cooperation in security, development, energy, and fisheries.

A statement from the Turkish Presidency noted that both leaders discussed recent regional and global developments while emphasizing the importance of enhancing defence collaboration and democratic governance in Somalia.

These back-to-back calls with Qatar and Türkiye—two of Somalia’s strongest partners—come at a critical time, as Somalia prepares for a National Consultation Forum on June 15, aimed at shaping its political and constitutional future.

Qatar and Türkiye have played a prominent role in Somalia’s recovery, providing financial assistance, training support, and infrastructure development. Both countries have also supported counterterrorism operations and economic reforms in the Horn of Africa nation.

Tuesday 3, June ,2025  {HMC} Burundian peacekeepers evacuated the Somali town of Xawaadley this week after heavy flooding overwhelmed their base, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) said Tuesday. Local officials say Al-Shabaab may have re-entered the area following the withdrawal, though this remains unconfirmed.

AUSSOM said the evacuation took place on Monday and was carried out by helicopter. One of the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction, but the pilots safely landed, and no casualties were reported. All personnel were transferred to a nearby military base.

“We commend the swift action of the AUSSOM Burundian troops during the delicate operation,” said Kareem Adebayo, acting special representative of the African Union Commission chairperson for Somalia. “We reaffirm our continued support to the people and the Federal Government of Somalia in mitigating the effects of the flooding.”

The AU mission did not mention any subsequent control of the area by Al-Shabaab. However, local officials told HOL that the militant group entered after the evacuation, though this claim could not be independently verified.

“There was no confrontation,” a local administrator said. “Floodwaters entered the army camps, prompting the decision to withdraw.”

Xawaadley, located in Middle Shabelle, had been under the control of the Somali federal government for several years. It has been the site of repeated clashes between government forces and Al-Shabaab, with past engagements resulting in heavy casualties.

The evacuation comes as AU forces draw down under AUSSOM’s phased transition plan. Burundian troops are expected to leave Somalia in the coming weeks, with Somali security forces preparing to assume responsibility for the area.

Tuesday 3, June ,2025  {HMC} Somalia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan to enhance cooperation in the field of renewable energy, marking the latest step in Somalia’s efforts to reform its energy sector.

The agreement was announced by Somalia’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Abdullahi Bidhaan Warsame, during his address at the 30th Anniversary Baku Energy Forum. The memorandum focuses on renewable energy development, capacity building, and knowledge sharing between the two nations.

“Guided by the National Transformation Plan, Somalia is implementing large-scale initiatives to expand access to electricity, harness the potential of renewable energy sources, and strengthen climate resilience,” Warsame stated.

He described the Baku Energy Forum as a key platform for Somalia to engage with international partners. “I am confident that the Baku Energy Forum will provide a strategic platform for interaction with global technical, financial and political partners. This will support reforms in Somalia’s energy sector and our efforts to ensure a sustainable and inclusive energy future,” he added.

Warsame pointed to tangible progress already made, including the construction of a solar power plant with a capacity of at least 800 megawatts. He said Somalia remains focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

“Somalia has all the necessary resources and potential for this. The country is going through a transformational period of recovery and institution building, and energy reforms are central to our national development strategy,” he said.

The agreement builds on several earlier diplomatic engagements between the two countries. In February, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Yalchin Rafiyev, led a delegation to Mogadishu to lay the groundwork for expanding cooperation across energy, education, defence, and humanitarian sectors. That visit was followed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s first official trip to Baku, where he met with President Ilham Aliyev and signed additional agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

The renewable energy pact is part of a growing portfolio of cooperation. In addition to the agreement signed by Minister Warsame, Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamed, signed a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in February with Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov. That agreement focused on joint exploration of oil and gas, technology transfer, and investment promotion in Somalia’s energy sector.

Officials say the green energy agreement is aimed at addressing Somalia’s critical infrastructure gaps while developing its human capital. The Somali Council of Ministers approved the energy and education agreements earlier this year, underscoring their alignment with national development goals. According to Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, “These agreements will enhance education and energy collaboration, laying the groundwork for long-term benefits.”

Azerbaijan’s expanding ties with Somalia are also part of a foreign policy push toward Africa, where Baku is looking to build new alliances in energy, infrastructure, and defence. The two countries have also signed and ratified a defence cooperation agreement, allowing for military training, defence industry collaboration, and technical exchange—contributing to a foundation of mutual trust that supports their growing energy partnership.

The Baku Energy Forum brings together policymakers, energy leaders, and development partners to discuss sustainable energy transitions and foster collaboration across emerging and established markets.

Tuesday 3, June ,2025  {HMC} Turkey will deploy 500 additional special forces to Somalia in a significant escalation of its military support for the Horn of Africa nation, as international peacekeeping efforts face budget constraints and rising threats from Al-Shabaab.

The announcement follows a phone call on Sunday between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders pledged to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, including defence, maritime development, and energy exploration.

The deployment comes at a critical time as the African Union transitions from ATMIS to the African Union Security Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSS). That mission faces critical funding gaps following a shift in U.S. foreign assistance priorities, leaving Somali forces with limited external support.

The African Union has warned that recent security gains risk being reversed if immediate funding gaps are not addressed. Donor hesitancy, coupled with growing insecurity, has put pressure on Somalia to seek new allies.

Security analysts say the Turkish deployment could stabilize battlefield dynamics and offset regional uncertainty. “Turkey’s involvement was decisive in conflicts in Libya and Ethiopia,” said a regional analyst. “This may provide the Somali government with the support it needs to maintain control over strategic areas.”

The military expansion follows a 10-year defence and economic cooperation agreement ratified by the Somali parliament earlier this year. Under the agreement, Turkey is tasked with training Somali troops, protecting key infrastructure, and assisting with oil and gas operations in Somalia.

Turkey’s seismic research vessel MTA Oruc Reis is currently surveying offshore Somali blocks for potential hydrocarbon reserves. Officials say the military deployment will help secure these activities and advance Turkey’s long-term strategic interests in the Red Sea corridor.

Tuesday 3, June ,2025  {HMC} Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has once again thrown his weight behind Somaliland’s quest for international recognition during a high-profile meeting with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro in Nairobi.

The meeting, described as a farewell gathering, came shortly after Somaliland opened a diplomatic liaison office in the Kenyan capital—a move that sparked a swift rebuke from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reaffirmed its recognition of Somalia’s territorial integrity.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the esteemed African statesman, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for the gracious farewell dinner hosted in my honour and that of my delegation,” President Abdirahman said in a statement issued Tuesday.

“Your unwavering support for Somaliland’s aspiration to claim its rightful place among the community of nations is deeply appreciated.”

Raila’s reaffirmation comes at a sensitive diplomatic juncture. While Somaliland inaugurated its Nairobi office on May 29, Kenya’s foreign ministry quickly distanced itself from the event, stating it had not approved any upgrade from liaison office to mission status.

Despite Nairobi’s official stance, the meeting with Odinga and a separate high-level engagement between President William Ruto and President Abdirahman on May 28 has stirred diplomatic unease across the Horn of Africa, especially in Mogadishu.

According to the Somaliland presidency, the discussions with Ruto touched on bilateral cooperation, including education, peace and stability, economic growth, and institutional development.

No official statement has yet been released from President Ruto’s office.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, continues to seek international recognition, despite opposition from the Federal Government of Somalia and a lack of endorsement from the African Union and United Nations.