Wednesday 21, May 2025 {HMC} Puntland Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor on Tuesday announced the rollout of CCTV surveillance systems across Garowe, the regional capital, as part of new measures to tackle rising insecurity in the city.

Speaking to the media, Vice President Lugatoor emphasized the critical role surveillance footage has played in solving recent high-profile cases, including rape and murder. He noted that suspects involved in serious crimes were apprehended thanks to evidence captured by existing CCTV cameras in some parts of the city.

The Puntland administration has begun installing cameras at major intersections and strategic locations throughout Garowe. The initiative is expected to bolster the city’s capacity to monitor criminal activity, respond quickly to incidents, and improve overall public safety.

Lugatoor also issued a directive to local business owners, urging them to install CCTV cameras on their premises.

“These systems are not only vital for individual business security, but also serve the wider community during times of unrest or criminal activity,” he said.

The announcement follows a surge in insecurity in Garowe, with reports of civilian killings, sexual violence, and violent confrontations involving military personnel. Security agencies attribute many of these crimes to individuals under the influence of drugs, a local alcoholic substance, including some within the armed forces.

The move echoes a similar initiative the Federal Government took in Mogadishu, where widespread CCTV installation along main roads and private properties has contributed to reducing crime in the capital.

Garowe residents hope the surveillance expansion will help restore peace and deter criminal behavior in the face of growing security challenges.

Wednesday 21, May 2025 {HMC}  Heavy fighting broke out early Wednesday in Abooreey, a village in Somalia’s Hiiraan region, as Hawadle Ma’awiisley militia launched a multi-front assault against Al-Shabaab fighters entrenched in the area.

The locally organized militia attacked Al-Shabaab positions to reclaim control of the area. Residents reported sustained gunfire and explosions echoing for miles, signalling the intensity of the confrontation.

Casualty figures remain unconfirmed as the fighting continues, but sources indicate losses on both sides, including dead and wounded. The remote location and ongoing combat have made independent verification difficult.

Wednesday’s assault follows closely on the heels of similar fighting on Tuesday near El Hareeri, another rural settlement in Hiiraan. In that clash, Ma’awiisley forces targeted Al-Shabaab fighters who had reportedly regrouped in the bushlands surrounding the area. Both battles are part of an increasingly coordinated campaign by community-based militias to dislodge Al-Shabaab from strongholds across central Somalia.
The Ma’awiisley —named after the traditional sarong worn by many of its fighters—has been central to local uprisings against the al-Qaeda-linked group. Though operating independently, the militia receives logistical support and encouragement from the Somali federal government, which has framed it as a key partner in efforts to reclaim rural territory.

Over the past four days, Ma’awiisley fighters have clashed repeatedly with Al-Shabaab along the border of Hiiraan and the neighbouring Middle Shabelle region. Local sources claim that more than 70 Al-Shabaab members have been killed in these confrontations, though exact figures have not been independently confirmed.

Despite losing control of major towns and cities, Al-Shabaab continues to exert influence in much of the Somali countryside. The group collects taxes, recruits fighters and uses remote terrain as a base for launching attacks on military and civilian targets.

Wednesday 21, May 2025 {HMC}  The Saudi Arabian government has formally approved a security cooperation agreement with Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to combat terrorism and terrorist financing, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The approval was granted during a Cabinet session chaired by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz in Jeddah on Tuesday, May 20. The agreement involves collaboration between the Saudi Presidential Security Department and Somalia’s intelligence agency, marking a significant development in bilateral security ties.

During the meeting, the Saudi Council of Ministers emphasized the strategic importance of the agreement in supporting Somalia’s ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab and ISIS, both of which continue to pose serious threats to regional stability.

The move follows a defense pact signed last week between the Somali Ministry of Defense and its Saudi counterpart, reflecting the growing security and diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Security analysts in the region have hailed the agreements as a strategic partnership that enhances the counter-terrorism capacity of both countries and contributes to regional and international security efforts.

The deals are seen as part of a broader initiative to strengthen bilateral relations, as Somalia continues to seek international support in its multi-front battle against extremist groups operating within its borders.

Wednesday 21, May 2025 {HMC}  Safiya Saeed has been appointed the 128th Lord Mayor of Sheffield, becoming the first Black woman wearing a hijab to hold the city’s ceremonial title.

Saeed, a Labour Party councillor for Burngreave since 2021, was inaugurated during Sheffield City Council’s Annual General Meeting on Monday. Her family, including relatives who travelled from Somaliland, attended the ceremony at the Sheffield Town Hall.

“I am honoured to be the first black woman wearing a hijab to take this role,” Saeed said in her acceptance speech. “I came to Sheffield in 1985, and this city has truly become my home, a place where I have always felt I belong.”

Saeed is a single mother of five and founder of Reach Up Youth, a community project focused on empowering young people, particularly those from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds. The initiative provides leadership training, professional development, mental health support, and opportunities to reduce isolation.

“Today, this gives me the platform to grow and give back to my community,” she said.

In her speech, Saeed emphasized the importance of inclusive representation. “I want every voice, no matter how quiet, to feel heard in the heart of this city.”

Her theme for the year centers on building networks and fostering civic partnerships. “I hope to turn Sheffield into a thriving hub where investors, entrepreneurs, charities, and residents can build partnerships and support each other, looking to gather Sheffield’s stories, amplify its voices, and proudly represent the spirit of our city,” she said.

During her tenure on the council, Saeed has held several roles, including Deputy Lord Mayor and North East Local Area Committee Chair.

The position of Lord Mayor in Sheffield is ceremonial, with no executive powers. Still, the role plays an essential ambassadorial function, representing the city at official events and promoting civic pride.

Saeed closed her speech by reaffirming her vision for inclusion and collaboration: “I want every voice, no matter how quiet, to feel heard in the heart of this city.”

Wednesday 21, May 2025 {HMC}  The Federal Government of Somalia is preparing to implement major development projects focused on health and energy infrastructure in the Puntland cities of Bosaso and Garowe, despite ongoing political tensions between the federal and Puntland state leadership.

According to documents obtained, the projects are funded by the World Bank and were contractually signed in Mogadishu, signalling continued international development support channelled through the federal institutions.

In Garowe, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources has announced a large-scale solar energy project, including the construction of a solar power plant to improve access to reliable electricity in the regional capital.

Meanwhile, in Bosaso, the expansion of the city’s main hospital has been approved, with the Federal Ministry of Health overseeing the project. The hospital extension is being implemented by Afrah Construction Company Limited, a Mogadishu-based firm selected through the United Nations Procurement Agency (UNPOS), which is also responsible for the construction’s design, management, and supervision.

These developments come as a notable shift, given Puntland’s previous stance of blocking federally initiated projects within its territory, such as the Galkayo–Harfo road construction. The current cooperation may indicate a pragmatic opening by Puntland to allow federal-led infrastructure efforts despite deep-rooted political disputes.

However, political sources in Puntland say tensions remain high. Federal projects are often viewed with suspicion, with critics accusing Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni of politicizing development efforts and leveraging them for political advantage.

Observers say while the implementation of these projects reflects progress in service delivery, the broader political rift between Garowe and Mogadishu remains unresolved, posing a challenge to sustainable federal-state cooperation.