Wednesday 30, April  2025 {HMC} Local Defense Forces in El-dher district launched a coordinated offensive on Tuesday targeting Kharijite strongholds in the forested areas of Ali Andhole and Barag Sheikh Abdullahi, located 40 kilometers north of the district.

The operation, which focused on Ali Candhoole—a key terrorist command base—resulted in full control of all targeted positions after more than two hours of intense fighting.

Local officers confirmed to national media that over 10 Kharijite fighters were killed during the assault. The targeted areas had served as critical defense hubs for the militants, used to repel counter-offensives from Oswayne and Galhareri.

This marks the latest in a string of successful operations this week, with more than five attacks launched by local forces that have significantly weakened Kharijite presence in eastern Galgadud.

Source SONNA

Wednesday 30, April  2025 {HMC} Puntland and Somaliland authorities on Wednesday carried out a prisoner exchange involving combatants captured during the 2023 conflict in the contested Sool region.

Puntland’s Minister of Justice, Mohamed Abdi Wahaab, told local media that Puntland handed over 15 prisoners to Somaliland, while Somaliland released 11 Puntland-affiliated prisoners in return.

“Today, we handed over to the Somaliland government 15 prisoners who were captured during the fighting in the Sool region in 2023. Somaliland, on its part, handed over to the Puntland government 11 prisoners who were previously captured during those fighting,” the minister said.

Wahaab described the exchange as a significant confidence-building step toward restoring peaceful relations between the two sides.

“This is a positive step toward peace and cooperation. It is heartening that Somali youths who have been held for two years are now free and reunited with their families,” he added.

This is the second known prisoner swap involving individuals captured during the violent clashes in Las Anod, which erupted in early 2023 after residents rejected Somaliland’s administration and aligned with the self-declared SSC-Khaatumo administration.

The SSC-Khaatumo administration has not issued a public statement on the latest exchange. Notably, none of the prisoners released by Somaliland were reportedly from SSC-Khaatumo, raising questions about the status of detainees affiliated with the group.

The conflict in Las Anod and surrounding areas has displaced thousands and left deep political and social divisions across the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions.

Wednesday 30, April  2025 {HMC} Somali Lower House Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madoobe has referred the disputed case of parliamentary seat HOP#201—currently held by MP Abdullahi Hashi Abiib—back to the Standing Committee on Bylaws, Welfare, Ethics and Immunity for review and guidance.

The move comes amid mounting pressure from opposition lawmakers who recently submitted a motion to impeach the speaker over his handling of the case.

In a press release on Tuesday, Speaker Madoobe said he made the decision after considering the concerns and recommendations raised by members of the House of the People. He cited Article 50, Section 2, Subsection (D) of the chamber’s bylaws, which grants the Standing Committee the authority to review matters related to parliamentary procedure and member conduct.

“The matter regarding the seat HOP#201 has been returned to the appropriate Standing Committee for legal consultation and advice,” the statement read. “Their recommendations will guide the next steps.”

The controversy began on March 15, when Speaker Madoobe announced that MP Abdullahi Abiib had been stripped of his seat for missing two consecutive sessions without presenting a valid excuse. That decision sparked criticism from a number of lawmakers, who argued that the speaker had overstepped his authority.

MP Abiib, a prominent critic of the current administration, has frequently accused senior government officials of corruption. He has also submitted documentation to international organizations alleging governance failures and irregularities in public finance. In 2023, Abiib claimed to have received threats from government officials and said he could not safely return to Mogadishu.

Critics of the speaker say the attempt to expel Abiib is politically motivated and violates parliamentary immunity protections. Several MPs have warned that allowing such precedent would endanger dissent within the legislature.

The Standing Committee is now expected to issue a formal recommendation regarding the legality of the speaker’s original decision. It remains unclear whether the House will hold a vote on the matter once the committee presents its findings.

Wednesday 30, April  2025 {HMC} Somali government has issued a stern warning to individuals and social media platforms disseminating false information that could undermine national security and public trust.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Ministry of Information dismissed recent claims circulating online that a mortar attack by the extremist group Al-Shabaab had struck the heavily fortified Halane compound and Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, killing several foreign nationals.

“These reports have been thoroughly debunked as entirely fabricated and grossly exaggerated,” the ministry said.

While confirming that Al-Shabaab has previously carried out indiscriminate mortar attacks from concealed positions, often targeting civilian areas without clear strategic objectives, the government stressed that recent claims misrepresented the scale and impact of such incidents.

“These indiscriminate assaults have tragically resulted in civilian casualties, including children attending Qur’anic schools. However, no credible evidence supports the claims that foreign nationals were killed in the latest attack,” the ministry stated.

The government said it is closely monitoring individuals and networks—both domestic and abroad—who are suspected of deliberately spreading extremist propaganda or misinformation that could incite panic or serve the interests of terrorist groups.

Authorities pledged to take “all lawful measures necessary” to hold perpetrators accountable and protect public safety and national sovereignty.

The warning comes after local media reported that mortar shells landed near Halane—a high-security zone in Mogadishu that hosts United Nations offices, African Union personnel, and multiple foreign embassies—earlier this week.

Wednesday 30, April  2025 {HMC} Somali federal government has announced a ban on the entry, transit, and exit of Taiwan passport holders, citing its commitment to the “one China” policy as defined under United Nations Resolution 2758.

The decision, issued in an April 22 notice by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, declares that all passports and travel documents issued by the “Taiwan authorities or related institutions” will be considered invalid for travel to or through Somalia starting April 30.

The move aligns Somalia with countries that formally recognize the People’s Republic of China as the sole representative of China, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 passed in 1971.

That resolution affirmed the PRC’s seat in the UN and removed the representation of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.
In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday condemned the Somali government’s decision, accusing Mogadishu of bowing to pressure from Beijing.

“Somalia is acting under China’s instigation,” MOFA said in a statement, calling the policy “a distorted interpretation” of the UN resolution. The ministry criticized the decision as an attempt to “create the false impression that Taiwan is subordinate to China.”

Taiwan also accused Somalia of overstepping by asserting control over Somaliland’s airspace. While Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and maintains its own government, Somalia continues to regard it as an integral part of its territory and claims sovereignty over its airspace.

MOFA further warned Taiwanese citizens against travel to both Somalia and Somaliland, citing safety concerns and the unresolved diplomatic tensions.

Taiwan has maintained a representative office in Hargeisa since 2020, a move that sparked sharp protests from the Somali federal government, which rejected the opening of diplomatic missions in Somaliland. Taiwan, in turn, views Somaliland as a democratic partner, citing the region’s relatively stable political environment and history of multi-party elections.

“Taiwan and Somaliland share values of democracy and freedom,” MOFA said.

Somalia has not publicly responded to Taiwan’s statement. China has yet to issue its own reaction to the Somali ban, which comes as Beijing steps up efforts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically around the globe.