HARGEISA, Somaliland The Somaliland Electoral Commission (SEC) has announced the election schedule after months of tensions surrounding the postponement of the presidential vote. According to the SEC, the election period for political organizations will begin on December 28, 2023. The presidential election will follow in November 2024.

The election dates come after the legislative upper house extended current President Muse Bihi Abdis term by two years, sparking condemnation from opposition parties and deadly clashes in the contested Sool region. The international community has condemned the attacks on Somaliland that targeted civilians and social service areas. Opposition leaders accused Musse Bihi Abdi of subverting the democratic process and refusing to hold elections as scheduled.

The electoral commission stated the new dates were set after extensive consultations with political stakeholders in an effort to ease tensions.

Somaliland first declared independence in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized.

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Somali government forces have received a shipment of modern weapons and helicopters, which they will use in their ongoing operations against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.

The weapons, which include long-range 120mm mortars and anti-aircraft weapons, were provided by countries that are friends of Somalia. The shipment was made possible after the arms embargo on the Somali government was eased a year ago.

The Somali government is planning to use the new weapons in the second phase of its war against Al-Shabaab. This phase will focus on the Galgudud region in the center of the country.

The National Security Adviser to the President of Somalia, Hussein Sheikh Ali, said that the government is taking steps to ensure that the new weapons do not fall into the hands of Al-Shabaab. He admitted that some weapons have already been captured by the terrorist group.

The delivery of the new weapons is a significant boost for the Somali governments efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab. The terrorist group has been waging a bloody insurgency in Somalia for many years, and it has caused widespread death and destruction.

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Mogadishu, Somalia The United States has welcomed the recent meeting of current and former Somali leaders hosted by President Hassan Mohamud.

The meeting, which was held in Mogadishu on July 12-13, was an opportunity for Somali leaders to discuss the countrys future and to build consensus on the way forward.

US Embassy in Somalia wrote on Twitter on Sunday (16 July) The United States welcomes this meeting and commends President Mohamud for convening it, Somalias state-building process requires broad-based consultations and sustained dialogue. The United States remains a committed partner in this endeavor.

The meeting was attended by a wide range of Somali leaders, including former presidents, prime ministers, and parliamentarians. The participants discussed a number of issues, including elections, constitutions, and government system.

The United States has been a long-standing partner of Somalia. In recent years, the US has provided significant assistance to the Somali government, including security assistance, development aid, and humanitarian assistance.

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Al-Shabaab militants have been blocking commercial goods, including food and fuel, from reaching the southwestern town of Baidoa for six days. The move is reportedly related to the detention of individuals who reportedly traveled from Baidoa to al-Shabaab areas.

Authorities in Southwest Somalia have vowed to prosecute anyone who takes orders from al-Shabaab. We will not allow al-Shabaab to disrupt the flow of essential goods to Baidoa, said a regional official. We will prosecute anyone who is found to be cooperating with al-Shabaab.

The blockade has caused a shortage of food and fuel in Baidoa, and prices have skyrocketed. Residents are struggling to get by, and some have been forced to leave the town.

Hussein Sheikh Mohamud, Chief of Staff of the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, said in a statement: I share the pain with the people of Baidoa City and the entire Somali citizens who are subject to the brutal blockade of Al-Shabab. Ostensibly, the group is in an all-out war against the great people of Somalia and this is a testament that the FGS-led efforts are pushing the group to extinction.

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Maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea continues to pose a serious threat to the safety of crew members as well as the integrity of international trade. Despite considerable progress made through initiatives like Nigerias Deep Blue Project, challenges persist. Corruption, illegal fishing, political instability, and a high unemployment rate contribute to the ongoing problem.

The Gulf of Guinea and its neighboring nations are vital parts of global trade. The Gulf of Guinea is a colossal 2.35 million km part of the Atlantic Ocean, sourced by the Niger River and the Volta River in Nigeria and Ghana, respectively. The Gulf is just off Western Africa, and its waters stretch from Liberia in the west all the way south-east to Angola. Its 6,000 kilometers of coastline encompasses seventeen independent nations and a colossal GDP of $886.3 billion as of 2021. With Somalias similar piracy issues far in the rearview mirror, the ongoing crisis begs the question as to why the same hasnt happened in the Gulf, or if it ever will.

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This is an analysis of the narrative at hand, why it continues, and what could possibly be done to protect those who continue to brave the Gulf.

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Recent Developments

On March 25, 2023 at almost midnight, a Danish-owned tanker flying the Liberian flag and supplying fuel to other nearby ships was attacked in the Gulf of Guinea, 138 nautical miles west of the port city of Pointe-Noire. Monjasa, the company that owns the oil tanker explained that for their safety the entire crew put themselves in the [hold] of the ship. According to the Congolese authorities, it was three armed men who had immobilized the boat.

Five days after the initial attack, six members of the crew were kidnapped by the pirates as they abandoned the tanker. These six crew members endured a staggering five weeks of captivity before being rescued in an undisclosed location in Nigeria. The CEO of the Danish company Monjasa, Anders Ostergaard, confirmed after the crews rescue that all recovered crew members are in a relatively good health condition given the difficult circumstances they have been under in the last more than five weeks. The crew were given medical checks and have since returned to their homes and been repatriated with their families. However, the event left the Danish Shipowners Association declaring that piracy problems off the west coast of Africa are far from being resolved.

According to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, there have been nine in...

Garowe, Somalia The Mideeye Political Association in the state of Puntland, Somalia, has strongly criticized recent attempts by the regional parliament to amend the constitution in the wake of the local elections held in May.

On June 20, the Puntland Parliamentary Assembly voted in favor of changing the constitution, shortly after the Puntland Electoral Commission oversaw the local council voting. The elections involved 7 major political parties and were conducted in accordance with the existing constitutional rules and electoral laws.

In a statement released in Garowe, the Mideeye Political Organization argued that the election results cannot be used as a justification for altering the constitution. They emphasized that the law dictates that the constitution in force during an electoral process remains valid for the future.

Mideeye placed blame on Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, accusing him of impeding democracy and manipulating the situation to prolong his stay in power. They expressed concern over the Supreme Courts delay in announcing the official results of the local elections held on May 25.

Advocating for dialogue and consultation, the Mideeye party stated, President Deni has governed Puntland through dictatorial policies without seeking input from others. This approach has resulted in insecurity, economic difficulties, social issues, and armed conflicts in the region.

Mideeye condemned the recent clashes in Garowe between Puntland forces, which they claimed had led to unnecessary loss of life, injuries, and displacement of civilians.

Mideeye Party asserted that the push to amend Puntlands constitution only serves the interests of President Denis political party and its allies. They accused officials of disregarding the potential consequences for the stability and future of the state.

The Mideeye Political Association called on regional authorities to engage in discussions with all parties involved to address the political tensions in Puntland and find a resolution.

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Dhusamareb, Somalia The UN Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing, visited the state of Galmudug earlier Saturday for meetings with regional President Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoorqoor. During her visit, Laing praised Galmudugs progress on preparations for local elections and reclaiming territory from Al-Shabaab militants.

In a press appearance with President Qoorqoor, Laing thanked him for the warm welcome extended to her delegation. She said she was pleased to finally make the trip after a previously scheduled visit in June was postponed.

Laing reported having fruitful discussions with Qoorqoor on several key issues. She commended him for his commitment to an inclusive national dialogue on the National Consultative Council process. Laing said it was vital that the Somali people, including opposition groups, civil society, elders, women and youth are involved in this state-building effort.

The UN envoy also applauded Galmudugs advances in local democracy, noting preparations are well underway for district-level one-person-one-vote elections. She reaffirmed the UNs support for assisting the regional government in carrying out the polls.

On security, Laing congratulated Qoorqoor on reclaiming territory from Al-Shabaab militants. However, she emphasized the importance of stabilizing those areas after military operations, including deploying police units and providing basic services so residents can rebuild their lives. She was pleased to learn 400 local police have been established and pledged UN help with further stabilization programs.

Finally, Laing said progress was being made on opening a UN office in Galmudugs capital Dhusamareb to strengthen the partnership between the world body and regional authorities. She agreed to fast-track the process to establish the office as soon as possible.

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A deadly attack attributed to the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group al-Shabaab rocked the Somali capital of Mogadishu last night. The attack targeted a checkpoint near the Deyniile district headquarters, resulting in heavy casualties.

According to local reports, the attack occurred in the Barwaqo neighborhood. The militants engaged in a firefight with security forces manning the checkpoint using various weapons. At least five soldiers and civilians were killed in the clashes, with a number of others injured.

Witnesses say the attackers managed to seize the weapons of soldiers and take control of the checkpoint following the firefight.

The incident came just hours after al-Shabaab assassinated the Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance in Marka district at a restaurant in Mogadishus Hodan district.

Security in the capital has deteriorated in recent times, with the al-Qaeda-linked group carrying out frequent direct attacks and bombings across Mogadishu.

Local authorities have condemned the latest act of violence and vowed to improve security and apprehend those responsible. However, al-Shabaab remains a potent threat, undermining peace and stability in Somalia.

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Mogadishu, Somalia On July 14th, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu met with respected Somali leaders including former Prime Ministers Omar Sharmarke and Abdiweli Gas, the former president of Puntland, to discuss critical issues facing Somalia.

According to a statement released by the Embassy, the meeting focused on the ongoing fight against terrorism in Somalia, analysis of the complex political situation, and the urgent need for continued dialogue particularly in the Puntland region.

The U.S. delegation affirmed its support for stability and peace in Somalia by strengthening cooperation around counterterrorism efforts and good governance practices. They underlined the importance of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States working closely together.

Former Prime Minister Sharmarke commented that these discussions allow for frank exchanges on challenges and opportunities for Somalia as it charts its future political course.

The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu expressed appreciation for the perspectives shared during this constructive dialogue. Further high-level meetings are expected in the coming months.

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MOGADISHU, Somalia Somaliland has once again launched an assault on medical facilities, demonstrating a distressing pattern of disregard for humanitarian institutions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned the latest attack on a healthcare facility in the Las Anod city in northern Somalia

According to the WHO, the clashes also destroyed two ambulances and marked the fifth time the facility has been targeted since violence erupted in Las Anod last year.

In situations where healthcare systems are already fragile, attacks on health care have devastating consequences going beyond the loss of lives of health workers and the patients they might have saved, said WHO Somalia Representative Mamunur Rahman Malik in a statement from Mogadishu.

Malik explained that thousands could die annually from lack of access to care as facilities are damaged and provision of healthcare becomes too dangerous. He appealed for the protection of health workers and universal access to care irrespective of involvement in the conflict.

The WHO extended condolences to families of the killed and injured health workers. Regional Director Ahmed Al-Mandhari urged all warring parties to respect the neutrality of healthcare and obligations to provide care.

The clashes in the Laascaanood threaten to exacerbate Somalias fragile healthcare system. The WHO reiterated that attacks targeting health facilities have severe humanitarian impacts far beyond the direct casualties.

The attack on Lasaanood Hospital serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and measures to prevent future assaults on medical facilities. It is crucial for relevant authorities and international organizations to thoroughly investigate these incidents, hold the perpetrators accountable, and implement measures that ensure the safety and security of medical institutions in the region.

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