BY ABDIQANI HASSAN | REUTERS
Kismayo airport in southern Somalia refused to allow an Ethiopian plane to land on Monday, a witness said, amid heightened tensions between the federal government and the regional leadership ahead of elections on Thursday. Continue reading Kenya, Ethiopia Proxy War Over Jubaland Election, Refuses Ethiopian Plane to Land
The Ethiopian National Defense Force on Saturday confirmed an ambush by al-Shabab extremists on an Ethiopian peacekeeping convoy in neighboring Somalia and said Ethiopian forces are preparing a “massive offensive” in response. Continue reading Ethiopia Ready to Launch ‘Massive Offensive’ Against Al-Shabab
BY MAGGIE FICK | REUTERS
Somalia should accelerate reforms of its army, its main foreign backers said on Wednesday after discussing slow progress in transforming the graft-ridden force into one capable of fighting al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants. Continue reading Somalia Must Speed Overhauling its Fragile Army, say Donors
The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen David Muhoozi, has said Ugandan soldiers deployed in Somalia to fight the al-Shabaab are stranded due to underfunding, logistical deficits and a challenged Somali national force. Continue reading Ugandan Forces Stuck in Somalia, Says Army Chief
BY HALIMA ATHUMANI | VOA NEWS
The five East African nations contributing troops to the AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia have called on the U.N. Security Council to keep troops slated for removal by 2020.
The withdrawal of the more than 20,000 AMISOM peacekeepers from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Djibouti is slated to begin this year. Continue reading Somalia Troops Contributing Countries Call on UN to Reverse Troop Withdraw Resolution
BY KATHARINE HOURED | REUTERS
The United States is suspending food and fuel aid for most of Somalia’s armed forces over corruption concerns, a blow to the military as African peacekeepers start to withdraw this month.
African Union (AU) troops landed in Mogadishu a decade ago to fight al Shabaab Islamist militants and Somali forces are supposed to eventually take over their duties. But the United States, which also funds the 22,000-strong peacekeeping force, has grown frustrated that successive governments have failed to build a viable national army. Continue reading US Suspends Aid to Somalia’s Battered Military Over Corruption
BY VOA NEWS
The African Union says it has begun its withdrawal from Somalia and will cut 1,000 troops by the end of this year as security responsibilities start to shift to the local military.
The continental body said Tuesday that the move comes at a critical time, less than a month after the country’s worst attack killed more than 350 people. The Somalia-based al-Shabab extremist group has been blamed. Continue reading AMISOM Begins Troop Withdrawal from Somalia
BY VOA NEWS
Somalia’s police commander and intelligence chief have been fired, after a deadly al-Shabab siege of hotel in the capital Mogadishu. Officials say at least 26 people were killed in the attack on the popular Nasa Hablod Two hotel in Mogadishu. Dozens more were injured in the explosion. Continue reading Somalia Police, Intelligence Chiefs Fired After Deadly Hotel Siege
