Violent confrontations erupted between local residents—mostly women and children—and heavily armed police units, including special forces led by an officer identified as Aadan Dheere, who is said to be related to the president’s family through marriage.

The fighting began on Thursday, April 16, when angry residents, supported by local militias, confronted the land-grabbing groups attempting to seize property in the area. The clashes continued into the evening.

Local sources and hospitals reported that at least six people were killed during Thursday’s violence.

Further sporadic clashes occurred on Saturday and Sunday after armed police raided the Warlaliska neighborhood, arresting some residents and entering private homes.

Traditional elders who spoke to Kaab TV said several people were injured, including a Murusade clan elder, Nabadoon Omar Maanafaato, who sustained head and arm injuries.

At least one person was reportedly killed on Saturday during a two-hour confrontation between police units accompanying the land-grabbing operation and residents defending their homes.

As of Monday night, the situation is reported to be calm, although armed police remain deployed in the affected neighborhoods.

A nighttime curfew has been imposed in Warlaliska, with residents saying their movement is severely restricted.

With less than a month remaining in his term, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is accused of accelerating land seizures in Mogadishu, disproportionately affecting vulnerable civilian populations.

Agencies monitoring displacement report that more than 140,000 families were displaced from their homes in 2025, many by government forces.

Sources who spoke to Kaab TV allege that public lands from which residents were evicted have been resold, with proceeds reportedly going directly to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud rather than into the state treasury.

Residents also report a sharp increase in the seizure of privately owned land, often carried out by groups allegedly linked to the government.

Protests against land grabbing and forced evictions are frequent in Mogadishu. However, media coverage remains limited, as journalists and civil society members who speak out about these abuses have repeatedly faced arrests and intimidation.

The post Deadly Clashes Erupt in Mogadishu’s Dayniile as Residents Resist Land Grabs appeared first on Kaab TV.

On 4 March 2026, police in Erigabo arrested local journalist Mohamed Saleban Ahmed, known as Suute, following the publication of a news report on 3 February that discussed drought conditions in the Sool and Sanaag regions. Suute told SJS that he was released without charge after spending two days in police custody.

On 15 March, the Sanaag Regional Prosecutor of Somaliland, based in Erigabo, issued a charge sheet against the journalist, accusing him of “spreading false information.” On 18 March, the Erigabo District Court summoned the journalist to appear for a hearing in the case brought by the regional prosecutor. According to the charge sheet, which SJS had seen, the Somaliland government is listed as the “victim.”

The journalist’s report, which SJS reviewed, included interviews with rural communities who said they had not received aid despite being severely affected by the ongoing drought.

Suute told SJS that the Deputy Governor of the Sanaag region, Salah Yusuf Diriye, was pushing the case, alleging that local authorities were unhappy with the report and were attempting to silence public complaints about lack of aid. Deputy Governor Diriye was not reachable for comment upon publication of this report.

A local lawyer representing the journalist told SJS that the case has been heard twice, but no verdict has yet been issued.

In July last year, Somaliland declared a national emergency as drought affected four regions, including Sanaag, whose capital is Erigabo. President Abdirahman Abdillahi Irro made an urgent appeal to international donors and Somalilanders at home and abroad to support relief efforts aimed at saving lives and livelihoods.

According to an August 2025 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 650,000 people were directly affected in Somaliland alone. Aid groups’ reports indicate that over 80% of rural households have been impacted by water shortages and agricultural losses in recent years.

Suute told SJS that he and other reporters visited numerous rural towns, witnessing the severe conditions firsthand, which he documented in his reporting.

SJS calls on the Somaliland authorities, particularly the Erigabo prosecutor, to stop targeting journalist Suute for reporting on and advocating for drought-affected communities. Authorities must respect journalists’ right to report on drought and climate-induced crises and ensure unhindered access to information to help save lives.

“The prosecution of journalist Mohamed Saleebaan Ahmed, known as Suute, for reporting on the devastating drought in Sool and Sanaag regions is both unjustified and deeply concerning. Journalists must not be punished for giving voice to voiceless communities in crisis,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“We call on the Sanaag Regional Prosecutor to immediately drop these unfounded charges and urge Somaliland authorities to guarantee all journalists the freedom to report on climate-induced crises without fear, interference, or restriction,” Mr. Mumin adds.

The post Somaliland: Sanaag Regional Prosecutor Must Drop Case Against Journalist Suute Over Drought Reporting appeared first on Kaab TV.

Two officers from the Southwest regional forces, said to be close to President Abdiaziz Laftagareen, stated that they reject the takeover of Baidoa by troops they claim were transported by aircraft.

They also voiced opposition to the planned, disputed elections expected to take place in Baidoa.

Da’uud Mohamed Abdirahman (Da’uud Jiroon), a spokesperson for the forces, said they had exercised patience for some time but that their calls for peace had not been understood.

“Baidoa is a place that has already witnessed conflict. We wanted to avoid adding further suffering to an already affected population,” Da’uud said.

“There is no district in Somalia that has invaded another, nor a region that has taken over another,” he added, describing the operation by federal forces, supported by allied clan militias, as a direct invasion.

He warned against holding elections in the city.

“No elections will take place like this. We will conduct the election ourselves, and it will be led by the local community,” he said.

The officers called for troops deployed from Mogadishu to be withdrawn and returned to their original bases.

The commander of the forces, Col. Isaaq Meedeey, also warned against incoming flights to Baidoa.

They declared Baidoa airport closed and cautioned civilian aircraft against landing in the city.

At the end of last month, Southwest State forces withdrew from Baidoa, while President Abdiaziz Laftagareen fled to Kenya.

Federal Government forces subsequently took control of the city, reportedly with support from Turkish drones and allied clan militias from Mogadishu and Buurhakaba.

The latest statements from these officers indicate that tensions in Southwest State remain unresolved, with reconciliation efforts among local communities yet to succeed.

The post Southwest Somalia Officers Reject Federal Takeover of Baidoa, Warn Against Contested Elections appeared first on Kaab TV.

The little-noticed requirement, buried within Germany’s Military Service Modernisation Act, went largely unreported until the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper brought it to public attention on Friday — prompting swift clarification from Berlin.

A Defence Ministry spokesman confirmed to the BBC that males aged 17 and older must now obtain prior approval for extended stays abroad. Under the current framework, such approval must generally be granted, though it remains unclear how violations would be enforced.

The ministry said the regulation was designed to “ensure a reliable and meaningful military registration system”, adding: “In the event of an emergency, we must know who may be staying abroad for an extended period.”

Officials acknowledged the consequences for young people could be “far-reaching”, and said exemption regulations were being developed “in part to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy”.

A Cold War-Era Rule

The legal basis for the requirement dates back to Germany’s 1956 Conscription Act, which has been amended several times — most recently last December. Previously, the obligation to report extended stays abroad applied only if Germany was in a formal state of national defence or mobilisation.

The ministry noted that a similar provision “was in effect during the Cold War and had no practical relevance” at the time.

Its revival reflects a dramatically changed security landscape.

Germany, which hosts more than 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees — roughly one-third of all Ukrainians sheltering within the European Union — has been among the EU nations most directly affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Those concerns have been further sharpened by the Trump administration’s repeated suggestions that the United States could scale back its commitment to NATO.

The travel approval rule is one element of a broader effort to reverse decades of military decline.

The Military Service Modernisation Act sets out plans to grow Germany’s active personnel from around 180,000 to 260,000 by 2035 — rebuilding a force that numbered nearly half a million during the Cold War, before being run down through the peacetime years of the 1990s and the suspension of compulsory service in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Under the new law, all 18-year-olds are now sent a questionnaire asking whether they wish to join the armed forces.

From July 2027, they will also be required to complete a fitness assessment to determine their eligibility for service should a conflict arise.

Women may volunteer but cannot be conscripted under Germany’s constitution.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to rebuild the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional army, describing the current security environment as the most dangerous in a generation.

While service remains voluntary for now, officials have not ruled out compulsory conscription if too few recruits come forward or if the security situation deteriorates further.

The changes have not gone down well with all Germans.

When parliament approved the legislation, many young people took to the streets in protest.

“We don’t want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill,” one protest organiser wrote on social media — capturing a mood of resistance that the government will need to navigate as it presses ahead with its military ambitions.

The post Germany’s New Military Law Requires Young Men to Seek Approval for Long Stays Abroad appeared first on Kaab TV.

Hassan Sheikh, whose term in office is ending next month, had arrived in Baidoa from Mogadishu to begin meetings on establishing an administration for South West State of Somalia, following the departure of Cabdicasiis Laftagareen’s administration after the city was taken over by Federal Government forces and allied clan militias.

According to journalists present at Shaati Gaduud Airport, as Hassan Sheikh’s plane landed, up to three rockets were fired at the airport, endangering people on site.

One rocket struck the rear of the president’s plane, forcing the two pilots to move to a nearby control tower made of reinforced stone, according to an airport official who spoke to Kaab TV.

Two other rockets landed in the public waiting area and on the airport runway.

No casualties were reported from the attack.

Video shows black smoke as mortars fired by Al-Shabaab landed close to the runway at the Baidoa Shaati Gaduud Airport moments ago.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Baidoa on Friday after his forces took control of the city on Monday, expelling regional leader Abdiaziz… https://t.co/Kk5wazj34a pic.twitter.com/Wc3cwKiAOd

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) April 3, 2026

President Hassan Sheikh, who was being welcomed at the airport, was quickly evacuated in armored vehicles directly to the South West State Presidential Palace.

Footage from the airport showed panic and confusion, with people fleeing and vehicles rushing out, as part of the convoy accompanying the president.

Officials from Baidoa Airport and the Office of the President of Somalia have not commented on the attack, which targeted an airport that had been considered secure for eight years, regularly used by international agencies, diplomats, and government officials.

This week, Baidoa entered a period of political transition after the departure of President Laftagareen’s administration, which had governed the city for seven years.

Federal Government forces and allied clan militias from the Mogadishu area captured Baidoa on Monday, 30 March, and since then, the city has been in a state of instability.

Residents told Kaab TV that clashes broke out on Thursday between two militias fighting over control of the Baidoa district administration building, resulting in deaths and injuries.

There have also been reports of targeted killings described as clan-based, involving individuals believed to be associated with Laftagareen’s former administration, raising concern among the local population.

The post Somali President Escapes Mortar Attack in Baidoa appeared first on Kaab TV.

On Tuesday, 31 March, a group of 20 journalists from local and regional media were blocked and denied access to the presidential palace, Baidoa, following the arrival of Aden Mohamed Nur, also known as Sheikh Aden Madobe, Speaker of the Somali Lower House of Parliament. Journalists told SJS that security guards attached to Speaker Madobe prevented them from entering the palace and covering ongoing meetings. This occurred a day after the South West State leadership, including President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, left the city for Nairobi, Kenya, as the city was taken over by federal forces and allied clan militias.

Journalists who initially went to Shaati Gaduud Airport in Baidoa said they were able to capture videos and photos of Speaker Aden Madobe’s arrival but were denied access to the palace by security guards without explanation, effectively blocking the media from obtaining information crucial for their reporting.

Journalists also reported worrying developments, including incidents of gunfire in the city and the alleged killings by gunmen in what some described as clan-related revenge. There were also reports of looting in certain areas of the city by militias, according to journalists and NGOs in Baidoa.

SJS interviewed two journalists who previously worked in Baidoa; they said they left the city due to fear of retaliation linked to their clan identity.

On Monday, 30 March, Baidoa fell to Somali federal government forces and allied clan militias after days of violent clashes on the city outskirts. Local NGO representatives told SJS that mass displacement occurred before and during the clashes, though some residents have begun returning. On 1 April, the Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government, Hamsa Abdi Barre, issued a decree appointing his deputy, Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, as “Acting Leader” of the South West State.

On Thursday, 2 April, media reported a brief gunfight erupted at the Baidoa municipal office, where a clan militia and its commander reportedly captured the facility, prompting another group of militias to attack. Journalists nearby told SJS that several people were killed and injured, causing fear in the local community.

On the morning of Friday, 3 April, a group of 10 journalists were again denied access to Shaati Gaduud Airport, where clan elders from the Digil and Mirifle clans were arriving. Two journalists affected told SJS that, upon arrival at the airport entrance, heavily armed officers from the Gaashaan Force—a unit now attached to Somali National Intelligence and the Office of the President—threatened them at gunpoint and instructed them to leave. “No journalist is allowed to enter the airport,” one reporter told SJS.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was also reported to have arrived in Baidoa on Friday.

SJS calls on Somali government forces and allied militias in Baidoa, South West State, to allow journalists to report independently on developments in the city—including political and security matters—following the recent change in administration, and to immediately cease threats and denial of access that target independent journalists, many of whom work for local media, as they strive to keep the public informed about events in the region.

“We express deep concern over these incidents. We call for all actors involved in the political and security developments in Baidoa to ensure unhindered access for journalists and the media community,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“Journalists often risk their lives to keep the public informed, and it is unacceptable that their work continues to be obstructed and their access denied, especially during events of significant public interest,” added Mr. Mumin.

The post Somali Forces and Allied Militias in Baidoa Restrict Media Access Amid Political and Security Developments in South West State appeared first on Kaab TV.

From January to December 2025, SJS documented 148 cases of media freedom violations during the year, marking a significant rise compared to 31 cases in 2024 and 25 in 2023. Out of these, 148 journalists were arrested or arbitrarily detained. Mogadishu recorded the highest number, with 118 cases of violations, mainly carried out by the police followed by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

In Somaliland, 36 journalists were detained, particularly in regions such as Erigabo, Sanaag, and Awdal, where inter-clan tensions were high. At least five cases involved kidnappings.

In Mogadishu, the police chief Mahdi Omar Mumin (Moalim Mahdi) and district police commanders are repeatedly implicated in orchestrating, ordering, and, in some cases, directly carrying out unlawful arrests, detentions, and the confiscation of journalists’ equipment.

Nearly 90% of those arrested were never brought before a court and were released without charge after spending hours or days in detention. Additionally, over 10% of the violations affected women journalists, highlighting a concerning gender dimension to the abuses.

Despite these trends, both Somalia and Somaliland constitutions guarantee freedom of expression and media independence, including the right to speak, publish, and access information, with limitations only under the law.

However, the data clearly shows that police forces were the primary perpetrators, responsible for approximately 91.2% of all recorded violations in 2025.

The pattern of violations indicates that authorities in both Somalia and Somaliland are primarily motivated by efforts to control narratives around insecurity, avoid public embarrassment, and conceal security weaknesses amid Al-Shabaab’s terror attacks. Journalists were also targeted to limit debate on politically sensitive issues, including constitutional changes and contested election model and policies in Mogadishu.

Furthermore, these actions appear aimed at discouraging public mobilization, particularly around protests and social issues, while also concealing human rights abuses and misconduct by authorities or allied actors. In many cases, the violations serve to intimidate the media and enforce self-censorship across the sector.

In response, SJS calls for an immediate end to arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, equipment confiscation, and forced deletion of journalistic material. The organization also urges that police officers and security personnel be held accountable for violations against journalists, including targeted attacks on women journalists.

SJS further recommends urgent human rights training for police and other security forces in both Somalia and Somaliland to ensure respect for constitutional rights and press freedom.

Finally, SJS expresses serious concern over the lack of judicial independence in both Somalia and Somaliland. Judges and court officials are often political appointees, which undermines their ability to uphold constitutional rights and contributes to a climate of impunity for violations against journalists.

“Both Somalia and Somaliland are at a critical juncture where media freedom and open reporting are vital to keeping the public informed. However, we are deeply concerned that if these attacks continue with impunity, they will lead to widespread self-censorship, leaving journalists and local media unable to report on what is happening. We are already witnessing journalists leaving the country out of fear,” said SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin.

“We call for an immediate end to these attacks and full accountability for all officers involved,” Mr. Mumin added.

The post Police Lead Crackdown on Media Freedom in Somalia and Somaliland in 2025 – Report appeared first on Kaab TV.

The fighting began at the Baidoa district office, which had been taken over by a clan militia led by a man named Moallin Addow, who claimed to be the district commissioner of Baidoa without being officially appointed.

Another militia opposed to Moallin Addow’s claim launched an attack on his group, resulting in a brief but intense battle.

An official from the attacking group, Sadiiq Doodishe, stated that they seized 13 firearms and captured at least seven fighters who belonged to Moalim Addow’s militia.

The city of Baidoa has been in a state of instability since Monday, when the administration of President Abdiaziz Laftagareen withdrew and flew to Nairobi, Kenya.

Federal government forces, accompanied by clan militias from the Buurhakaba area, have since taken control of Baidoa.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia issued a decree appointing his deputy, Jibriil Abdirashiid Haji Abdi, as the Acting Leader of the South West State of Somalia.

The post Several Killed in Baidoa Amid Power Struggle Following South West State Leadership Change appeared first on Kaab TV.

Authorities in South West State said on Sunday that Somali forces trained by Turkey, along with armored vehicles donated for counterterrorism purposes, have reportedly been used in operations against communities in the region.

“It has also been reported that Turkish drones are providing support to Somali National Army forces advancing towards Baidoa, raising serious concerns about potential violence against the people of South West State,” a statement issued by the South West State presidency said.

The forces in question are the Gorgor and Haramcad units, trained by Turkey to counter Al-Shabaab militants. They were recently deployed to Buurhakaba and other towns in South West State as Mogadishu escalates its conflict with the regional authorities in Baidoa.

The regional administration acknowledged Turkey’s historical role as a close ally of Somalia but expressed concern over what it described as a shift in its engagement.

“The Government of Turkey has long been a valued friend of the Somali people. However, recent developments suggest a troubling involvement in the ongoing internal conflict in Somalia,” the statement added.

South West State authorities called on Turkey to refrain from allowing its military support, equipment, and aircraft to be used in operations that could harm civilians in the region.

The accusations come after Mogadishu deployed militia and federal forces to South West State amid a deepening dispute over elections in the region.

On Saturday, South West State held its local elections, citing its constitutional right to do so. However, the federal government rejected the process, declaring it illegitimate.

The conflict is widely viewed as a political dispute, but analysts warn it risks taking on a clan dimension. South West State is predominantly inhabited by the Rahanweyn (Digil-Mirifle) community, while the leadership of the federal government is largely associated with the Hawiye clan. The two groups have a history of rivalry, and experts caution that the tension could escalate into broader clan-based violence if not contained.

Turkey has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.

The post Turkey Accused of Involvement in Somalia’s Internal Conflict, Raising Concerns Over Its Image appeared first on Kaab TV.

In the motion, titled “Motion for Impeachment and Removal from Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia”, the MPs cite multiple allegations against the President, including abuse of power, corruption, violation of citizens’ rights, and acts that they say compromise the supremacy of the Constitution.

“We, the Members of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, in fulfillment of our constitutional duties under Article 61 of the Interim Constitution, hereby submit a motion of impeachment against His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, based on Article 92 of the 2012 Federal Constitution,” the MPs stated.

The motion highlights specific grievances:

Alleged violation of Article 3, Paragraph 3 of the Transitional Constitution, which establishes the federal government’s power-sharing system, with claims that the President has undermined social agreements.

Illegal interference in the House of the People and other independent institutions, contrary to Article 69 of the Constitution, including the use of executive power beyond constitutional limits.

The move comes amid heightened tensions in the southwest, where federal forces and clan militias have been deployed to several towns.

Sources told Kaab TV that the MPs are demanding that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud either resign or be removed before the end of his term on May 15.

Villa Somalia did not respond to a request for comment on the impeachment motion.

The post 134 Somali MPs File Impeachment Motion Against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appeared first on Kaab TV.