⚡️UPDATE: #Somalia's President @HassanSMohamud on Sunday visited the Armed Forces Hospital in the capital #Mogadishu to assess the health condition of wounded @SNAForce soldiers and local armed personnel receiving treatment after sustaining injuries on the front lines against #AlShabaab militants in the Hiiraan region.

⚡️UPDATE: President @Laftagareen reaffirmed #Somalia's #SouthWest State's commitment to safeguarding and facilitating humanitarian aid delivery during a signing ceremony occasion in #Baidoa city. He stressed the importance of ensuring aid reaches vulnerable populations affected by crises, emphasizing that everyone has the right to receive assistance.

⚡️EXCLUSIVE: In an extensive interview, @iom_somalia Chief of Mission, Manuel Marques Pereira sat down with @ArlaadiMnetwork to discuss how the organization’s work aligns with #Somalia's priorities, climate challenges, human rights violations in IDP camps, press freedom, aid diversion and the potential impact of U.S. aid cuts. Stay tuned for the full episode!

⚡️UPDATE: President @Laftagareen has on Sunday formally signed the Humanitarian Aid Protection Bill following a colorful and brief occasion held in the interim capital city #Baidoa city. The bill, developed by the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management of #Somalia’s #SouthWest State, aims to strengthen partnerships, improve accountability, and introduce a new model for targeted aid delivery. The signing ceremony was attended by key officials, including Deputy UN envoy @GConway_UN, highlighting the importance of this initiative in addressing humanitarian challenges.

⚡️UPDATE: President @realDonaldTrump’s executive order freezing most U.S. foreign aid for 90 days has thrown into turmoil programs that fight starvation and deadly diseases, run clinical trials and seek to provide shelter for millions of displaced people across the globe. In total, the United States spent nearly $72 billion on foreign assistance in 2023, which includes spending by U.S.A.I.D., the State Department and programs managed by agencies like the Peace Corps. #Ethiopia, #Somalia and #Nigeria received more than $1 billion each in 2023, mostly for humanitarian aid. U.S. foreign aid can be structured as direct financial assistance to countries through nongovernmental organizations; military support; food and medical aid; or technical expertise.

⚡️ UPDATE: Authorities in Lower Shabelle, part of #Somalia’s #SouthWest state, have reaffirmed their autonomy from the federally controlled Banaadir region, warning against any territorial claims both - expansion or annexation attempts. This statement comes amid ongoing disputes over governance and tax revenue collection at key checkpoints between the two regions.

⚡️UPDATE: The first president of independent #Namibia, Sam Nujoma, has died at the age of 95 in the capital Windhoek, the country's current leader has announced. Nujoma led the long fight for independence from South Africa in 1990 after helping found Namibia's liberation movement known as the South West Peoples' Organisation (Swapo) in the 1960s. After independence, Nujoma became president in 1990 and led the country until 2005. Nujoma had been hospitalised over the past three weeks with an illness from which he "could not recover", Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba said in a statement announcing the death with "utmost sorrow and sadness".

⚡️UPDATE: #Israeli troops are withdrawing from the militarised zone of the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts the #Gaza Strip into two, and will complete their pullout by Sunday morning, according to Israeli media reports. This comes after Israel and Hamas completed their fifth exchange, with three Israeli captives released for 183 #Palestinian prisoners. At least seven of the detainees were transferred to hospital for treatment.

⚡️UPDATE: #Italy backs peaceful dialogue in #Somalia’s election disputes, stresses non-interference policy. Read more 🖇️

⚡️UPDATE: Over 30 #AlShabab militants neutralized in airstrikes and clashes: Defense Ministry. Read more 🖇️

⚡️UPDATE: In a joint communique issued following an extraordinary summit in Dar es Salaam, #Tanzania, East African African leaders urge an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, an end to hostilities, the reopening of key supply routes, and the resumption of operations at Goma airport. These measures aim to de-escalate tensions, facilitate humanitarian assistance, and create conditions for dialogue and peacebuilding.

⚡️ UPDATE: Ahmed Maeleminine: Senior #ISIL Leader Killed in U.S. Airstrike in #Puntland. Read more 🖇️

⚡️UPDATE: #Somalia’s Religious Affairs Minister Urges Citizens to Reject Terrorist Extortion. Read more🖇️

⚡️UPDATE: In Der es Salam, #Tanzania, #Somalia President @HassanSMohamud participated in an Extraordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), which focused on resolving the persistent conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

⚡️ EXCLUSIVE: #Italy has reaffirmed its policy of non-interference in #Somalia’s political affairs but urged the federal government and opposition to peacefully resolve their disputes over the election model. In an exclusive interview with @ArlaadiMnetwork, Ambassador Pier Mario of @ItalyinSomalia warned that division at this critical time could harm the nation, while unity would be a significant victory. Watch the full interview🖇️

⚡️ UPDATE: More than 30 #AlShabab militants were "neutralized" in overnight airstrikes and ground operations conducted by the @SNAForce and partner forces between Jicibow and Beerayabaal in the Hiiraan region, according to #Somalia's @MoDSomaliya. "Our commitment to defeating #AlShabaab remains unwavering," the ministry stated in a brief announcement.

⚡️UPDATE: #Somalia's Religious Affairs Minister, Muktar Robow, calls on citizens to refuse extortion and directives from terror groups, stating there is "no justification." At a press briefing on Saturday, he reiterated the federal government’s commitment to disrupting terrorist financing. He also strongly commended President @HassanSMohamud and Prime Minister @HamzaAbdiBarre "for their strong leadership in the fight against terrorism".

⚡️UPDATE: #Somalia’s @SoPoliceForce have seized a significant quantity of illegal drugs from Lido Beach in #Mogadishu, publicly displaying the confiscated substances. While no arrests of the drug owners have been announced yet, authorities have pledged to intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region, signaling a renewed crackdown on illegal drug activities.

⚡️BREAKING: A high-profile Islamic State (ISIL) figure, believed to have been killed in a U.S. airstrike in the Cal Miskad mountains of #Puntland, #Somalia, on February 1, 2025, has been identified as Ahmed Maeleminine. The strike - hailed both by @TheVillaSomalia and @Plstatehouse - was the first ordered by President @realDonaldTrump since being sworn in as commander in chief for the second time. According to a report published by @MailOnline, Maeleminine was a senior #ISIL recruiter, financier, and external operations ringleader. The report added, “Maeleminine was well known to American intelligence agencies”.