The new law, signed by President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), follows months of consultation with civil society organizations, particularly those advocating for the rights of people living with disabilities.

“This marks the beginning of a long journey toward realizing full human rights for people with disabilities,” said Shamso Mohamed Yarrow, the regional Minister of Women and Human Rights.

Speaking to Baraarug, she emphasized the broader historical context: “For over three decades, Somalia has suffered conflict and instability, during which the rights of many—including persons with disabilities—were neither protected nor prioritized.”

Luul Ali Ahmed, director of the Baidoa-based Women Health and Relief Organization, welcomed the law as a long-overdue breakthrough.

“We have advocated for this for years. People with disabilities have unique needs, yet there was no legal framework to recognize or respond to them. Their rights were routinely violated.”

According to the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS), around 8.3% of the population lives with some form of disability.

The rate is higher in rural areas (9.1%) and among women and children—groups often subjected to what experts call “double discrimination.”

Disabled women are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence and economic exclusion, while children with disabilities frequently miss out on education and social services.

The legislation comes as a beacon of hope, especially in Baidoa, where humanitarian crises have displaced hundreds of thousands.

The city and its surrounding areas are home to an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 internally displaced people (IDPs).

Among them are many individuals with physical and psychosocial disabilities who face severe barriers to mobility, healthcare, and protection.

Muhudin Nor Abdi, a spokesperson for persons with disabilities in Baidoa, called the new law a long-awaited milestone.

“This is a very good law. If it is implemented properly and reaches the grassroots level, people with disabilities will finally be able to live with dignity,” he said.

Muhudin noted that people with disabilities actively participated in the consultations that led to the bill’s development.

From inside one of Baidoa’s many displacement camps, Kaltumo Mohamed, a mother of five and head of the local women with disabilities committee, reflected on what the law could mean.

“We were like forgotten people—like we didn’t exist,” she said. “Now that the Disability Rights Act is passed, I hope it’s not just words on paper. We want real change in our lives.”

Salima Shueb, director of the local NGO Garab Walaal, stressed the importance of the law in improving both visibility and safety.

“This act is designed to combat discrimination and protect people with disabilities from harm,” she said. “It makes their existence and rights visible in society.”

Despite the passage of the law, challenges remain.

Disabled IDPs—especially women and girls—still face extreme risk of abuse, and camp infrastructure is largely inaccessible.

Experts warn that meaningful progress will require not just legislation, but strong political will, dedicated funding, and a cultural shift toward inclusion.

Still, for many, the Southwest State’s Disability Rights Act represents an unprecedented step forward—and a chance to turn long-standing neglect into national recognition.

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According to the report, the Wanla-Weyn district administration had demanded forced payments from the local community “under the pretext of constructing Wanla-Weyn Hospital.” However, residents refused to pay, citing a lack of trust in the local administration.

In response to the broadcast, armed officers from the Darwish police—a unit trained by the European Union for South West State—raided the radio station on Friday night and arrested Ismail Khalif Ahmed, who is both the station’s director and founder.

He was released the following day, Saturday, 31 May.

Journalists at Radio Wanlaweyn FM told Kaab TV they were forced to delete the report and issue a public apology as a condition for Ismail’s release.

This incident is the latest in a string of attacks and repression targeting journalists in the region.

In March, gunmen linked to the Banadir Police Commissioner, Moalim Mahdi, abducted Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow, a journalist based in Afgoye. He was found a week later in Mogadishu after being released by his captors onto the street at midnight.

In February, a government-affiliated clan militia in Lower Shabelle kidnapped journalist Omar Yusuf Mohamed (also known as Omar Guux), who reports for Nabad Somali TV, a Facebook-based news outlet. Omar had been covering local complaints about militia raids and arbitrary detentions in and around the KM50 area.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reported that Omar was held in an abandoned makeshift shelter in KM50 and was later released the same day.

Southwest State authorities have not commented on any of these incidents.

The post Radio Wanlaweyn FM’s Director Arrested and Forced to Delete Critical Reporting appeared first on Kaab TV.

The Banadir Regional Administration confirmed that 11 of the fatalities occurred in Mogadishu, where heavy rainfall on May 9–10 led to widespread damage.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 84,000 people have been affected nationwide, though some areas remain dry—particularly in Puntland and Somaliland—where drought conditions continue to impact pasture and water availability.

In Mogadishu’s Kahda and Daynile districts, assessments by the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster found that flash floods affected over 3,810 households (approximately 22,500 people), displacing 430 households (2,580 people).

Six major roads in the capital were submerged, operations at the international airport were briefly suspended, and key humanitarian supplies were at risk after a storage container for an international agency was partially submerged.

In addition to Mogadishu, movement and logistics have been disrupted along key supply corridors in Belet Weyne, Baidoa, Doolow, and the Mogadishu–Kismayo coastal road.

Hirshabelle State: Flood Emergency in Middle Shabelle and Hiraan

On May 12, heavy downpours in Middle Shabelle and Hiraan regions triggered flash floods in Jowhar and Balcad districts.

According to the UNHCR Protection and Solutions Monitoring Network (PSMN), approximately 16,200 people in Jowhar were impacted, including displaced persons whose shelters and sanitation facilities were destroyed.

On May 16, the Shabelle River overflowed in Baarey village, flooding farmland and prompting new displacement in nearby Lebiga and Xaanshooley villages.

The Hirshabelle State authorities said floods displaced at least 1,450 households (8,700 people) in Jowhar IDP camps and another 620 households (3,720 people) in Balcad.

The overflowing Shabelle River also cut off the road connecting Xawaadley to Jowhar and Balcad, forcing hundreds of families to flee to Xawaadley town.

Galmudug State: Lightning Strike and Health Concerns

Moderate rains fell on May 9 in Dhuusamarreeb and Cabudwaaq. A lightning strike in Cabudwaaq’s main market reportedly killed a woman and injured two others.

Another fatality was reported in Qaansole village near Dhuusamarreeb.

Health officials at Gaalkacyo South Referral Hospital have recorded a rise in suspected Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera cases, with 22 patients currently admitted.

Jubaland State: Shelter Damage and Displacement

In Baardheere district, heavy rains on May 5 damaged shelters in 54 IDP sites. In Buurdhuubo, local authorities and humanitarian partners reported that 3,740 households were affected, with shelters of over 2,000 households severely damaged.

Some displaced families have sought refuge with host communities.

Puntland State: Localized Floods, Widespread Drought

While most of Puntland remains dry, flash floods in mid-April affected 27,000 people in Bari and Nugaal regions.

The flooding subsided within days, and most affected residents have returned to normal life.

Light rains have since been received, providing limited relief for nomadic pastoralist communities that make up over 70 percent of the region’s population.

Somaliland: Limited and Uneven Rainfall

Partners report that rains in Somaliland have been minimal and below normal. While Hargeisa received moderate rains in early May, no precipitation has been recorded since May 13.

The ongoing dry conditions, particularly in Awdal region, continue to impact pastoralist livelihoods.

South West State: Rising River Levels and Flood Threat

The Shabelle River has reached critical levels in Afgooye district, posing a high risk of flooding.

Already, 273 households in surrounding villages such as Balguri, Aaytire, Damaley, Raqayle, and Siigaale have been affected. In Baidoa, flash floods since mid-April have impacted internally displaced persons in 78 sites, with at least 760 households (3,193 people) affected.

Banadir Region: Infrastructure Damage and Urgent Humanitarian Needs

The Banadir Regional Administration reported extensive damage from the recent floods in Mogadishu, including the submergence of at least 200 houses and damage to nine roads.

Officials have issued an urgent appeal for humanitarian assistance for displaced and affected communities.

According to the FAO Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) unit, rainfall is expected to decrease in the coming days, with only light showers forecasted for Lower Juba, Hiraan, and Mudug.

Most of Puntland, Somaliland, and parts of central and southern Somalia are expected to remain dry.

Despite the destruction, the rains have improved water and pasture availability in many areas, boosting agricultural activity and providing much-needed relief from prolonged dry conditions.

However, humanitarian partners warn that immediate support is critical for those displaced or affected by the flooding.

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(With additional information from UNOCHA, FAO and UNHCR)

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