Kenya’s Oil Ambitions and Somalia’s Maritime Rights: Where Does the Boundary Lie?
Kenya is moving forward with ambitious plans to establish a major oil refinery in the coastal city of Lamu.
Prof. Samatar’s Interview Exposes Fault Lines in Somaliland’s Clan-Based Politics
Prof. Ahmed Ismail Samatar recently delivered what many observers described as a remarkably candid and well-reasoned assessment of the political fallout following Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro”’s recent visit to the…
The Al-Alamein Summit: Forging a United Front Against Ethiopia’s Regional Ambitions
On October 4, 2026, the leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia convened in Al-Alamein, Egypt, for a quadrilateral summit officially hosted and funded by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Trade Yes, Troops No: Somalia’s Nuanced Response to Ethiopia’s Maritime Ambitions
In a significant clarification of regional tensions, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has articulated a nuanced position regarding Ethiopia’s long-standing desire for maritime access.
The Hawadle Clan is Trapped Between Al-Shabaab and Villa Somalia
The Hawadle clan is caught in a devastating crossfire. They now face three distinct adversaries: the anti-Hawadle political establishment, the Al-Shabaab Islamist group, and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Ethiopia at War Again
For years, Ethiopia’s federal government and regional militias existed in an uneasy truce. Violence flared and alliances shifted, but the country repeatedly avoided a return to the scale of the…
The Poet’s Dilemma: Navigating the Ruins of Somali Unity
Recent footage from the streets and the United Nations headquarters in New York, featuring Dr. Abdurahman Duale Beyle campaigning for Somaliland's international recognition, has sparked shock and an unsettled debate…
The Shub Assassination Plot: Sovereignty, Suspicion, and Spoiled Evidence
The September 4, 2026, missile strike targeting the Doolow residence of General Mahad Abdirahman Aden—widely known as "Shub," the former commander of the Somali Custodial Corps—has escalated from a localized…
From Assab to Berbera: Eritrea Sounds the Alarm on UAE Port Imperialism
Eritrea’s foreign minister, Osman Saleh, has accused the United Arab Emirates of “port imperialism” in Africa.
Irro in Washington: Gaza, Diplomacy, and a Somali Social-Media Reckoning
When Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” arrived in Washington in September, his objective was clear: persuade the U.S. to treat Hargeisa as a recognized sovereign state. This is a…