Category: General

At least nine police officers were killed and 11 others injured in a suspected suicide blast in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Monday, authorities said, the latest in a string of recent attacks against security personnel in the South Asian nation.

Kachhi Police senior superintendent Mehmood Notezai said a vehicle carrying policemen was targeted in the province’s Sibi district. “Preliminary evidence suggests it was a suicide attack,” he said, adding an investigation was underway. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack so far.

Among the injured officers, three remain in critical condition and are receiving hospital treatment, Sibi’s Combined Military Hospital administration said.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has seen a decades-long insurgency by separatists who demand independence from the country, citing what they say is the state’s monopoly and exploitation of the region’s mineral resources.

Source: Somali National News Agency

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia, on Sunday addressed the United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, calling for policies and strategies to accelerate LDC development.

He acknowledged Somalia’s development challenges, such as prolonged conflict and political instability, but expressed hope that these could be resolved through dialogue and an inclusive government-building process. “Although God has blessed us with tremendous opportunities and resources that can lead to development,” he said, “one of the reasons Somalia is struggling to achieve sustainable development is the legacy of prolonged conflict and political instability.”

President Mohamud also discussed Somalia’s success in combating international terrorism. He stated “We are also collectively and successfully fighting the last remaining pocket of international terrorism in Somalia and the region, in partnership with our people and international partners” while acknowledging the challenges posed by climate change, which has exacerbated drought and food insecurity. “Our difficulties have increased,” he added.

The LDC5 conference brings together representatives from governments, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to adopt a new 10-year action plan for the UN’s 46 LDCs.

President Mohamud emphasized the need for immediate and coordinated global action to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable in his speech.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The President of Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has on Sunday met with President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations’ Fifth Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha.

The two leaders discussed ways to enhance the long-standing relations between the brotherly countries.

Source: Somali National News Agency

Al-Shabaab, a Somali-based extremist group, is infamous for its brutal and merciless acts, which have left a trail of death and destruction in its wake. The group’s disregard for human rights has been its hallmark, and its latest atrocity involves the training of child soldiers in its largest child training center in Adan Yabaal.

The newly liberated area of Al Kowsar was once a hotbed of terror, where Al-Shabaab forced parents to send their children to their camps or face prosecution. Residents of the area were left with no choice but to comply with the demands of the extremist group, fearing for their safety and that of their families.

The national media recently visited the once-largest child soldiers’ training grounds to document the extent of human rights violations committed by Al-Shabaab. What they discovered was a horrifying picture of innocent children being turned into ruthless killing machines.

Al-Shabaab closed down schools and banned any form of education except their camps, where they indoctrinated children with their twisted ideology and taught them to hate their families and their country. The children were trained to become soldiers and were forced to carry out the group’s heinous acts of terror, including bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings.

The impact of this on the children and their families has been devastating. The children were robbed of their childhood and forced to become soldiers at an early age, while their families were left traumatized and grieving for their loss. The group’s use of child soldiers is not only a violation of international law, but it is also a cruel and inhumane practice that has no place in a civilized society.

The liberation of Al Kowsar and the closure of the child training center is a significant victory in the fight against Al-Shabaab’s brutal reign of terror. However, the scars of this atrocity will remain for years to come, and it is essential that steps are taken to rehabilitate the children and families affected by this tragedy.

The use of child soldiers by Al-Shabaab is a despicable act of terrorism and a gross violation of human rights. The international community must work together to bring an end to this practice and provide support to those affected by it. We must stand united in the fight against terrorism and ensure that innocent children are never again forced to become soldiers in a senseless war.

Source: Somali National News Agency

In Somalia, the simple act of saying “Salam Ailaikum” (peace be upon you) can send shivers down the spine of even the bravest person. The reason for this fear is the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, which has instilled a culture of terror and paranoia throughout the country in the name of Islam.

Al Shabaab emerged in the early 2000s as a militant offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, which had briefly taken control of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. The group quickly gained a reputation for extreme violence, including beheadings, stonings, and amputations, all carried out in the name of enforcing its interpretation of Sharia law.

One of Al Shabaab’s tactics has been to target people who they perceive as not being devout enough in their practice of Islam. This has led to the group using religious phrases, such as “god is great” and “god willing,” as a litmus test for people’s loyalty to their cause.

Unfortunately, this has resulted in a situation where many ordinary Somalis are terrified of even uttering these everyday phrases. Al Shabaab’s brutal tactics have created a climate of fear where people are afraid to express their religious beliefs for fear of being labeled a “heretic” or “apostate.”

The consequences of being labeled a “heretic” by Al Shabaab are severe. The group has been known to carry out public executions of people accused of apostasy or blasphemy. They also frequently target religious leaders who do not subscribe to their extremist views.

In addition to its campaign of terror, Al Shabaab has also sought to exert control over the daily lives of Somalis. They have banned music, movies, and other forms of entertainment, as well as the use of certain types of clothing and hairstyles. They have even gone as far as to ban the chewing of khat, a popular narcotic plant that is widely used in the region.

As a result of all these restrictions, many Somalis are no longer sure what is considered “religious” and what is considered a “sin.” They live in a state of constant fear, never knowing when they might run afoul of Al-Shabaab’s ever-changing rules.

The situation in Somalia is a tragedy, and one that is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. Al Shabaabcontinues to wage its campaign of terror, and the government and international community have so far been unable to stop them.

In the meantime, ordinary Somalis must navigate the minefield of Al Shabaab’s extremist ideology, never knowing when their words or actions might result in deadly consequences. It is a sad state of affairs, and one that deserves the attention of the world’s leaders and human rights organisations.

Somali National News Agency

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Isaak Mohamud Mursal, officially signed, on Sunday, the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, on an occasion that was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital, Mogadishu, in which IGAD officials, MPs, senators and senior diplomats were present.

This protocol, which was ratified by the seven IGAD member states on February 26, 2020, is an important step in promoting the free movement of goods, services, and people and the establishment of residence.

Somali National News Agency

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had a fruitful meeting with the Emir of Qatar, H.E Tamim Bin Hamad on the sidelines of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha.

The President and the Emir discussed the bilateral relation and the mutual interests of both nations in the fields of peace and development of the region, and strengthening the long-standing relations between Somalia and Qatar.

The Emir of Qatar thanked President Hassan Sheikh and his delegation for attending the meeting of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) and pointing out that his government stands with Somalia.

The two leaders talked about the acceleration of the programs of Qatar in Somalia, and the President said that the government welcomes anyone that stands with our country.

Somali National News Agency

The Chairman of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mr. Mohamud Mo’alim Abdulle and officials from the agency met with a group from the agency of Global Protection Team (GPT) in Mogadishu.

The meeting discussed the situation of the local refugees who were affected by the droughts and conflicts, and SoDMA shared with the group from GPT about the plans to protect the refugees.

Somali National News Agency