Somalia

MOGADISHU, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday vowed to step up its partnership with Somalia on counter-terrorism.

The UN which joined the people and government of Somalia in remembering the victims and survivors of the deadly suicide bombing in the capital, Mogadishu in 2017 said it will also help Somalia on its development path.

MOGADISHU, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers have killed 14 al-Shabab militants, including a senior al-Shabab leader in charge of the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, a military commander confirmed Saturday.

A commander of Unit 66 of the 14 October brigade who led the operation told SNA Radio that Mohamed Nur Shire was killed in a sting operation conducted in the Janale area Friday night.

"SNA killed Mohamed Nur Shire who was in charge of terrorism in the Lower Shabelle region and 13 conspirators in the Janale area," the military radio reported.

3 October 2022; MEMO: A top commander of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group has been killed in a joint operation by the Somali military and international partner forces, Somali authorities said on late Sunday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

"Abdullahi Nadir, a top leader of #Alshabab terrorists, wanted by Somali government for a long time has been killed in an operation", the Information Ministry said on Twitter.

22 Sep 2022; MEMO: A US airstrike in central Somalia killed 27 Al-Shabaab terrorists, the American military said on Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The airstrike was conducted on 18 September "at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia … against Al-Shabaab terrorists who were attacking Somali National Army forces near Buulobarde," the US African Command said in a statement.

No civilians were injured, it added.

MOGADISHU, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of drought-related displacements has increased to over 1.1 million in Somalia between January 2021 and August 2022, the United Nations humanitarian agency said on Tuesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said some 98,900 people were displaced by drought in August, an 18 percent increase compared to the previous month.

MOGADISHU, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA)'s special forces on Friday evening killed al-Shabab's regional leader and wounded at least 20 others in a security operation carried out in the Mubarak area of southern Somalia, the government confirmed on Saturday.

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said the operation destroyed the terror group's extortion center near Mubarak village, where they used to extort money from the people.

MOGADISHU, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations' top relief chief on Monday warned of a humanitarian crisis in drought-stricken Somalia, saying the country was on the brink of famine for the second time since 2011.

Martin Griffiths, under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a news conference in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, that the severe drought ravaging the country is likely to push parts of the country into famine by the end of 2022.

MOGADISHU, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations senior envoy in Somalia on Sunday called for lasting support for the victims in Somalia amid a surge in attacks by al-Shabab militants across the country.

James Swan, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, urged that the victims and their families be provided both immediate and longer-term support.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Islamic militants have stormed a hotel in Somalia’s capital, engaging in an hours-long exchange of fire with the security forces that left at least 20 people dead, according to police and witnesses.

In addition, at least 40 people were wounded in the late Friday night attack and security forces rescued many others, including children, from the scene at Mogadishu’s popular Hayat Hotel, they said Saturday.

The attack started with explosions outside the hotel before the gunmen entered the building.

MOGADISHU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The number of drought-related displacements has surpassed one million to hit 1,002,796 people in Somalia since January 2021, the United Nations humanitarian agency said on Tuesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said some 83,518 people were displaced in July by drought, a 26 percent decrease compared to the previous month.