Over the past two weeks, the Danab Commandos have been conducting intensive military operations against Al-Shabaab in the areas between the cities of Marka and Mogadishu, where the group had maintained a presence in many locations.

Officers from the Danab Special Forces who spoke to the national media confirmed that they now have complete control over the two strategic areas of Dhanaane and Gandarshe, which Al-Shabaab had held for nearly 20 years.

No casualties from the operation to liberate these areas have been officially announced. However, the officers stated that they cleared numerous landmines planted by the group on roads and within the towns.

A day earlier, the forces had already taken control of most of the villages surrounding Dhanaane and Gandarshe, including Galsalimow, Ceel Salini, Galka Jimcoy, Jabad Ari, Cismaan Gurey, Halambe, Garas, Gawan, and Aw Maki.

Finally, the Danab Commandos’ officers who led the successful operation said they will continue military operations against Al-Shabaab until the group is completely eradicated from all areas where it remains in the country.

The post Government Forces Take Full Control of Dhanaane and Gandarshe Areas in Lower Shabelle Region appeared first on Kaab TV.

It is an acknowledgment of a political reality shaped by a history rooted in resilience and by the clear will of a people who have chosen stability, democratic self-governance, and security for more than thirty years.

The recognition of the Republic of Somaliland is not merely a political decision; it is a moral acknowledgment of history, sacrifice, and the fundamental right of people to live in peace and dignity.

When communities are allowed to determine their political future through peaceful and democratic means, the result is often greater overall stability, reduced conflict, and stronger cooperation among neighbors.

I do not say this as an outsider. I am someone who was born in Somalia and grew up during the most devastating years of the 1990s. I witnessed firsthand the violence, the collapse of the state, and the suffering inflicted on civilians. It was during that period that Somaliland withdrew from its union with Somalia, following the brutal massacres carried out by Somali government forces.

Those experiences taught me personally the true meaning of injustice. They also shaped my firm belief that no society should be forced to remain within a political system that has subjected it to continuous violence and the denial of its rights.

Our region, the Horn of Africa, is in urgent need of stability. Today, terrorist groups, organized criminal networks, climate disasters, and worsening food insecurity pose serious threats to the lives of our people.

Somalia must recognize and accept the sovereignty of Somaliland. We have all known this was coming—that one day Somaliland would become independent—and that day has now arrived.

Mogadishu should welcome and congratulate Somaliland on this historic step of recognition. The people of Somaliland are our brothers and sisters, not our enemies.

We can achieve many positive outcomes through mutual respect and dialogue between Mogadishu and Hargeisa. Both sides should open the door to constructive cooperation, regional partnership, and a future built on coexistence rather than denial.

The recognition of Somaliland does not erase the shared history of our people—a history rooted in kinship and brotherhood. Instead, it allows both societies to move forward with dignity and a clear sense of purpose.

Once again, as someone from a community that has experienced injustice, I strongly believe that it is the right of every people, every nation, and every country to self-determination.

Best wishes and congratulations to the people of #Somaliland!

The post Why the Recognition of Somaliland Is Important for Peace, Security, and Justice in the Horn of Africa appeared first on Kaab TV.

In a statement posted on X, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that “there are no ongoing talks with Somalia,” noting that it had officially suspended dialogue earlier this year.

“The government officially suspended the dialogue due to Somalia’s blatant interference in Somaliland’s internal affairs,” the ministry stated.

The ministry emphasized that the 13-year negotiation process has “formally ceased” and warned that no official is authorized to “distort this fact or issue misleading statements to the international media for personal recognition.”

“Somaliland remains a sovereign, stable, and peaceful nation. Our people are united and resilient. No unfounded remarks will create division or uncertainty within Somaliland,” the statement added.

It further reiterated that Somaliland “has never been part of the federal system created in Somalia after 2012,” noting that the region restored its sovereignty in 1991 and has since maintained its own governing institutions.

The remarks followed comments by Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar Balcad, who said in an interview that Mogadishu maintains regular and direct contacts with Somaliland and is working to find a political solution to outstanding issues.

The post Somaliland Rejects Somalia’s Talk Claims, Alleges Interference appeared first on Kaab TV.

Among the thousands who fled is 42-year-old Halima Ahmed, who now sits under a patchwork tent on the outskirts of Beledweyne, clutching a tattered identity card and her youngest child.

“We run, we return, we run again,” she says. “Each time we lose something – a house, a relative, a piece of ourselves.”

Her story has become a familiar refrain across the river valleys of Middle and Lower Shabelle and the plains of Hiiraan. In this region, the heartland of Somalia’s struggle against Al-Shabab – entire communities are living in cycles of displacement, driven by a conflict that grinds on with devastating predictability.

A Crisis Renewed

According to new data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and other humanitarian monitors, nearly 700,000 people have been newly displaced across central Somalia this year alone.

Many fled after a series of Al-Shabab offensives that overran or encircled towns once thought secure under federal or regional control.

Between April 2023 and March 2025, the UNHCR’s Protection and Return Monitoring Network (PRMN) reported that conflict and insecurity were responsible for displacing roughly 600,000 people, part of a total of approximately 2.79 million newly displaced during that period.

Humanitarian access has collapsedin many of these areas. Aid convoys risk ambush; clinics have shuttered for lack of supplies.

“We can no longer tell whether we are moving forward or backward,” a senior aid coordinator in Mogadishu said.

“Every time we stabilize one district, the conflict shifts to another.”

Al-Shabab’s strategy, analysts say, has evolved.

Rather than holding territory, the group now seeks to punish local resistance and exhaust the population, creating a state of perpetual insecurity that undermines government authority even without direct control.

Humanitarian agencies face serious challenges delivering aid due to conflict, targeted attacks on aid workers, restrictions imposed by warring parties, including arbitrary taxation and bureaucratic hurdles, and physical constraints.

The Vanishing Towns

Images shared with agencies show concentric rings of destruction in rural Hiiraan, burnt croplands, collapsed homes, and expanding IDP settlements along riverbanks, according to a senior aid coordinator based in Mogadishu who had accessed the images.

Approximately 3.7 million people are currently internally displaced in Somalia, with worsening food insecurity closely linked to ongoing displacement patterns.

In Mahaas, once a trading hub linking Beledweyne and Mahas, schools have been closed, and some repurposed as makeshift barracks; classrooms now bear bullet scars.

Government forces, supported by clan militias, have retaken some positions, but without the resources to hold them.

The result is a slow, silent depopulation.

Towns empty out not in single mass exoduses but in waves, a few families at a time as fear outweighs the hope of rebuilding.

Humanitarian Gaps and Political Fault Lines

The displacement crisis is not only a humanitarian disaster but also a political one.

Relief agencies warn that federal-state rivalries, overlapping jurisdictions, and inconsistent security coordination have left many displaced communities stranded between administrations.

Local officials in Hirshabelle, and Galmudug accuse Mogadishu of neglect; federal ministries blame donors for shrinking aid budgets.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabab continues to exploit the vacuum, levying “taxes” on trade routes and offering rudimentary justice in areas where formal courts no longer function.

A senior regional officer in Beledweyne described the situation bluntly:

“We are fighting an enemy that does not need to win, it just needs us to fail.”

Lives in Limbo

In Beledweyne’s sprawling displacement camp known as Xaawo Taako, tents stretch beyond sight. Children with dust-coated faces chase each other between rows of water jerrycans.

Aid workers estimate that nearly 30,000 new arrivals have settled here since July.

Halima, the mother from Buq-Aqable, receives a small ration every two weeks, a sack of flour, some oil, and sometimes beans. Her husband remains missing, last seen when the militants attacked their village.

“They say peace will come,” she says softly. “But peace never stays.”

For many, the cycle of return and flight has eroded the very idea of home. The line between refugee and resident blurs.

“We are not moving toward anything,” said one local elder.

“We are only moving away.”

Somalia’s military campaign, once buoyed by international backing and domestic enthusiasm, is straining.

The drawdown of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS), now replaced by the under-resourced AUSSOM force, has left security vacuumsin critical corridors.

Meanwhile, the Somali National Army remains underpaid and overstretched.

Analysts warn that without sustained funding and coordination, recent territorial gains could unravel. “Security progress in Somalia is like a sandcastle,” said a foreign diplomat familiar with the region.

“Every tide of violence reshapes it.”

The government in Mogadishu insists it remains committed to stabilization, pointing to new local reconciliation initiatives and drone-assisted counterterrorism operations. But on the ground, such victories feel distant.

Prospects and Pitfalls Ahead

As dusk falls over Beledweyne, the displaced begin lighting small fires to cook what little food they have. The horizon glows orange, from both the setting sun and the flames of distant skirmishes.

Somalia’s war has entered a phase where victory is measured not in captured territory, but in human endurance, the ability of families to rebuild, flee again, and somehow continue existing amid endless disruption.

For Halima and thousands like her, the question is no longer when they will return home, but whether home, as they once knew it, still exists.

— A local reporter in Beledweyne has contributed to this report

Abdi Guled is a Horn of Africa analyst and journalist with a focus on political risk, armed groups, and geostrategic competition in fragile states.

The post Drifting Towns, Drifting People: How Al-Shabab’s Raids Unmake Central Somalia appeared first on Kaab TV.

We strongly condemn the reported threats against journalists who expressed interest in covering the planned opposition-led demonstration scheduled for Saturday.

On Wednesday, 24 September, a dozen journalists faced serious risks to their safety when they accompanied leaders of the opposition, the Somali Salvation Forum, to the Warta Nabadda police station in Mogadishu. The opposition members and accompanying media crews came under gunfire that left at least two people dead and seven others injured, according to media reports. While no journalists were killed, a female journalist, Shukri Aabi Abdi, told SJS that she sustained minor facial bruises as she crawled to safety while seeking shelter.

At least five local media outlets reported losing journalistic equipment as their reporters fled during the attack.

On Thursday, 25 September, the Speaker of the Lower House of the Somali Federal Parliament, Aden Mohamed Nur (Sheikh Aden Madobe), blocked a dozen local journalists who were waiting for his press briefing during his visit to the Warta Nabadda police station. The journalists were kept outside, prevented from reporting, and were warned by armed soldiers not to point their cameras toward the station. Another female reporter from a local TV station told SJS that journalists were held there for more than two hours.

Meanwhile, on Friday, SJS received reports from at least five journalists who said they were prepared to cover the opposition-announced demonstration in Mogadishu on Saturday. The demonstration was called by the Somali Salvation Forum in response to Wednesday’s attack and to protest the ongoing forced evictions affecting Mogadishu residents.

Somali government officials, including Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and Mogadishu Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein, publicly denounced the planned protest and warned the public against participation.  However, opposition leaders have insisted that the demonstration — which they described as “peaceful” — will go ahead as planned.

“We condemn the violent attack in Mogadishu on Wednesday, which resulted in loss of lives and endangered the safety of journalists as well as many civilians. The repeated targeting, intimidation, and blocking of journalists in Mogadishu is unacceptable and poses a grave threat to press freedom,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). “Journalists must be able to report freely and safely, especially on matters of public interest such as opposition activities and demonstrations. We call on the Somali authorities to immediately end these acts of repression and to guarantee the safety and protection of all media workers.”

The post Journalists’ Safety Gravely Undermined During Opposition Coverage in Mogadishu – SJS appeared first on Kaab TV.

Cc: Speaker of the House of the People

Cc: Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Cc: Prime Minister of Somalia

Cc: Minister of Foreign Affairs

Cc: Minister of Labor

Cc: Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Somalia

Cc: UN ILO Liaison Office Geneva

Cc: All International Embassies – Somalia

Subject: Investigation into the Politicization of Somalia’s ILO Representation and Undermining of Bilateral Relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you as a Member of Parliament and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to express deep alarm and initiate a formal inquiry into the events surrounding Somalia’s participation in the 113th International Labor Conference (ILC) in Geneva, and the co-filing of a politically motivated complaint against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – our most important labor partner.

This act, orchestrated by Omar Faruk Osman with the active or passive support of several officials within your government, has undermined a landmark labor agreement that promised to offer tens of thousands of Somali youth legal employment opportunities abroad. Instead of upholding this historic breakthrough, members of your administration deliberately sabotaged it in order to extort political or financial gain, in violation of Somalia’s national interest and international obligations.

In February 2025, Somalia signed a legally binding labor agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – an agreement that could have transformed the lives of our unemployed youth. It aimed to:

• Provide legal, protected employment for thousands of Somali workers
• Increase foreign remittances and economic stability
• Reduce illegal migration and human trafficking
• Deepen strategic cooperation between Somalia and Saudi Arabia

However, a small ring of enablers – including Omar Faruk Osman, the Minister of Labor, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Somali Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and figures within Villa Somalia and the Office of the Prime Minister – sought to derail this progress. By co-filing a formal complaint at the ILO against Saudi Arabia without any parliamentary mandate or interagency review, they acted against Somalia’s official diplomatic position and sabotaged a rare opportunity for youth empowerment.

The submission of this complaint constitutes a direct violation of:

• The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (pacta sunt servanda), requiring Somalia to honor bilateral commitments Somalia’s February 2025 Labor Agreement with Saudi Arabia
• The constitutional framework, which mandates that such international actions must be subject to oversight and reflect national interest

Most disturbingly, the delegation was led or heavily influenced by Omar Faruk Osman, who is under credible investigation for visa fraud, human trafficking, and the abuse of official representation. To allow such an individual to serve as the face of Somalia’s labor diplomacy is a national disgrace.

At the 113th International Labor Conference (ILC) held in Geneva in 2025 – the Federal Government of Somalia participated controversially in a campaign accusing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of violations against migrant workers. A central figure in this campaign was Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of FESTU and an official member of Somalia’s delegation to the conference. Omar Faruk worked closely with Joel Akhator Odigie, Secretary General of ITUC-Africa, to escalate international pressure on Saudi Arabia – specifically alleging issues such as non-payment of wages, passport confiscations, and forced debt bondage of workers – despite the fact that Somalia and Saudi Arabia had recently signed bilateral labor and development cooperation agreements.

This action triggered widespread concern and criticism across diplomatic and development circles. Many have questioned why the Government of Somalia, which had just entered into constructive labor and aid partnerships with Saudi Arabia, would allow members of its official delegation to actively participate in a campaign targeting the very country it had signed those agreements with.

Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, further fueling speculation about who truly represents Somalia’s foreign policy at the international level. This silence has been interpreted as either evidence of internal confusion within the government or the possibility that the campaign was driven by individuals representing personal or factional political interests rather than the national position.

There is also growing concern that Somalia’s decision to support the ITUC-Africa campaign reflects a shift in foreign policy alignment – with Somalia appearing to move closer to Turkey while distancing itself from its traditional Gulf allies such as Saudi Arabia. The silence of State Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seen by some observers as a calculated tactic to avoid open diplomatic confrontation with Saudi Arabia, while Omar Faruk uses the campaign as a covert political message. Regardless of intent, this strategy is highly risky, as Saudi Arabia has historically been one of Somalia’s most important development partners, contributing over $100 million to projects in water, education, and rural development.

Accordingly, I call for the following immediate actions:

• Immediate suspension of Omar Faruk Osman from all international platforms and domestic labor representation
• Full disclosure of Somalia’s ILO engagement and legal basis for the complaint against Saudi Arabia
• Parliamentary summons for all officials involved in the ILO delegation and complaint filing
• Official diplomatic apology to Saudi Arabia reaffirming Somalia’s commitment to the labor agreement
• Independent audit and criminal investigation into the allegations of visa fraud, human trafficking, and bribery connected to labor brokerage schemes facilitated through the Ministry of Labor and Omar Faruk Osman.

Unfortunately, the foreign policy of the current regime at Villa Somalia – driven by a small inner circle intoxicated by greed – has lost all semblance of national strategy or principle. Their decisions, made not by long-term vision but by the bribe of the hour, the payoff of the day, resemble the logic of political prostitution, choosing whichever foreign partner offers the highest immediate reward rather than protecting the long-term interests of the Somali people.

Nowhere is this shameful behavior more evident than in the betrayal of the labor agreement between Somalia and Saudi Arabia – a historic opportunity to give unemployed Somali youth a second chance at life. Instead of championing this breakthrough, they sabotaged it to enrich themselves, deliberately placing self-interest above the hopes of an entire generation. It is not foreign policy; it is organized betrayal under the disguise of diplomacy.

Your Excellency, the time has come to choose. Somalia cannot afford to mortgage its sovereignty and credibility for the selfish gains of a few. The youth of this nation deserve better. Parliament will act to hold all those responsible to account, and we expect your office to do the same.

Respectfully,

—

Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib – BA, MA, MASc, Ph.D
Member of Foreign Affairs Committee, Federal Republic of Somalia the House of People

Mogadishu, Somalia

MP- HOP #201 Awdal Region and Gebileh District
Leader of the Accountability and Transparency Caucus of the House of People
E: abdillahi.abib@parliament.gov.so / dheemaal@yahoo.com
W: + 1-571-436-7586 M: + 252-6108-22469

The post Investigation into the Politicization of Somalia’s ILO Representation appeared first on Kaab TV.

The symposium, titled “About the Disappearance of a World“, focused on the critical responsibilities of aid and human rights organizations in addressing war, disasters, migration, the climate crisis, and the role of today’s media and journalists as frontline defenders and witnesses.

SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin participated as a panelist, emphasizing that the climate crisis is not just an environmental concern, but also a manifestation of historical and ongoing global power imbalances. He illustrated this with the example of the 2021 floods in Germany that claimed over 180 lives and triggered billions in recovery aid, compared to the 2022 drought in Somalia which killed 43,000 people—mostly children—with far less international attention.

“Yet climate-linked migration is often framed as a security threat in Europe and beyond, justifying walls, detention, and militarization, rather than addressing the root causes,” said Mr. Mumin.

Somalia remains one of the countries most severely affected by the climate crisis, with millions forced into displacement after losing their livelihoods. Floods and recurrent droughts continue to claim lives—mostly among vulnerable groups such as women and children.

Since 2022, SJS has partnered with Medico International to train more than 60 local journalists—including those from communities directly affected by floods in southern and central Somalia—to report on climate change and raise awareness around climate justice.

Journalists, including those within the SJS network, have also been victimized by recurrent droughts and floods, often compounded by ongoing conflicts.

This SJS-Medico International initiative not only engaged journalists and media professionals but also brought together local authorities, community leaders, and human rights defenders to seek solutions to this persistent crisis.

“Journalists play a critical role in shaping climate policy, raising awareness among local communities—including displaced persons—and assisting them in developing mitigation and adaptation strategies,” added Mr. Mumin. “When empowered, the media’s influence on public opinion is substantial, and how climate issues are reported and understood directly impacts the discourse and the solutions provided to affected communities.”

At the Frankfurt symposium, discussions also highlighted the massive budget cuts in climate action and the increasing securitization of climate-induced migration.

However, one powerful outcome was a renewed call for global solidarity and a reminder that hope must not be lost. Journalists were recognized for their role in ensuring that the world does not silently disappear.

“I believe our greatest task is to ask ourselves how we can be better humans—to each other, to our communities, to those forced to flee, and to our disappearing world,” Mr. Mumin added “In a time where rising seas erase coastlines, where families are displaced by conflict and climate, and where walls are built faster than bridges—it’s easy to feel hopeless. But journalists can, and must, carry this responsibility effectively.”

The final message concluded with Mr. Mumin reciting a verse from a song by the renowned Somali singer, the late Luul Jeylani, who more than three decades ago poignantly connected themes of love, sustenance, and human appreciation. She sang:

‘A man who plants sorghum in a pit, will reap it when the rains fall, he will not lose it.

It is only right to appreciate each other. The favor you showed me, I’ve cherished with.

Is it fair for me to cut ties with you?’

SJS extends its sincere gratitude to Medico International for organizing this impactful symposium. We also deeply appreciate the warm welcome and rich exchanges with fellow journalists, academics, NGO leaders, and solidarity groups during the event in Frankfurt.

(Source: SJS)

The post Climate, Conflict, and the Disappearing World: SJS Participates in Medico Foundation Symposium appeared first on Kaab TV.

But what are clan elders doing to find solutions to this problem? And what role should the youth themselves play in addressing this pressing social issue?

These were among the key topics discussed during the Baraarug Listening Forum held in Kismayo, Jubaland.

The post Clan Conflicts, Extremism, and Migration: Challenges Facing Somali Youth appeared first on Kaab TV.