MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Heavy fighting involving various weapons erupted moments ago in parts of Mogadishu, with intense gunfire and explosions reported in neighborhoods near key government facilities, particularly in the Hodan and Howlwadaag districts and around the Dabka intersection.

Kaab TV reporters and eyewitnesses in the affected areas said sustained heavy gunfire was ongoing across several neighborhoods as panic spread among residents and movement in parts of the capital came to a near standstill.

Preliminary reports indicate that the clashes involve forces of the Federal Government of Somalia and armed personnel loyal to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, who were reportedly stationed at the residence of Member of Parliament Jaafar located along the road connecting the Dabka and Bakara Market intersections.

The fighting is taking place not far from Villa Somalia, raising fears that the security situation in the capital could deteriorate further if the clashes are not quickly contained.

Sounds of explosions and heavy weapons fire have been heard across several districts of Mogadishu, while unconfirmed reports suggest that both sides are using military vehicles and heavy weaponry during the confrontation.

The clashes come amid escalating political tensions in the Somali capital in recent days. The federal government had recently designated specific locations for planned opposition demonstrations, while security forces were heavily deployed across major roads and strategic areas of Mogadishu.

Opposition groups had also been carrying out political mobilization efforts linked to planned protests and ongoing disputes over Somalia’s political and electoral process. No official statement has yet been issued by either the government or opposition leaders regarding the latest fighting.

WAJIR, Kenya (Kaab TV) – Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, said Tuesday that the Somali community in Kenya has experienced unprecedented political inclusion, freedoms, and development opportunities under the administration of President William Ruto.

Speaking during a public event in Wajir County, Duale defended Ruto’s policies toward northern Kenya and the ethnic Somali population, arguing that previous governments had historically marginalized Somali communities through discriminatory practices affecting education, public employment, access to national identity documents, and participation in state institutions.

“Somalis in Kenya have now gained independence. President Ruto is being criticized because of what he has given to the Somali community,” Duale said during his remarks.

Duale stated that earlier administrations often viewed northern Kenya primarily through a security lens, limiting economic opportunities and restricting access to government services for residents of counties such as Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera. He said the current administration has shifted toward policies focused on integration, inclusion, and development.

According to Duale, the Ruto administration has expanded investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and youth empowerment programs in northeastern Kenya, while also promoting girls’ education and improving public services in historically underserved areas.

He also praised President Ruto for appointing more Somali leaders to senior government positions and national institutions, describing him as a leader who understands the concerns and aspirations of the Somali community in Kenya.

The remarks come amid continuing political debate in Kenya over equitable distribution of resources, regional development, and representation of minority communities in national politics and public administration.

Wajir recently hosted Kenya’s 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, marking the first time the national event had been held in the northeastern region since Kenya’s independence. Government officials described the move as a symbol of inclusion for a region long associated with marginalization and underdevelopment.

Earlier this year, President Ruto also signed a presidential proclamation in Wajir ending the controversial extra-vetting process previously required for residents of border counties seeking Kenyan national identity cards. The government described the decision as an effort to end decades of discrimination against communities in northeastern Kenya.

The vetting system dated back to security measures introduced after the Shifta War of 1963–1967, when ethnic Somali separatists in northern Kenya sought unification with Somalia. For decades afterward, ethnic Somalis in counties bordering Somalia faced additional scrutiny before obtaining citizenship documents.

Human rights groups and policy researchers have long argued that the vetting process deepened exclusion and reinforced suspicion toward Kenyan Somalis and other border communities, while also limiting access to education, employment, banking services, and political participation.

Political analysts say Duale’s comments are likely to intensify debate ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general elections, with Ruto’s allies portraying his northern Kenya policies as evidence of national inclusion, while critics question whether government promises will translate into lasting economic and social transformation for the region.

GAROWE (Kaab TV) – Puntland Police Force officers in the Ufeyn district of Bari region on Tuesday arrested a Yemeni national suspected of being a member of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group operating in the Calmiskaad mountains.

The suspect, identified as Mukhtaar Ali Nasir, was captured in the Afcad area of Ufeyn district, according to officials. Authorities said he had been traveling with two other men who managed to escape before the arrest.

General Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Faadhigo, spokesperson for the Calmiskaad military operation, said the suspects had been searching for donkeys and had spent three days traveling from the Shakaala area, which officials describe as one of the remaining ISIS strongholds in the mountainous region.

Puntland authorities have intensified military operations against ISIS militants in the Calmiskaad mountains since earlier this year, targeting hideouts and supply routes used by the group in northeastern Somalia.

Earlier this year, the Puntland Government publicly displayed dozens of foreign ISIS suspects captured during operations in the Calmiskaad campaign, many of whom have not yet appeared before court.

According to Puntland officials, around 50 foreign fighters were detained during the operations. Nearly half were reportedly from neighboring Ethiopia, while others came from Morocco, Yemen, Tanzania, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Puntland security forces say operations in the Calmiskaad mountains are continuing as authorities attempt to dismantle ISIS networks and eliminate remaining militant cells in the region.

MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has warned that international peacekeeping operations, including the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), are facing an unprecedented crisis driven by growing geopolitical rivalry, political deadlock, and widespread financial shortages.

In a new report released ahead of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29, SIPRI said the number of personnel deployed in global peacekeeping operations fell to 78,633 by the end of 2025 — a 17 percent decline compared to the previous year and the lowest level recorded in more than 25 years.

The institute warned that if the current trend continues, international organizations such as the United Nations could face a significant reduction in their role in managing global conflicts and peacebuilding efforts.

The report highlighted the launch of AUSSOM in 2025, which replaced the former African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The new mission also included troops from Egypt at a time when diplomatic tensions had emerged between Somalia and Ethiopia following Ethiopia’s controversial 2024 maritime agreement with Somaliland.

Despite those tensions, Somalia and Ethiopia later restored security cooperation in 2025. SIPRI noted that military and intelligence officials from both countries reached an agreement in February on the framework for Ethiopian troop participation in AUSSOM following talks held in Mogadishu.

However, the report stated that AUSSOM continues to struggle with severe funding shortages. In September 2025, leaders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti held discussions focused on financing the mission amid delays in implementing a proposed United Nations-African Union cost-sharing mechanism.

The United Nations Security Council later extended AUSSOM’s mandate through the end of 2026 but warned that persistent financial uncertainty poses a major threat to the mission’s future operations. The Security Council also called on international donors to provide reliable and sustainable funding support.

SIPRI further noted that regional organizations such as the African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are increasingly facing difficulties caused by political divisions and limited financial resources.

Senior SIPRI researcher Dr. Claudia Pfeifer Cruz said these organizations are struggling with weak peacebuilding capacity and budget constraints while confronting challenges similar to those affecting the United Nations.

The report also stated that Ethiopia remains among the top ten contributors to international peacekeeping operations, although the number of Ethiopian troops deployed abroad declined from more than 8,300 in 2012 to 3,446 in 2025.

SIPRI added that no new United Nations-led peacekeeping mission has been approved since 2014, reflecting growing divisions within the UN Security Council. UN peacekeeping operations reportedly faced a funding gap of nearly $2 billion in 2025, forcing cuts to staffing levels and operational activities.

Despite the mounting challenges, the report said international support for peacekeeping operations remains active. In April 2026, the European Union confirmed a €75 million support package for AUSSOM, reinforcing its role as the mission’s largest financial backer.