An event organized by Alshabaab held in Hiran region for Hawadle tribe appointed a new sultan Ugas. The tribe is currently divided, with some members aligning with the Somali government and others pledging allegiance to Alshaabab Ansar amid the ongoing conflict in Central Somalia.
There are some claims too that For several days, the Zaire Rebels have been attacking Congolese army positions from the Ugandan border region.
According to the FARDC spokesperson in ituri ,Leaders of this Zaire rebels reside in Uganda, where they roam freely.
2 people were killed and many others taken hostage during an incursion by ADF rebels on Tuesday, August 13, in the village of Madududu, Mambasa territory (Ituri).
According to sources on site, these attackers also set fire to around ten houses.
According to local sources, this attack caused a massive displacement of populations towards Lolwa and Mungamba where psychosis is observed among hundreds of passengers, after their vehicles were stuck in a quagmire.
A group of ADF rebels who have been scattered for about two weeks in the forest at Lolwa in the Mambasa territory stormed this small town on the border with the Irumu territory on the RN4 at 11 p.m.
They fired several shots in the air, creating panic in the area.
Alphonse Mute, president of the local New Congolese Civil Society, said that this assessment is still provisional, especially since other residents have been taken into the bush by the enemy.
However, other sources put the figure at 7 people killed, information which has not yet been confirmed by official sources.
The NGO Coalition associative retrouvée pour la défense des droits de l'homme (COARDHO) is asking the army to increase its military numbers to contain the threat of these outlaws, where several vehicles transporting goods are blocked.
31 people arrested in the Beni region of North Kivu province, including several foreign fighters affiliated with the ADF and Mai-Mai armed groups. Among those presented is Abdallah Rashid, a fighter from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) originally from Tanzania.
According to the army, Rashid is involved in numerous massacres and kidnappings in the west of Oicha, in the outskirts of Mamove. He was apprehended while trying to infiltrate the city of Beni to coordinate explosives planting operations and carry out targeted actions.
Another ADF fighter, Emmanuel Sanga, known as Benito, also of Tanzanian nationality, was arrested at a checkpoint in Paida, on the Beni-Kasindi road. According to the authorities, he is responsible for several abuses against civilians west of national road No. 4 and was seeking to infiltrate Beni to carry out attacks.
Ramadan Saidi Abdallah Mbweni, also Tanzanian and recruited from South Africa, was intercepted near Mamove. According to the army, he was responsible for supervising a network of bombers in Beni.
Hassim Ramadan, another ADF fighter of Kenyan nationality and former armed robber, was arrested at the Beni-Mavivi checkpoint in possession of an AK-47 weapon and about forty rounds of ammunition. He was also trying to infiltrate Beni from the surrounding forest.
The army also presented several "Congolese accomplices" accused of collaborating with the ADF, stressing the importance of local cooperation in the fight against these armed groups.
Egypt and Somalia signed a defense pact Wednesday to bolster security cooperation.
The pact was signed after bilateral talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his Somali counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is on a two-day visit to Cairo.
Somalia said it is a “significant defense agreement between Somalia and Egypt, aimed at bolstering security cooperation between the two brotherly nations.”
At a news conference with El-Sisi, Mohamud said the “historic” pact is a testament to a future of common defense against international terrorism that Somalia is battling at home and abroad.
“The agreement serves as a blueprint for the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the pursuit of regional, continental and international peace and security,” the Somali presidential palace said in a statement.
Egypt offered to support a new African Union peacekeeping mission to Somalia that will replace the current mission force.
The value of Egyptian exports to Somalia increased to $54 million in the first 11 months of 2023, compared to $42.3 million during the period in 2022, an increase of 27.7% as the value of Somalia exports to Egypt stabilized at $2.2 million, according to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
All Census participants specifically those that haven't been paid yet, will receive their entitlements through Mobile money or a bank account in their name.
.... For God and My Country....
On Saturday, ATMIS UPDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, in collaboration with The Development Initiative (TDI), neutralized unexploded ordnances in Aribiska, Afgooye District.
The operation, led by Colonel Bernard Kashemeza, Commander of Battle Group XXXIX, was to protect civilians from the dangers of unexploded ordnances & misfired munitions left behind by Al-Shabaab militants.
ATMIS remains committed to safeguarding civilians through its Route Search & EOD teams, reducing the risks posed by munitions.
ASSAULT IN GALGADUUD
Armed militants carried out another assault in parts of Galgaduud, killing civilian herders. The attack occurred in the Baalal-dheer village under Cadakibir district, with the perpetrators fleeing the scene. Two men, both residents of Cadaado town, were killed in the assault
PRESIDENT ERGOGAN HOLD A PHONE TALK WITH ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER
President Erdogan has held a phone discussion with Ethiopian Prime Minister AbiyAhmedAli, highlighting that Ethiopia must address Somalia’s concerns over unity, sovereignty, & territorial integrity to advance the mediation process, according to a statement.
FIRE GUTS A CLOTHING MARKET IN JOWAHAR.
A huge blaze has erupted at the biggest clothing market in jowhar , the capital of Somalia's Hirshabelle state. Initial reports indicate the fire may have been sparked by an electrical fault, but the exact cause remains unclear.
ALCOHOL AND OTHER THINGS CAUGHT BEING SMAUGGLED.
Security forces in Galkayo have seized a large haul of alcohol and other illegal substances that were being smuggled into the town. Authorities are investigating the source and intended distribution of the confiscated contraband.
SOMALI OFFICIAL ARRIVE IN TURKEY FOR TALKS WITH ETHIOPIA.
Somali officials landed in Türkiye on Sunday, poised to engage in high-stakes negotiations aimed at de-escalating a significant diplomatic conflict that has heightened tensions across the Horn of Africa. The central issue? A controversial port access agreement involving Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia that remains a source of contention for the federal government in Mogadishu.
The second round of negotiations, set to commence Monday in Ankara, represents a critical juncture in Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to mediate the dispute. The friction stems from Ethiopia’s recent agreement to a 50-year lease on 20 kilometers of Somaliland’s coastline, including the strategically important Berbera port.
This deal, finalized in January, has ignited a fierce backlash from Somalia, which views Somaliland as an integral part of its territory and is alarmed by Ethiopia’s tacit recognition of Somaliland’s de facto independence.
In a phone call on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to easing the tensions. Erdogan urged Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to take measures that would address Somalia’s concerns, asserting that such steps could significantly advance the mediation efforts.
Türkiye has publicly committed to ensuring Somali unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity throughout this process.
Türkiye, which has strategically positioned itself as a key mediator in the Horn of Africa, is leveraging its diplomatic clout to navigate this complex situation. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who successfully orchestrated the initial round of talks in Ankara last month, will lead the discussions with a focus on constructive dialogue.
“Constructive dialogue is the only path forward,” Fidan stated, underscoring his commitment to resolving the crisis.
The Somali government’s reaction to the Ethiopia-Somaliland memorandum was immediate and severe. Somalia expelled the Ethiopian ambassador and recalled its envoy from Addis Ababa, signaling its strong opposition to the deal. Concurrently, Somalia launched an aggressive diplomatic campaign, seeking support from the African Union, the Arab League, and influential allies such as Egypt.
Somaliland, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, has operated as a de facto state with limited international recognition. Ethiopia’s move to engage with Somaliland represents a significant shift that threatens to disrupt the region’s fragile equilibrium.
Türkiye’s involvement is particularly notable given its expanding influence in both Somalia and Ethiopia. Since President Erdogan’s historic visit to Mogadishu in 2011, Türkiye has become deeply entrenched in Somali affairs, providing aid, infrastructure development, and establishing its largest overseas military base in the Somali capital.
Earlier this year, Türkiye and Somalia solidified their partnership with a maritime and defense pact, further intensifying the stakes in the ongoing negotiations.
Türkiye’s dual engagement in the region, with strong trade and defense ties with Ethiopia alongside its extensive involvement with Somalia, positions it uniquely as an influential mediator capable of balancing interests from both sides.
The military dynamics in the region further complicate the situation. Recent Ethiopian troop movements in Somalia have exacerbated tensions, prompting Mogadishu to demand the immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian forces.
Somalia has delayed the planned reduction of African Union troops under the ATMIS mandate and has expressed its preference for contributions from Egypt and Djibouti to the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), rather than Ethiopian troops.
UNMAS' Fran O'Grady met ONS Somalias Natioal Security Adviser XuseenMacallin and discussed cooperation to enhance Somali Security Forces' capacity in explosive ordnance disposal, counter IED measures and more - UNMAS is committed to supporting FGS efforts to making Somalia free from explosive hazards.
