The school, which was officially opened in June 2006, was named after the late Abdalla Deerow Isak—a former constitutional minister and speaker of the Somali parliament—who was assassinated by terrorist groups in Baidoa.

Today, the school serves 1,578 students, all of them girls, attending both morning and afternoon classes.

According to the school principal, Maano Mohamed Nur, the aim of establishing the school was “to provide education exclusively for girls who either lacked access to education or could not afford school fees.”

Girls’ education in Somalia remains fraught with challenges, rooted in cultural, economic, and security-related issues.

Traditional social norms often prioritize boys’ education, while girls are expected to stay home, marry early, or care for household duties.

In many low-income families, school expenses—such as uniforms, learning materials, and transport—are unaffordable, and boys are given priority.

Insecurity in certain regions and the threat of violence further deter girls from attending school, particularly for internally displaced girls facing unstable conditions.

Infrastructure issues also pose a significant barrier. The school’s facilities are under strain, and the lack of separate toilets, menstrual hygiene kits, and sufficient sanitation equipment forces many adolescent girls to stay home during their periods.

NGOs previously helped fill these gaps, but that support has now dwindled.

“The NGOs used to provide hygiene kits for the girls, learning materials like white chalks, and sanitation equipment,” Principal Maano said. “But now, the NGOs are facing their own challenges, and we no longer receive the assistance we used to have.”

Sixteen-year-old Jamila Abdiwahab, now in Form Three of secondary school, must navigate these obstacles daily.

“The challenge I face is that my school is far from our house,” she said. “When it rains, the road gets flooded and full of potholes, making it impassable. On those days, I cannot go to school.”

Climate-related issues like flooding have only worsened the situation in Baidoa. Still, despite the challenges, many girls are determined to continue their education.

Fourteen-year-old Anisa Ali Hassan, also in Form Three, said, “I don’t like staying at home. Education is important. I would tell other girls that staying at home will not bring you anything. I urge you to go to school. Get an education for yourselves—it will help your family and your future.”

Another concern raised by Principal Maano is early marriage, which continues to be a major barrier for girls’ education in Somalia.

“When a girl is educated, she benefits herself, her family, her parents, and the entire country,” Maano said. “An educated girl represents an educated whole society. If a girl receives an education, she influences the entire community.”

In Baidoa, some young women drop out of school after early marriages end in divorce or abandonment, leaving them with children and no support.

This situation leads many to feel hopeless or isolated. But Maano emphasized that it’s never too late to return to school.

“Even if a man once deceived you into early marriage, and now you have one or two children and have been left alone—you can still learn,” she said.

“No one is too old to learn. Education is not about age; it’s about your desire. Education is open and free for you. Come to Abdalla Deerow School—we welcome and support every girl who wants to learn.”

The post As Aid Dries Up, Baidoa’s All-Girls School Fights to Keep Doors Open for Somalia’s Future Women Leaders appeared first on Kaab TV.

According to colleagues and family members, Mayow, a reporter for the Mogadishu-based Dalsan TV, was covering Monday’s Al-Shabaab attack on Afgooye when he was summoned by armed officers linked to Banadir Regional Police Commissioner Mahdi Omar Muumin (commonly known as Moalim Mahdi).

Shortly after, he disappeared, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

A local journalist in Afgooye told SJS that Mayow was called by Moalim Mahdi after Dalsan TV published a video showing the aftermath of the mortar attack, which struck residential areas in Afgooye—a key agricultural town in the Lower Shabelle region.

Moalim Mahdi, a former Al-Shabaab defector who was promoted to Mogadishu police chief, was reportedly in Afgooye at the time of Monday’s mortar attack.

When a group of local reporters visited Afgooye police station to inquire about Mayow, officers there denied having him in custody and claimed they had no knowledge of his arrest.

Dalsan TV later posted on Facebook: “The police forces in Afgooye district have arrested journalist Ibraahin Mayow, who works for Dalsan Media. The journalist, who was arrested in Afgooye district, has reportedly been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Mogadishu.”

A Dalsan TV journalist told SJS that they have not yet seen Mayow or confirmed his whereabouts.

This is not the first time Mayow has faced danger. On 14 March, 2025, he survived an Al-Shabaab attack in Awdheegle district, Lower Shabelle, while covering a military operation. The attack targeted a Somali National Army (SNA) Gorgor unit base in Awdheegle.  Though Mayow managed to escape, he lost his camera equipment in the chaos.

Journalists covering military operations and Al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia are frequently targeted. Just last week, 24 journalists were briefly arrested, and one radio station was shut down in Mogadishu after reporting on an Al-Shabaab bombing in the capital.

Sadly, the Somali media community lost journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe in the bombing.

SJS calls for the immediate and safe release of journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow and urges the Mogadishu police under Moalim Mahdi to immediately disclose his location. Kidnapping a journalist is illegal and a serious violation of press freedom and human rights.

The Somali government and its affiliated militias must respect press freedom and the safety of journalists. They should refrain from targeting journalists, as it is their duty to report the truth, including the attacks and violations committed by both sides of the conflict.

“The abduction of journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow is a grave violation of press freedom and an attack on the fundamental rights of journalists in Somalia.  We condemn these actions and we call for the immediate disclosure of his whereabouts and for his unconditional release,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“While Al-Shabaab targets civilians, including journalists, in its terror attacks, it is deeply saddening that the Somali government is also attacking journalists, raiding media stations, and kidnapping reporters, such as Ibrahim Mayow, from the field. This poses a grave threat to press freedom and the safety of those working to report the truth in Somalia,” Mumin adds.

The post After surviving Al-Shabaab Attack, Journalist Ibrahim Mayow Abducted by Somali Police appeared first on Kaab TV.

The camp, a sprawling maze of makeshift shelters built from scraps of wood and torn metal sheets, is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Somalia’s internally displaced population.

As of May 2023, an estimated 75,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) were living in Garowe, the capital of Puntland. This marked a significant increase compared to the previous year, according to the United Nations.

The majority of the IDPs originate from southern and central Somalia, having been displaced primarily by drought and conflict.

Puntland remains relatively more peaceful compared to southern Somalia, making it a preferred destination for those seeking safety.

For the residents of Shabelle, every day is a struggle for basic necessities—food, water, and shelter.

Education, often seen as a beacon of hope for the future, remains an unattainable dream for the camp’s children.

During the day, boys roam the dusty streets of the camp, their laughter echoing as they play with old, discarded car tires.

Girls, on the other hand, are burdened with fetching water, carrying heavy jerrycans on their backs under the scorching sun.

There are no classrooms here, no teachers, no books.

For the hundreds of children living in Shabelle, school is not just out of reach; it is nonexistent.

Faadumo Halane, a resilient mother of 11 children, has been living in the Shabelle camp for eight years.

Before settling here, she spent 11 years in another displacement camp, which, like Shabelle, lacked any educational facilities.

Despite her efforts to provide for her children, Faadumo finds herself helpless when it comes to their education.

“I have been living here for eight years. We have no school,” Faadumo said, her voice tinged with frustration and sadness. “I came from another camp where I lived for 11 years, and there was no school there either.”

Six of Faadumo’s children are of school-going age, but none of them have ever set foot in a classroom.

Instead, they spend their days helping their mother or wandering the camp’s dusty pathways.

Faadumo, like many parents in the camp, dreams of a better future for her children—a future where they can read, write, and break free from the cycle of poverty that binds them.

Sitting in the open sun outside her makeshift home, Faadumo tends to a steaming pot over a charcoal fire.

The aroma of the simple meal wafts through the air as her youngest son stands by her side, eagerly waiting.

Her weathered face reflects years of hardship, but her determination remains unshaken.

“We are requesting that a school be built in the camp,” she said, pausing to stir the pot. “Our children deserve a chance at a better life. Without education, they have no future.”

Irsho Omar Kaani, another mother living in the camp, echoed Faadumo’s sentiments.

She explained that while schools exist in Garowe, the fees make them inaccessible to displaced families like hers.

“We have lost the financial ability to send our children to school,” Irsho said. “We can’t afford it. We need support to educate our children.”

The absence of education in the camp has broader implications for the community.

Mohamed Abdirahman, a teacher at a school in Garowe, highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by uneducated children.

“Children who don’t attend school are more susceptible to criminal activities,” Mohamed explained. “Education shapes children and sets them on the right path.”

Habib Abdullahi Isse, a human rights lawyer, emphasized the collective responsibility to address this crisis.

“Education is a constitutional right and a shared responsibility,” he said. “It is also the government’s duty to provide education to displaced children who are part of our community. It is their right.”

The head of the Shabelle camp, Aadan Adde, believes that establishing a school within the camp would transform the lives of its residents.

“The main challenge is that education in the city is fee-based,” Aadan said. “If a school were set up within the camp, the children would attend.”

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Daahir Khalif Saciid, head of the education department for the Nugaal region administration, outlined plans to address the educational gap.

“We will conduct awareness campaigns, along with the regional administration and local government, to reach children who are not receiving education,” Daahir said. “Our goal is to create opportunities for every child, regardless of their circumstances.”

The residents of Shabelle camp continue to hope for change. For mothers like Faadumo and Irsho, a school in the camp would be more than just a building; it would be a lifeline, a chance to secure a brighter future for their children. Until then, the dusty streets and makeshift homes of Shabelle remain a stark testament to the unfulfilled potential of countless young lives.

The post Forgotten Futures: Hundreds of IDP Children Out of School in Garowe’s Shabelle Camp appeared first on Kaab TV.

In an urgent humanitarian appeal, the Puntland government called on the international community, aid organizations, and UN donors to provide immediate support for those affected.

The issue was a key agenda item during the Puntland cabinet meeting held in Bosaso, where Minister Ubah Abdirashid highlighted the compounded challenges facing the region.

“Puntland is currently in a state of emergency due to the ongoing conflict with the international terrorist group ISIS,” the minister stated.

She explained that the region experienced severe drought in 2024, with below-average rainfall during the Gu and Deyr rainy seasons, leaving communities vulnerable to extreme living conditions.

Adding to these challenges, clan conflicts erupted in various areas, further destabilizing the region.

The recent military offensives against ISIS have intensified the humanitarian crisis, displacing tens of thousands of families.

“This conflict has caused massive displacement, severely affecting communities across Puntland.  Approximately 19,640 families are now in dire conditions and urgently need humanitarian aid,” Minister Ubah Abdirashid said following the cabinet meeting in Bosaso.

The minister urged international partners to step in with immediate assistance.

“We are issuing an international appeal to global organizations, UN donors, and international partners to assist us in providing emergency humanitarian relief to these displaced families,” she added.

Minister Ubah also called on Puntland’s citizens to show solidarity and support for their displaced compatriots, emphasizing the importance of community-driven efforts during these challenging times.

The post Over 19,000 Families Displaced in Puntland Amid Conflict with ISIS – Minister appeared first on Kaab TV.

The federal government stated they had provided tractors and other development projects to Puntland.

However, in an exclusive interview with Kaab TV, Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, refuted these claims.

“No single project was provided. Theft, corruption, and lies are common features of the Mogadishu government,” Minister Dirir asserted.

Additionally, the Minister highlighted ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Puntland.

He stated that Puntland forces are advancing in their efforts to combat ISIS in the remote areas of Al Miskaad and Al Madow.

Puntland has pledged to bring peace and security to its citizens and eliminate terrorism from Puntland’s 1,600 km Red Sea coastline, ensuring greater security across the region.

The post Exclusive: Puntland Denies Federal Government’s Aid Claims appeared first on Kaab TV.

2024 marked a pivotal year for Somalia, characterised by significant strides in peace and security, thanks to the concerted efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in collaboration with the African Union Mission.

Firstly, Somalia will join the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in January 2025, following its successful election. This marks a momentous achievement in the country’s recent history and provides an opportunity for Somalia to contribute to global peace and security.

Secondly, Somalia continued the path to economic revitalisation. In March 2024, the country became a full member of the East African Community (EAC), a regional trading bloc with a market size of over 170 million people. Somalia, boasting the longest coastline in Africa at over 3,000 kilometres and rich natural resources, is strategically positioned to emerge as a key player within the economic bloc.

In 2024, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the predecessor of AUSSOM, made significant strides by transferring Forward Operating Bases to the Somali Security Forces (SSF), in line with the Somalia Transition Plan. This shows that the Somali Security Forces have acquired the necessary expertise to independently take over the country’s security responsibilities.

We commend international partners and ATMIS Troop and Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) for their support and sacrifice on this journey to empower Somali Security Forces through initiatives focused on force generation and capacity building.

In collaboration with development partners, ATMIS initiated a range of quick-impact projects, including construction of boreholes, classrooms, police stations, and rehabilitation of health centres, to improve the lives of residents in liberated areas.

AUSSOM has finally become operational, beginning 1st January 2025, as per UN Security Council Resolution 2767 (2024). It will build on the achievements made under ATMIS to ensure Somalia realizes long-term peace and security.

At the African Union level, we will continue our engagements under AUSSOM, guided by the AU Peace and Security Council communiqués, as well as UN Security Council resolutions. We will also continue our operational support to the SSF as we look forward to a productive year ahead. On behalf of the AU Mission, I wish to affirm our commitment to the Federal Government of Somalia’s stabilisation efforts and post-conflict recovery.

Happy New Year!

Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef

The post New Year Message from the African Union Special Representative for Somalia appeared first on Kaab TV.

MP Barre highlighted that Somalia is preparing to transition from clan-based elder selection for political representation to a democratic process where citizens will vote to elect their representatives.

He made these remarks while addressing a forum organized by the Gobsoor Youth group in Mogadishu.

The post Somali Youth Minister Tells Youth to Serve as Foundation for Fostering New Political Leaders appeared first on Kaab TV.

Cameras and television studio equipment, intended to enhance the state television’s capabilities, were stolen by two senior officials of the Ministry of Information, according to a whistleblower within the television studio.

This new development exposes the corruption and misuse of valuable resources meant to empower the country’s media and information dissemination. The stolen equipment includes three Sonny PXW-Z150 4K XDCAM CAMRECORDER and three Blackmagic Studio Camera HD cameras, all part of a generous donation from Finland facilitated in 2019 through VIKES Media Development, a Finnish NGO partnered with the Ministry of Information.

One of the technicians who spoke to Kaab TV recounted seeing the television director and another man from the Deputy Minister’s office at the studio while he was on duty early this month. “They ordered me to leave and after 20 minutes, they emerged from the studio with the big studio cameras donated by the Finnish government to SNTV and went straight to the office of the television director,” he said.

The equipment never returned back.

The value of the missing equipment is estimated to be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The revelation comes after the Auditor General’s Office recently initiated an investigation into the theft of FM radio transmitters, which were also taken from the state radio premises and sold on the black market by senior officials.

The FM radio transmitters were originally donated by the United Nations to the Ministry of Information several years ago.

Whistleblowers from SNTV have identified the current Director of SNTV, Mohamed Kaafi Abukar, as a co-director of CAFIS, an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Information.

According to insiders, CAFIS has rented a private television studio in the city where the stolen equipment is believed to be kept.

The Ministry of Information has been at the center of allegations related to embezzlement of public funds and fraudulent activities.

The General Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of officials from the Ministry of Information on June 22, 2023, on charges of theft and fraud. Investigations are ongoing against two other officials from the Ministry for alleged involvement in embezzlement and fraud.

The implications of this scandal are significant, as it comes at a time when the Somali government claims to be engaged in combating corruption and mismanagement of public resources.

Somalia has been ranked as the most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. The rampant corruption, combined with terrorism and armed conflict, has created a breeding ground for graft and abuse of power.

Despite requests for comments, both SNTV Director Mohamed Kaafi Abukar and Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf (also known as Al-Adaala) have remained silent on the matter. Al-Adaala, who is reportedly associated with CAFIS, a partner of SNTV and VIKES according to its website, has not provided any response.

This revelation raises serious concerns about the misuse of foreign aid meant to bolster government institutions in Somalia at the expense of international taxpayers’ funds.

“The misappropriation of these donated resources not only undermines the efforts to promote transparency and accountability but also hampers the operations of the state media in informing the public,” says a former SNTV director Farah Dharaar who left his position when the Finland donations arrived.

The post Finland donated TV studio equipment, cameras stolen from Somalia state media appeared first on Kaab TV.

The devastating attack took place in the early hours of Monday, when a lone suicide bomber managed to infiltrate the Jaalle Siyaad military training camp and detonated an explosive vest amidst a group of military personnel and recruits from the 14th October Brigade, who had been lining up after their breakfast.

In the aftermath of the attack, some relatives of the fallen soldiers gathered for funeral prayers at Madina Hospital. They revealed that four more soldiers succumbed to their injuries later in the afternoon, further adding to the growing death toll.

The extremist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a press release, the militants put the number of those killed at 73 soldiers and 124 others injured.

According to their account, approximately 250 soldiers were present at the site when the attack occurred at around 8:15 a.m. local time in Mogadishu.

Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying scene to Kaab TV, confirming the presence of a young man entering the camp just moments before the deafening blast ripped through the area.

The 14 October Brigade, predominantly composed of individuals from the Biyamaal clan, had reportedly been recently transferred from their base in the town of Marka, located in the Lower Shabelle region, to undergo refresher training in Mogadishu.

Notably, the establishment of the 14 October Brigade stemmed from the tragic truck bombing that claimed hundreds of lives in Mogadishu on October 14, 2017.

The Somali government’s military radio posted a statement on its Facebook page, asserting that an investigation into the breach leading to the suicide bomber’s entry into the army camp is underway. However, the post was promptly removed, adding to the suspicions surrounding the attack.

Thus far, both the Ministry of Defense and the Command of the Armed Forces have refrained from releasing any official information regarding the attack. The nature of the attack, targeting a majority of soldiers from a single clan who had recently been relocated to the capital, has raised significant concerns and questions among the public.

As Mogadishu mourns the loss of the soldiers and grapples with the aftermath of this appalling attack, there is a little hope about any credible investigation into the true plotters of the attack.

The post UPDATE: Over 40 soldiers killed in Mogadishu suicide attack appeared first on Kaab TV.

The incident has raised concerns about the protection of women’s rights and exposed a web of corruption and impunity within the Somali federal government institutions.

According to Member of Parliament Abdullahi Hashi Abib, who sent a letter to the World Bank on April 30, 2023, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Elmi Nur, failed to take action to safeguard the rights of female employees in his ministry. The letter details how one survivor, Ayaan Said Tukale, an esteemed gender-based violence expert, was terminated after reporting the sexual assault by a high-ranking official at the ministry.

Ayaan, an energetic advocate hailing from the Awdal region, was dedicated to the Recurrent Cost and Reform Financing (RCRF) project. Funded by the World Bank, the RCRF project is aimed to support the Federal Government of Somalia and eligible Federal Member States to strengthen resource management systems, the inter-governmental fiscal framework, and service delivery systems in health and education.

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MP Abdullahi Hashi Abib alleges that Ayaan was wrongfully terminated without due process, with the support of the finance minister. The parliamentarian states that Abduqadir Sulayman, the director of the RCRF department, subjected Ayaan to eight months of harassment, bullying, intimidation, and mental abuse, culminating in the sexual assault.

In his letter, MP Abib demands the immediate suspension of Abduqadir Sulayman and warns that he will hold the finance minister accountable if action is not taken. The lawmaker highlights the laws of the country and international regulations that prohibit sexual exploitation of women workers, emphasizing the need for justice and protection for survivors.

“I believe this is the only way to deter gender-based violence against working women in Somalia,” he stated.

Moreover, the case sheds light on a cycle of impunity and rampant corruption within the World Bank funded Somalia program. MP Abib exposes the extravagant lifestyle of the RCRF director, which exceeds his official monthly salary. Surprisingly, the office of the Auditor General, the Ministry of Finance, and the World Bank failed to conduct audits of his personal accounts, according to the lawmaker’s account.

The revelations prompt critical questions about the integrity of programs vital for Somalia’s debt relief and the accountability of taxpayer funds. The Minister of Finance and Abduqadir Sulayman have not yet responded to these serious allegations, leaving the public anxiously awaiting their reactions.

The World Bank Group did not respond to our request seeking information regarding any actions taken to address Ms. Ayaan’s case.

The case not only underscores the urgent need for justice for Ayaan and other victims, according to women rights activists we spoke to, but also highlights the imperative to address corruption and ensure accountability within government institutions and externally funded projects.

The post Somali MP exposes sexual assault, corruption and impunity in World Bank Project appeared first on Kaab TV.