Sunday 25,May 2025 {HMC}  A flight with eight immigrants that left Texas this week, reportedly headed for South Sudan, will now remain in the East African country of Djibouti for two weeks to comply with a court order, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.

During a briefing, Leavitt placed blame on the U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts, following a hearing Wednesday after eight people from Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cuba, Mexico and South Sudan had been deported to a third country. Lawyers had said the flight was headed for South Sudan, but the Department of Homeland Security says it won’t confirm.

Murphy had said in the hearing the Trump administration was in violation of a previous injunction that prevented people from being sent to countries other than their own without opportunities to voice their fears of torture or persecution, or without proper notice ahead of time.

Murphy ordered that the individuals be provided legal counsel and an opportunity to raise their fears. He also ordered the deportees to be given at least 15 days to reopen immigration proceedings and challenge their deportation in the event the government still aims to send them to a third country.

Leavitt said Murphy’s order was an attempt to “bring these monsters back to our country.”

“Now Judge Murphy is forcing federal officials to remain in Djibouti for over two weeks threatening our U.S. diplomatic relationships with countries around the world and putting the agents’ lives in danger by having to be with these illegal murderers, criminals and rapists,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt, who stated the names and criminal records of the eight people who are on the flight, called Murphy’s order a “massive judicial overreach.”

“He cannot control the foreign policy or the national security of the United States of America, and to suggest otherwise is being completely absurd,” she said.

Murphy had relayed the sequence of events leading to the deportations, saying the immigrants were notified of their destination “sometime in the evening” Monday, outside business hours. He added that they left the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility en route to a nearby airport the next morning at 9:35 CT.

Without sufficient time to consult an attorney or family members, the judge said, it was impossible for the immigrants to challenge their deportations to a third country.

“The department’s actions,” Murphy said, “are unquestionably violative of this court’s order.”

Souce NBC

Sunday 25,May 2025 {HMC} The construction of the ambitious 749-kilometer Isiolo–Mandera highway is picking up pace, signaling renewed commitment by the government to improving infrastructure and connectivity in the northeastern region.

The highway, which links the four counties of Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, has been underway for some time but recently gained national attention during President William Ruto’s tour of the region.

Kenyans were struck by the President’s deep understanding of the project, with many raising concerns about the government’s commitment to truly implementing it.

“Ndio barabara itoke Mandera, ikuje Ramu, ikuje Garre, ikuje El-Wak, ikuje Kobo, ikuje pale Kotulo, ikuje Tarbat, ipitie hapa Wajir, iende Samatan, iteremke Modogashe, ifike Isiolo, iende Nairobi…” Ruto said in Isiolo.

The project has long been seen as a game-changer for the region’s development.

Spanning key towns including Rhamu, Gari, El Wak, Kobo, Kutulo, Tarbaj, Wajir, Samatar, and Modogashe, the road is a critical component of the Isiolo–Mandera Corridor.

It is expected to significantly improve movement of goods and people and enhance trade between Kenya and its neighbors, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Reaffirming his commitment to the project, the president said on February 19 that seven contractors were on-site to begin groundwork.

“I am committed to delivering on the road from Isiolo to Mandera because for a very long time, we have left Northern Kenya behind…,” he said.

One of the most crucial developments is progress on the 140-kilometer El Wak–Rhamu section, supported by a Sh27.5 billion ($215 million) loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

This portion of the project had previously faced delays due to security concerns but has now resumed following the implementation of a detailed security plan by the government.

When completed, the highway will cut travel time from 4.7 to 3.2 hours and reduce vehicle operating costs.

This is expected to drive a 15 per cent increase in trade volumes across the region, from Sh25.7 billion to Sh29.5 billion annually.

Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale commended the President for his commitment to the region.

“Promise made and delivery ongoing. Thank you, Mr. President,” he stated.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is leading the project’s implementation.

Source Star

Sunday 25,May 2025 {HMC} The Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe, has praised the Macawisley militia from the Hawaadle clan for their frontline role in fighting the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab insurgency.

Speaking at a high-level meeting in Moqokori district attended by federal lawmakers, the Hirshabelle Interior Minister, military commanders, clan elders, and Macawisley leadership, Sanbaloolshe urged the militia not to limit their operations to defending their own communities but to actively assist in liberating other areas still under Al-Shabaab control.

“The war we are currently in is not just about defending our own areas. We must also reclaim every inch of land seized by the Khawarij [Al-Shabaab],” Sanbaloolshe declared. “As long as they remain in places like Adan Yabaal, Ceelbaraf, and El-Ali Ahmed, none of us can sleep in peace.”

The intelligence chief praised the Macawisley fighters for their resilience and national spirit, recalling their role in the initial pushback against Al-Shabaab in 2022. He emphasized that their actions sent a message that the group can be defeated through unity and determination.

“You stood firm when many others were unsure. Al-Shabaab’s goal has always been to divide, oppress, and dismantle us. Your courage proves that they can be stopped,” he said.

Sanbaloolshe also appealed to other clans in the region to join the fight and called on the Federal Government to seize the current momentum, describing the determination of the local forces as a “military opportunity” to end Al-Shabaab’s reign of terror.

“Let us not waste time in endless meetings. Where there is fire, we must add firewood,” he said, stressing urgency in the national counter-terrorism effort.

The Hawaadle Macawisley militia was among the first grassroots forces to take up arms against Al-Shabaab, gaining public and government recognition for their effectiveness in reclaiming territory and securing local communities

Source Hiiraan

Sunday 25,May 2025 {HMC} Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has strongly denounced the arrest of eight journalists by security forces in Mogadishu on Saturday, calling the incident a serious violation of press freedom and an attack on Somalia’s democratic principles.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital, Sharif described the arrests as part of a broader campaign of repression targeting independent media and freedom of expression.

“Freedom of speech and the independence of the press are essential pillars for any government,” Sharif said. “It is never acceptable for journalists to be harassed, detained, or intimidated for political purposes.”

The former president, who now leads the Himilo Qaran political party, criticized the government for promoting one-person, one-vote elections while simultaneously violating basic rights enshrined in the constitution.

“It is contradictory for a government that claims to be preparing for democratic elections to engage in abuses that silence the voices of the people. These actions are against the constitution and the rule of law,” he added.

Sharif urged government officials to cease interference with the independent media and ensure the protection of journalists’ rights, warning that failure to do so would undermine public trust and democratic progress.

The journalists, including Abdinasir Abdikadir Saleh and Abdinasir Sayid Ali Socdaal of Shabelle TV, were arrested while collecting public opinion on opposition-led meetings, raising concerns about the shrinking space for political discourse in Somalia.

The arrests come amid growing tension between the government and opposition groups, with critics accusing the administration of using state security forces to intimidate dissenting voices.

Several press freedom organizations and civil society groups have echoed Sharif’s concerns, calling for the immediate release of the detained journalists and for authorities to uphold media freedoms guaranteed under Somali law.

Source Hiiraan