Somalia

MOGADISHU, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Friday accused neighbouring Djibouti of illegally detaining his national security adviser, a criticism which appeared linked to a destabilising row between the president and his prime minister.

Djiboutian authorities held the adviser, Fahad Yasin, preventing him from travelling to Mogadishu by air, the director of communications in the presidency Abdirashid Hashi said, without providing more details.

MOGADISHU, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed on Sunday called on Somali political leaders to shun political discord which may jeopardize the gains made in the country.

Mohammed, who made a day-long visit to Mogadishu, said Somalia has achieved considerable momentum with its ongoing electoral process and urged the leaders to de-escalate the political tension in the country.

MOGADISHU, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Roble on Saturday ordered investigations into the deaths of seven civilians reportedly killed by the African Union troops during a counter-offensive in Golweyn, the southern part of the country.

The prime minister's spokesman Mohamed Moalimuu said Roble has formed a ministerial committee to probe reports of civilian killing by AMISOM forces on Aug. 10.

MOGADISHU, Aug 12 (NNN-IRIN) – The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), said, its forces killed seven Shabab terrorists and injured several others, in a counter-offensive in Lower Shabelle region.

The terrorists were killed after they ambushed Ugandan troops, on a routine patrol Tuesday afternoon, on the main supply routes between Beldamin-Golweyn forward operating bases, in southern Somalia, AMISOM said in a statement.

MOGADISHU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Mohamed Farmajo has issued a directive barring all government officials and public institutions from entering into new economic, political and security agreements during the electioneering period.

Farmajo said the directive which is aimed at safeguarding the national assets and sovereignty of Somalia will remain in force until the next government is sworn in and takes office.

MOGADISHU, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Roble has called on Somalis to unite in order to defeat terrorism after the death of four footballers in a roadside blast on Friday.

Roble condemned the terrorist attack in Kismayo town of the Lower Jubba region in Jubaland State and called for an immediate end to hostilities between the two sides.

MOGADISHU, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) said Saturday that its forces killed a senior al-Shabab terrorist in Middle Shabelle, central part of the country.

The SNA said Nuh Dhagool, who was leading the operation to extort the local populace to fund the group's activities in town, was killed Friday night.

"The terrorist was the head of extortion in the coastal area," the military said in a brief statement.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A large explosion in Somalia’s capital killed at least nine people and injured eight others, a health official said Saturday.

Dr. Mohamed Nur at the Medina Hospital told reporters that the toll reflected only the dead and wounded who were taken to the facility in Mogadishu where he works.

“I am sure the number is bigger as some of the victims were rushed to other hospitals, such as the privately owned ones,” he said.

The al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility.

MOGADISHU, July 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — Somalia’s government on Saturday condemned the suicide bombing attack in Mogadishu on Friday evening that left 10 people dead and dozens injured.

“The horrific and callous attack by al-Shabaab terrorists shows they targeting innocent people which makes it our duty to co-operate together to fight terrorism,” Prime Minister Mohamed Roble said in a statement.

MOGADISHU, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Somalia and the United Nations have called on the country's youth to play a key role in political participation by running for political office in the upcoming elections.

Minister of Youth and Sports Hamza Said Hamza and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Adam Abdelmoula said in a joint statement issued Friday that Somalia depends on its youth-led civil society as a source of resilience.