Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s attempt to extend his term by a year, and take over the executive powers of the government will only add another layer to the country’s already complex and endless crisis—and could make it far worse.

Let’s take a closer look at Somalia’s recent history: Somalia’s powerful president, Mohamed Siad Barre, left Mogadishu on January 26, 1991, after rebel militias entered the capital and overthrown his powerful military government.

Before his departure, several attempts were made by elders and politicians to mediate between Siad Barre and the opposition.

The proposed plan, formalized in what is now known as ‘The Manifesto Communique‘, was for President Siad, who was in power for 21 years, to step down, hand over authority to a transitional civilian administration for the country and its people, and hold elections.

Unfortunately, this did not happen. The political dispute escalated into a full-blown conflict, and the government, which possessed Africa’s most powerful air, land, and sea forces, collapsed almost immediately. Its leaders ended up in exile and as refugees, and the country plunged into civil war—a civil war that made my family victims.

In the same year, 1991, one faction of the opposition appointed Mogadishu businessman Ali Mahdi Mohamed as “interim president“. However, this was immediately rejected by General Mohamed Farrah Aidid’s faction. Notably, Ali Mahdi established a constitution and even issued his own currency that circulated in parts of Mogadishu.

Mediation efforts between Ali Mahdi and General Aidid failed. This led to four months of intense street clashes, ultimately resulting in the “Green Line,” which divided Mogadishu into two parts. As a young boy, I vividly remember the days when we had to flee from one neighborhood to the other, passing through merciless militiamen and rockets being fired.

In August 2000, Abdiqasim Salad Hassan was elected president in Djibouti without full national agreement. When he arrived in Mogadishu, his administration was confined to a few blocks of the capital (from KM4 and Tarabuunka). He could not even access the presidential palace – the Villa Somalia – and both the Mogadishu port and the airport were closed by militias.

Abdiqasim’s government formed in Djibouti was based on a constitution forming a Transitional National Government (TNG). However, many of the Somali political factions rejected it. Several clan-based attempts to negotiate with Mogadishu’s faction leaders failed.

Finally, in 2004, while Abdiqasim remained in Mogadishu, a fresh reconciliation conference in Nairobi, Kenya, established the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), with Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as president. Mogadishu warlords were admitted into it becoming ministers and MPs—including those who had split from Abdiqasim’s TNG administration.

In 2008, with President Abdullahi Yusuf still in office, the third Djibouti conference was organized, involving portion of president Yusuf’s TFG administration and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). This was pushed by the international community as the last attempt to end the conflict between TFG and the ICU.

Seeing that he had no support or power, President Abdullahi Yusuf resigned honorably on December 29, 2008. Djibouti then saw Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed elected as president.

In September 2012, Somalia held its first domestic election in decades. President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed ran again but was defeated. A month before the election, in August 2012, the current Provisional Federal Constitution was drafted and ratified.

In April 2021, when President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s term ended, opposition in Mogadishu rejected his attempt to extend power. This led to clashes in the city, with gunfire forcing around 100,000 people to flee within a week. Multiple warnings to the government were ignored. Those days, my colleagues and I were stuck in my office, but we continued reporting the developments in the city.

It is important to remember that Farmaajo had developed his own election laws, established his own election commission, and even used offline and online trolls to amplify his narratives—but all of this collapsed following the April 2021 conflict.

Historically, these events offer crucial lessons. Every incident today has parallels in the past, and learning from history is vital. Any attempt—whether changing the constitution or introducing unilateral laws—that is not accepted by the people ends in destruction and division. Somalia is not Djibouti, nor Eritrea, nor Turkey.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud may still turn a blind eye to the crisis in the remaining days of his term, but the truth remains: history tends to repeat itself. The current situation will end the way it has always ended in the past. I hope wisdom returns before things get any worse.

The post Somalia Enters a Dangerous Term Extension, and A Step Toward Dictatorship, Chaos, and Bloodshed appeared first on Kaab TV.

Yarow Isaaq Iman, 52, who fled to the camp in 2011, described the situation as “hopeless,” saying displaced families are stuck in dire poverty with no access to employment or basic services.

“There are no jobs, no development — the general situation is very bad,” Yarow told Kaab TV.

The crisis in Kabaase is part of a broader displacement emergency across Somalia.

According to the United Nations, more than 3.8 million people are currently displaced within the country, driven by conflict, drought, and insecurity.

Residents say conditions in the camp have deteriorated further following recent political tensions and international funding cuts.

Magaalo Aadan Ali, 38, said the Federal Government’s decision to suspend domestic flights to Doolow—amid a dispute with the Jubaland administration—has deepened the isolation of vulnerable communities.

“The situation worsened after the U.S. government cut humanitarian aid, particularly assistance from USAID,” said Magaalo. “We are in urgent need of help. Young people here have no income or opportunities.”

Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, 43, who fled from the Bakool region in 2016, said he has not received any aid in four years.

“When the U.S. pulled its support, food shortages became even more severe,” he said.

Aid workers and community leaders report growing concerns over malnutrition, especially among children.

Yarow noted that many school-aged children have been forced to drop out due to hunger.

“Even children who used to attend school have returned home — they’re too hungry to continue learning. There’s no food at all,” he said.

Compounding the crisis is the deteriorating security situation around Doolow.

Al-Shabaab militants maintain a presence in surrounding areas, restricting access and undermining the safety of civilians.

With hope diminishing, some displaced families have begun making the risky journey across the border into Ethiopia, seeking refuge in camps like Melkadida.

The residents of Kabaase are now calling on both the Somali government and the international community to restore aid flows and establish long-term resettlement and recovery plans.

“We don’t just need emergency food,” said Magaalo. “We need lasting solutions — a future.”

The post Dire Conditions Grip Displacement Camp in Southern Somalia Amid Aid Cuts and Insecurity appeared first on Kaab TV.

In his remarks, President Deni warned that Somalia’s system of governance is at risk of imminent collapse, citing the deterioration of state institutions.

He noted that growing insecurity has forced many citizens to flee the country in search of safety.

President Deni also accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of undermining the fragile federal system, alleging that his administration has contributed to the ongoing political disintegration.

The Puntland Parliament resumed its sessions today and is expected to discuss a range of key issues on its agenda.

Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in northeastern Somalia, cut ties with Mogadishu two years ago following President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s unilateral amendment of the federal constitution.

“We are at a point where all Somali people must awaken,” said President Deni. “I am calling on all Somali politicians, wherever they may be, to prioritize the salvation of the country above all else and work together to restore stability without pursuing personal or political interests.”

He warned that if the country fails to navigate this critical stage, it risks fragmentation and disintegration—recovery from which could take a long time.

President Deni stated that Puntland is ready to support the establishment of a functional federal government in Somalia, where every citizen can play their role.

He also expressed his support for the recently launched National Salvation Forum by opposition figures in Mogadishu, describing it as a unifying platform for those opposing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.

President Deni’s speech in Garowe comes as the Federal Government in Mogadishu postponed a scheduled meeting of the National Consultative Council (NCC), a forum comprising federal and regional state leaders.

Both Puntland and Jubaland have withdrawn from the NCC, accusing it of being used to advance President Mohamud’s political agenda.

The post Puntland President Deni Opens 56th Session of Parliament, Warns of National Collapse appeared first on Kaab TV.

This change on 14 May, reflects the growing security threats across the country and underscores the serious limitations in the U.S. government’s ability to assist its citizens in Somalia.

A Level 4 travel advisory means that the U.S. government strongly advises all U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Somalia under any circumstances due to life-threatening risks.

This classification is reserved for countries facing extreme danger, including widespread violence, terrorism, civil unrest, or a breakdown of government control.

In Somalia’s case, the advisory cites terrorism, armed conflict, kidnapping, and limited consular access as key reasons.

U.S. government personnel in the country are restricted to the Mogadishu International Airport complex, where the U.S. Embassy is located, and are not permitted to travel elsewhere in the country.

“Due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in Somalia are prohibited from traveling outside the Mogadishu International Airport complex,” the State Department said.

Although the U.S. Embassy staff stay in Nairobi, the U.S. government has extremely limited capacity to assist citizens in emergencies, particularly outside of Mogadishu.

The advisory warns that terrorist groups, including Al-Shabaab, continue to carry out frequent and deadly attacks using methods such as car bombs, suicide bombers, armed gunmen, and mortar and rocket attacks.

On March 18, Al-Shabaab bombed Mogadishu city centre, killing several people including Somali journalist. Around the same time, the group escalated attacks on Mogadishu’s airport, including mortar fire.

The U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation, banning certain U.S. flights over Somali airspace due to risks from extremist and military activity.

Political Tensions and Deepening Crisis

The U.S. warning comes at a time when Somalia’s political environment is increasingly unstable.

The country faces unresolved disputes over the constitution, federal power-sharing, and the role of the federal member states.

Tensions between the central government in Mogadishu and regional states such as Puntland and Jubbaland have worsened, hindering national reconciliation and state-building efforts.

In recent months, there has been a notable increase in reports of militia recruitment and arming by rival political factions and clans, raising fears of a return to large-scale factional fighting.

In several regions, clan rivalries have intensified, leading to local clashes and displacement further threatening the fragile stability in key parts of the country, including Mogadishu.

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