https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:27:27 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-market-prices-in-somalia-rise-after-black-sea-grain-deal-terminated/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:22:02 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658366 Market prices in Somalia increased after Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, reports Anadolu Agency. In Africa, 25 countries currently rely on Russia and Ukraine for over one-third of their imported wheat. In some countries, the dependency on external sources for grain has surpassed 90%. During the Russia-Africa Summit on July 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country will provide free grain to six African countries in the next three to four months. "We will be ready in the coming months, in the next three to four months, to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea with 25,000-50,000 tons of grain free of charge. We will also provide free […]]]> 658366 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-turkish-coast-guard-saves-130-migrants-pushed-back-by-greece/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:47:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658160 A total of 130 irregular migrants pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces were rescued on Saturday by the Turkish Coast Guard off the coasts of western Izmir province's Menderes, Karaburun, Foca and Cesme districts, Anadolu reports. Meanwhile, 265 irregular migrants and a migrant smuggler were caught off the coasts of Karaburun and Dikili. Irregular migrants were handed to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management after procedures. READ: Tunisia rescues 15,000 migrants in first half of 2023 And 170 irregular migrants in rubber boats were caught by the Coast Guard off the coast of western Canakkale province's Ayvacik district. Coast Guard Northern Aegean Group Command teams detected four rubber boats with irregular migrants off the coast of Ayvacik. During […]]]> 658160 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-somalia-suspends-chairwoman-of-national-athletics-federation/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:49:06 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657870 The Somali Olympic Committee announced, Wednesday, that it has suspended the Chairwoman of the Somali Athletics Federation for selecting an "unskilled" female athlete to represent the country at the FISU World University Games in China, Anadolu Agency reports. A statement issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports said Sports Minister, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, had directed the Olympic committee to take the action against Khadija Aden Dahir. The Somali Athletics Federation said Dahir has been temporarily suspended and was accused of "national defamation". "It is clear to the Ministry that Nasra (Abukar Ali) is not an athlete, and that Mrs. Khadija committed an act of abuse of power and defamation of the nation," the Sports Ministry said. Mohamud apologised to […]]]> 657870 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-somalia-outraged-at-sending-of-untrained-woman-athlete-to-major-sporting-event-in-china/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 13:46:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657389 Somali netizens in the country and abroad have criticised national sports authorities for nepotism and corruption in the selection process for sending woman athlete, Nasra Abukar Ali, to the ongoing 31st Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China, where she finished last in the 100-meter race, Anadolu Agency reports. Though no new records were set in the sports event, a video of a 20-year-old Somali sportswoman finishing the 100-meter race in 21 seconds went viral on social media, with netizens dubbing her the "worst athlete" in the game. Some Somalis took to social media to criticise the Ministry of Youth and Sports for sending an "untrained" athlete to a high-profile event. READ: Putin says Russia will provide free grain to […]]]> 657389 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230730-somalia-arrests-14-for-deadly-attack-at-mogadishu-military-camp/ Sun, 30 Jul 2023 10:01:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656459 Somali authorities said Saturday that 14 people have been arrested for a deadly suicide bombing that targeted a military training facility in the capital of Mogadishu earlier this month, reports Anadolu Agency. The attack occurred inside the Jaalle Siyad military training facility and killed more than 30 people, including new military recruits and personnel. Deputy Defense Minister Abdifatah Kasim said authorities made the arrests that included soldiers and senior commanders, and the commander of the academy. Kasim told the federal parliament a joint security committee, including the national intelligence, security agency and the army are investigating the July 25 suicide attack. Federal Parliament Speaker Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe said last week that traitors inside the military camp may be responsible […]]]> 656459 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-us-designates-daesh-somalia-terrorist-leader-as-global-terrorist/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:03:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656128 The US Treasury Department, on Thursday, imposed sanctions and designated Abdiweli Mohamed Yusuf, the leader of the Daesh terrorist organisation based in Somalia, as a global terrorist, Anadolu Agency reports. According to the US, Yusuf has played a key role in the delivery of foreign fighters, supplies and ammunition on behalf of the terrorist group, which serves as a hub for disbursing funds and guidance to Daesh branches and networks across the African continent. The Daesh-affiliated terrorist group in Somalia generates much of its revenue through extortion, specifically targeting local communities for money and recruits, often under the threat of violence, according to a statement issued by the Treasury Department. "Terrorist groups, and ISIS-Somalia specifically, seek to exploit institutional vulnerabilities […]]]> 656128 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230727-putin-says-russia-will-provide-free-grain-to-6-african-countries-in-next-3-4-months/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:40:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655632 Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday announced that his country will provide free grain to six African countries in the next three to four months, Anadolu Agency reports. "We will be ready in the coming months, in the next three to four months, to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25,000-50,000 tons of grain free of charge. We will also provide free delivery of this product to consumers," Putin said during his opening speech at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg. He said that a "paradoxical picture" is emerging, where Western countries are obstructing the supply of Russian grain and fertilisers, while also "hypocritically" accusing Moscow of the "current crisis situation in the […]]]> 655632 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-suicide-bombing-in-somalia-capital-kills-over-20/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:37:12 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654796 More than 20 people, including soldiers, were killed and dozens others wounded on Monday when a suicide bombing rocked the Somali capital, Mogadishu, a senior official said, Anadolu Agency reports. A senior security officer in Mogadishu, who spoke to Anadolu on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said a suicide bomber blew himself up at a military training facility in Mogadishu, killing more than 20 people, including new recruits and military personnel. "The suicide bomber blew himself up during busy hours on Monday. At the time when the blast occurred, there was a large queue of new recruits at the Jalle Siyaad military training camp," he said. He added that dozens of people were also […]]]> 654796 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-many-may-die-warns-un-after-end-of-black-sea-grain-deal/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:44:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654438 A spike in grain prices since Russia quit a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain "potentially threatens hunger and worse for millions of people," the United Nations' Aid chief told the Security Council on Friday, Reuters reports. "Some will go hungry, some will starve, many may die as a result of these decisions," Martin Griffiths told the 15-member Council, adding that some 362 million people in 69 countries were in need of humanitarian aid. Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal on Monday, saying that demands to improve its own food and fertiliser exports had not been met, and that not enough Ukrainian grain had reached the poorest countries. US wheat futures in Chicago rose over 6 per cent […]]]> 654438 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-us-airstrike-kills-5-al-shabaab-terrorists-in-somalia/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:27:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654192 An airstrike carried out by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Thursday resulted in the death of five Al-Shabaab terrorists in a remote area near Galcad region of Somalia, Anadolu Agency reports. The AFRICOM said in a statement that the airstrike was in support of Somalia National Army forces engaged by the terrorist organisation, and was conducted at the request of the federal government of Somalia. "Working with the Somali National Army, US Africa Command's initial assessment is that the US airstrike killed 5 Al-Shabaab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed," the statement said. "Al-Shabaab is the largest and most kinetically active Al-Qaeda network in the world and has proved both its will and capability to attack partner […]]]> 654192 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230718-un-appeals-for-urgent-funds-to-deliver-life-saving-aid-to-drought-stricken-somalia/ Tue, 18 Jul 2023 19:29:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653381 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Tuesday, appealed for urgent humanitarian funds to assist drought-stricken Somalia, where half of the country's population is at risk of losing vital life-saving assistance due to funding shortages, Anadolu Agency reports. The OCHA said the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for this year is only 30.5 per cent funded ($793 million) as of mid-year, requiring $2.6 billion to meet the needs of 7.6 million Somalis. "Given the immense humanitarian needs, additional funds are urgently needed to deliver life-saving assistance," the organisation said in a statement. The situation in the Horn of Africa country will worsen if emergency assistance does not reach all people in need, particularly in agro-pastoral areas of […]]]> 653381 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230714-several-injured-as-passenger-plane-crashes-at-airport-in-somalia/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:34:48 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652362 OPINION: In a world of competing conflicts, Sudan struggles for attention]]> 652362 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230712-sudan-foreign-forces-deployed-in-the-country-will-be-seen-as-aggressors/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:59:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651611 The Sudanese government will not allow foreign forces to be deployed in the country, it said in a statement yesterday, adding that they would be seen as aggressors. This came following the meeting of the Quartet Committee regarding the Sudanese crisis, according to the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA). The statement said that the Sudanese delegation arrived in Addis Ababa before the start of the Quartet meeting and communicated with the organisers, noting that this confirms the existence of a sincere desire to reach a solution. The statement confirmed that what was stated in the Quartet's statement regarding the absence of the Sudanese delegation was inaccurate, noting that the failure to attend the meeting was due to Sudan's objection to William Ruto chairing the […]]]> 651611 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230711-igad-seeks-summit-to-deploy-regional-force-in-sudan/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:15:21 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651352 An eastern African bloc yesterday called for a regional summit to consider deploying troops to Sudan to protect civilians, three months after violence erupted between the army and a paramilitary faction, Reuters reported. Fighting that erupted on 15 April in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, has spread to other parts of the country and driven more than 2.9 million people from their homes. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), made up of eight states in and around the Horn of Africa, met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to kick-start a peace process for the conflict in Sudan. But the initiative faced a setback as a delegation from Sudan's army failed to attend after rejecting Kenya's president as head of the committee facilitating the […]]]> 651352 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230704-russia-rejects-bank-compromise-as-black-sea-grain-expiry-looms/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 18:01:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649677 Russia, on Tuesday, restated a demand for its state agricultural bank to be reconnected to the global SWIFT payments system and said it would not accept a reported compromise proposal, Reuters reports. With 13 days remaining until expiry of the deal that has allowed Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports despite Russia's invasion, Moscow said there had been no progress on any of its key demands, including the banking issue. The Financial Times reported on Monday that the European Union was considering a proposal to allow Russia's Rosselkhozbank to set up a subsidiary that could connect to SWIFT. But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, dismissed the idea as "deliberately unworkable", saying it would take many months to set […]]]> 649677 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230703-somalia-refugees-in-yemen-struggle-in-harsh-conditions/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:44:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648983 Somali refugees, who fled the war at home and sought refuge in Yemen, are struggling to survive under very difficult conditions, Anadolu Agency reports. These refugees lack access to clean water, toilets and proper shelter in the Al-Ajlaniya Refugee Camp in Yemen's Hadhramaut Governorate. Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with Al-Shabaab fighting the government and the African Union mission in the country since 2007. The Al-Shabaab and the Daesh terrorist groups continue to threaten the safety of Somalis. READ: Yemeni refugees integrate smoothly into Somali society]]> 648983 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230621-casualties-feared-as-twin-blasts-rock-somalia-town/ Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:04:12 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646404 Multiple casualties are feared after two huge bomb blasts rocked Somalia's south-western town of Bardhere in the Gedo region on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports. The explosions targeted a base housing the Somali national army and Ethiopia's forces serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), according to State Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Adan Aw Hirsi. "Our soldiers thwarted the first VBIED (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device) but, unfortunately, the second one hit," he said in a short statement on Twitter. "Al Shabaab and (those) who financed them to undertake these specific attacks will not be able to intimidate us," he added. Residents in Bardhere told Anadolu over the phone that heavy gunfire took place after the […]]]> 646404 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230619-somalia-sacks-army-chief-names-brig-gen-addow-as-new-commander-amid-political-tensions/ Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:25:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645584 Somalia sacked Army Chief, Major-General Odawaa Yusuf Rageh, on Monday, amid political tensions in the country's central Hiran region, which is also the epicentre of fighting against the Al-Shabaab terror group, Anadolu Agency reports. The decision to fire Rageh was made at a Cabinet meeting in Mogadishu, presided over by Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, said a statement issued by his office. The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhiyadin Addow as the new Chief of the Somali National Army, it added. "The Council of Ministers has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defence for the appointment of the Commander of the Somali National Army and appointed Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow," said the statement. READ: […]]]> 645584 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230616-sudan-rejects-kenya-chairmanship-of-igad-mediation-quartet/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 13:28:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645215 The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the appointment of Kenyan President, William Ruto, as head of a quartet formed by the Inter-governmental Organisation for Development in East Africa (IGAD) to mediate peace in Sudan. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry accused Kenya of "bias" towards the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias, citing statements by senior Kenyan officials and the Kenyan government behaviour in support of the RSF's members. The Ministry explained that the Sudanese government has informed IGAD that it reaffirms its support for appointing South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, as Head of the quartet as prelude to dealing with it. READ: Sudan RSF accused of killing West Darfur Governor Kenya, or the […]]]> 645215 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230607-al-shabaab-terror-group-attack-ethiopia-military-base-in-somalia/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:57:02 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=643356 Al-Shabaab launched suicide attacks, Wednesday, on a military base manned by Ethiopian troops in Somalia, injuring four soldiers, according to authorities, Anadolu Agency reports. The attack on the base, located on the outskirts of the Ethiopian-Somali border town of Dolow, involved two vehicles and was promptly foiled by the "vigilant Ethiopian security forces stationed at the base, resulting in the neutralisation of the attackers", according to a statement by the Somali government published on the state-run news agency, SONNA. The first vehicle exploded at the entrance to the base, causing significant damage and injuring four soldiers. The second vehicle was "neutralised" before reaching the base, averting any further harm, it said. "The Ethiopian National Defence Forces stopped the attackers in their […]]]> 643356 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230526-russia-somalia-mull-establishment-of-platform-for-trade-cooperation/ Fri, 26 May 2023 19:11:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=640049 Somali Foreign Minister, Abshir Omar Jama, said on Friday that he discussed a possibility of creating trade platforms with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, at a meeting in Moscow, Anadolu Agency reports. Speaking at a news conference, Jama said the Russian establishment of such a platform would allow Russian and Somalia trade operators and businesses to interact more effectively and use existing opportunities more efficiently. Lavrov, for his part, said Moscow expressed support for the Somali leadership in state-building, strengthening, unity of the country, steps to stabilise the internal situation and the fight against terrorism and extremism. The progress in this direction will open opportunities for expanding business community cooperation, he said. "Entrepreneurs of the Russian Federation are interested in […]]]> 640049 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230525-libya-talks-in-morocco-deemed-to-fail/ Thu, 25 May 2023 19:00:38 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=639900 Early this week, the 6+6 committee, formed jointly by Libya's House of Representative based in the eastern city of Benghazi and the High Council of the State based in Tripoli, started a series of meetings in the Moroccan city of Bouznika to draft electoral laws paving the way for presidential and parliamentarian laws slated for the end of this year. After a long time of disagreement, the two sides held two meetings – one in April and the other in May – in Libya. During the last meeting, there was "a convergence of views among the members of the committee", said the official spokesman of the House of Representatives, Abdullah Blihaq, adding that a "working mechanism was also agreed upon". […]]]> 639900 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230514-somali-security-forces-kill-44-al-shabaab-terrorists-information-ministry/ Sun, 14 May 2023 12:33:31 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=636449 At least 44 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in a security operation in Somalia's Lower Shabelle region, the country's Information Ministry said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The operation was conducted on Friday by the national intelligence and security agency backed by Somalia's international partners on the outskirts of Kurtowarey, a small town located 208 kilometers (229 miles) southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. According to Somalia's Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Adala, senior al-Shabaab commanders were among the terrorists killed in the operation. Somalia's security forces have been conducting operations against the al-Shabaab since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an "all-out war" against the terror group last year. The group has been fighting against the Somali government and the African […]]]> 636449 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230512-somalia-sees-an-intertwined-destiny-with-the-turkiye-people/ Fri, 12 May 2023 15:00:18 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=635981 Turkiye, which has a deep-rooted historical connection with Somalia, has gained an indispensable place in the hearts of Somalis through bilateral relations built on mutual trust, friendship and a win-win understanding. Millions of Somalis around the world express their unwavering gratitude for the unconditional support provided by Turkiye, under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As a reflection of their gratitude, Somalis closely follow all kinds of political, economic and social developments in Turkiye. For this reason, the people of Somalia, who have intertwined their own destiny with that of Turkiye's destiny, are eagerly awaiting the results of the upcoming election in Turkiye. Before Erdogan's visit, Somalia was a desolate land Somalia, which declared its independence in 1960, […]]]> 635981 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230512-the-uaes-unclear-role-in-syrias-return-to-the-fold-of-the-arab-league/ Fri, 12 May 2023 11:45:59 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=635749 I begin this article with prayers for the souls of the righteous martyrs of the Gaza Strip, and curses for the fascist occupation forces that attack our people in occupied Palestine. As the enemy's bombs and missiles hit home in Gaza, the Arab countries remain silent, despite the killing of children, women and Palestinian leaders. And yet, when a Zionist is wounded, the Palestinian people are labelled terrorists by the same countries for carrying out barbaric and uncivilised acts. Last weekend, Israel hosted the first "Independence Day" celebration in the UAE, so I wonder what the government in the UAE wants from returning Syria to the Arab embrace. Is there still something that we can call the Arab embrace? The […]]]> 635749 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230509-sudan-deepens-crisis-in-africa-as-un-sees-5-million-more-needing-aid/ Tue, 09 May 2023 17:08:31 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=634771 When a power struggle between Sudan's rival military leaders shattered a tenuous peace in her village in Sudan's western region of Darfur, Halime Yacoub Issac's first instinct was to take her five children and run. But four days after seeking refuge in neighbouring Chad – a country with its own dire humanitarian crisis – she had yet to receive any assistance and was just hoping they would not starve. "We're entirely dependent on food Chadian families give us," Issac told Reuters, sitting in a rare patch of shade near the border village of Goungour with other newly arrived women and children, some of them orphans. Nearby, hundreds of families were camped out under trees, or had built flimsy shelters out […]]]> 634771 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230505-iom-more-than-1000-displaced-sudanese-arrive-in-ethiopia-daily/ Fri, 05 May 2023 07:56:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633871 The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said yesterday that more than 1,000 displaced people move daily from Sudan to Ethiopia. The organisation explained in a statement published on its website that its Displacement Tracking Matrix has recorded more than 1,000 arrivals daily, including Ethiopians returning to their homeland. It affirmed that "third country nationals (TCNs) from Turkiye, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and more than 50 other countries" were also making their way to Ethiopia, according to the statement. "Over 12,000 people have arrived at the remote Ethiopian border town of Metema since the fughting started on 15 April," the IOM said. It confirmed that "it is providing essential assistance to those arriving in Ethiopia, including shelter, before their return to their home countries," According to the statement. Since […]]]> 633871 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230425-iom-helps-over-3200-african-migrants-return-home-from-yemen/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:34:31 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=630990 The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said it has helped over 3,200 African migrants, including 254 unaccompanied children, return safely to their countries of origin from Yemen this year, Anadolu news agency reported. The UN agency added in a post on its official Twitter account that the operation was supported by the Saudi King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action (KSCHR), and the Office of Population, Refugees and Return of the US State Department. More than 3,200 migrants, including 254 unaccompanied children, have safely returned home this year. ✈️ have taken off from Sana'a, Seiyun and Aden, thanks to support from @KSRelief_EN and @StatePRM We urgently require more funds to help more people stranded in danger. #MRP2023 pic.twitter.com/9PoxZJ67of — […]]]> 630990 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230403-african-union-peacekeepers-hit-by-explosion-in-somali-capital/ Mon, 03 Apr 2023 19:27:54 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=626378 An African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) convoy was hit by an explosion in the capital, Mogadishu, on Monday, with no word yet on possible casualties, Anadolu News Agency reports. Osman Ahmed, a security officer in Mogadishu, told Anadolu over the phone that the convoy was hit near Somalia's Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in the capital. "They were targeted while travelling between the KM4 and KM5 intersections in Mogadishu. We suspect the attack was a landmine explosion planted near the road and an investigation is underway," he said. He added that the African Union troops in the convoy had been conducting their daily routines in Mogadishu at the time of the attack. "We don't know how many were killed because […]]]> 626378 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230327-kuwait-sacks-2000-expatriate-teachers/ Mon, 27 Mar 2023 08:03:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624755 The Kuwaiti Ministry of Education will lay off more than 2,000 expatriate teachers and department heads in 14 specialisations by the end of the current academic year 2022-2023, Kuwait's Al-Qabas newspaper reported. According to the paper, the teachers belong are from 24 nationalities, however, a majority of them – 82.09 per cent are Egyptians – followed by Syrians (11.03 per cent) and Jordanians (3.55 per cent). They also include Indians, Nigerians, Iranians, Yemenis, Moroccans, Lebanese, Eritreans, Senegalese, Sudanese, Omani, Tunisians, Afghans, Canadians, Somalians, Italians, Kenyans, Russians, Filipinos, Ghanaians and Pakistanis. The Ministry of Education had earlier announced that it was in the process of terminating the services of 1,815 male and female teachers and more than 200 expatriate department heads at the […]]]> 624755 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230324-islamic-giving-plays-increasing-role-in-helping-forcibly-displaced-unhcr-official/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:56:27 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624525 Islamic giving plays an increasing role in helping the forcibly displaced people, a UN refugee agency official said on Friday, Anadolu News Agency reports. At the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Khaled Khalifa, a senior advisor to the High Commissioner and UNHCR representative to Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, launched the fifth Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report, "which shows the power and growing potential of Islamic giving to save lives and build better futures for the forcibly displaced globally". According to the report, 6 million people, who have been forcefully displaced and living in 26 countries, have benefited from the Zakat (obligatory almsgiving in Islam) and Sadaqah (voluntary charity) funds since the UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund was piloted in […]]]> 624525 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230322-on-world-water-day-spare-a-thought-for-the-middle-east/ Wed, 22 Mar 2023 10:00:52 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=623224 The Middle East may have an abundance of oil and gas, but it has very few natural water sources. This is fast becoming a source of tension. According to three UN Secretaries-General, water may well be the cause of future conflict in the region. "The next war in the Middle East will be fought over water, not politics," warned Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1985. Kofi Annan made a similar warning in 2001. Then in 2007 Ban Ki Moon pointed out: "The consequences for humanity are grave. Water scarcity threatens economic and social gains and is a potent fuel for wars and conflict." The UN initiated World Water Day in 1993 to draw attention to the issue. It has been commemorated on […]]]> 623224 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230321-somalia-faces-135-deaths-per-day-during-drought/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:37:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=623696 A record drought sweeping the Horn of Africa may lead to 135 deaths per day in Somalia from January to June, a study by the Somali health ministry, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) revealed yesterday. The study projected a total of 18,100 to 34,200 deaths from drought in Somalia "during the first six months of 2023." It added that, "An estimated 43,000 excess deaths may have occurred in 2022 in Somalia due to the deepening drought… higher than the first year of the 2017–2018 drought crisis." The WHO representative in Somalia, Mamunur Rahman Malik, told the media that his organisation is racing against time to prevent deaths that are avoidable and save lives. "The […]]]> 623696 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230314-suicide-car-bomb-kills-2-in-somalia-police/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:19:31 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=621961 At least two security personnel were killed and several others wounded when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden car in southern Somalia on Tuesday, a security official said, Anadolu News Agency reports. Mohamed Ali Adan, a police officer, told Anadolu over the phone that the explosion targeted a guest house in the town of Bardhere that housed regional administration officials and senior military officials. Garane Abdi, a local resident, told Anadolu that there were mortar attacks before the explosion. "The explosion was huge. I never witnessed such an explosion in my life", he said. READ: Somalia executes 13 men by firing squad The Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, claimed responsibility for the attack. Since military operations against Al-Shabaab have intensified, the terrorist […]]]> 621961 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230314-top-10-arab-nationalities-seeking-asylum-in-europe/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:01:12 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=621940 The number of Arab asylum applicants in the European Union surged last year, amid economic and political crises in a number of Arab countries. Data of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) show that Syria, Iraq and Morocco came at the top of 10 Arab states whose citizens applied for asylum in EU countries in 2022. 1 – Syria Around 131,700 Syrians applied for asylum in Europe in 2022. The high number of Syrian asylum applicants was attributed to the deteriorating political and security conditions in Syria since 2011. These requests were double the number registered in 2020, where only 64,540 asylum applications were registered, the lowest since 2014. In 2015, more than 371,000 asylum applications were made by […]]]> 621940 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230308-somalia-executes-13-men-by-firing-squad/ Wed, 08 Mar 2023 13:30:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=620517 Thirteen people from the terrorist group Al-Shabaab and Daesh were executed by firing squad in Somalia's northeastern semiautonomous state of Puntland today. The executions were ordered by a military court and took place around 8 am local time (0500GMT) in the cities of Galkayo, Garowe and the state's commercial capital of Bosaso, simultaneously. The court also executed six soldiers by firing squad after they were convicted of carrying out several killings in the state, which brings the total number of people executed today to 19. In 2021, the Puntland military court in the northern city of Galkayo executed 18 people who were sentenced to death after being found guilty of acts of terrorism, according to Puntland's Justice Department. Four Somali […]]]> 620517 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230307-arab-world-shows-unprecedented-solidarity-with-quake-hit-turkiye/ Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:35:28 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=619960 Since the devastating twin earthquakes that killed thousands of people in Turkiye and Syria last month, the Arab world has provided great support and assistance to the victims of the earthquake disaster. The 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes killed more than 46,100 people and affected more than 13 million people in 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Sanliurfa and Elazig. According to the UN, the quakes also killed around 6,000 people in neighbouring Syria. Following the earthquakes, several Arab countries launched airlifts and donation campaigns to help victims in both Turkiye and Syria. Qatar The Qataris launched the "Oun w Sanad" (Support and Relief) campaign, which raised some 168 million Qatari riyals ($46 million) […]]]> 619960 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230305-stop-human-traffickers-pope-francis-says-after-italys-migrant-shipwreck/ Sun, 05 Mar 2023 14:46:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=619429 Pope Francis on Sunday called on authorities to stop human traffickers operating in the Mediterranean, as he expressed his sorrow over last week's migrant boat disaster off Italy's Calabrian coast, in which dozens of people were killed. "I renew my appeal to prevent such tragedies from happening again. May traffickers of human beings are stopped," the pope said in his weekly address to crowds in St. Peter's Square. Local authorities said 70 bodies had so far been recovered following the incident. The migrants had departed from Turkey and were from countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, and Syria. "May journeys of hope never again turn into journeys of death, and may the clear waters of the Mediterranean no longer be bloodied by […]]]> 619429 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230216-arab-popular-sympathy-solidarity-with-turkiye-is-no-surprise-yemen-nobel-laureate/ Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:10:53 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=615627 Yemeni activist and Nobel laureate, Tawakkol Karman, deemed Arab widespread solidarity and sympathy with Turkiye amid the devastating earthquake disaster a "no surprise". In an interview with Anadolu, Karman said, "In general, there is great popular sympathy and solidarity shown by the Arab countries and this is not surprising because what unites the Arabs and the Turks is more than what separates them." At least 36,187 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Turkiye on 6 February says the disaster agency on Thursday. The 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude tremors last week were centred in Kahramanmaras and struck nine other provinces – Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa. More than 13 million people have […]]]> 615627 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230131-somalia-kenya-ethiopia-djibouti-hold-talks-on-joint-anti-terrorism-efforts/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:21:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=611188 The defence ministers of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti met in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday to discuss joint anti-terrorism measures, particularly against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, Anadolu News Agency reports. Discussions focused on mitigating the terrorist threat to "regional security, in full cooperation with the Somali National Army, the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the non-ATMIS forces in Somalia", the Somali Information Ministry said in a statement. READ: Humanitarian operations in Somalia remain challenging: UN Somali Information Minister, Daud Aweis, said the meeting was "crucial" to boost regional anti-terrorism efforts. Somalia has been waging war on all fronts against Al-Shabaab and has decided to bring on board other countries which have an interest in stability in […]]]> 611188 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230125-somalia-more-than-300-terrorists-killed-in-recent-military-operations-information-minister/ Wed, 25 Jan 2023 18:40:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=609516 Somalia's Information Minister, Daud Aweis, said Wednesday that the national army (SNA) with support from local militias has killed 323 Al-Shabaab terrorists in seven days, Anadolu News Agency reports. He said among the victories include the capture of Eldher, Haradhere and Galcad in Galmudug state. "The terrorists have been controlling these areas for more than 15 years. In another operation in Galmudug, more than 100 Al-Shabaab have been killed by SNA after they attacked a military camp in Galcad," he said at a news conference in the nation's capital, Mogadishu. Aweis said the SNA also killed 70 terrorists in the Beerfarah area in Haradhere in the Mudug region. In Hirshabelle state, he said several operations were carried out against "the khawarijs […]]]> 609516 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230123-somalia-strongly-condemns-quran-burning-in-sweden/ Mon, 23 Jan 2023 13:42:15 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=608463 Somalia's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Swedish authorities for allowing an extremist to burn a copy of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in front of Turkiye's Embassy in Stockholm, Anadolu News Agency reports. "Allowing this hateful act that insults Islamic sanctities and values is completely unacceptable," the Ministry said in a statement issued early Monday. Mogadishu said the burning of the Quran represents a blatant violation of religious sanctities and a provocation to the feelings of Muslims all over the world. READ: Swedish Gov't criticises burning Quran, yet defends granting permission "It is nothing but a demagogic practice that promotes hatred and racism and serves the agendas of extremism and terrorism," read the statement. Somalia called on Sweden to […]]]> 608463 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230120-turkiye-condemns-heinous-terrorist-attacks-in-somalia/ Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:17:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=607584 Turkiye, on Friday, strongly condemned "heinous" terrorist attacks targeting military bases in Somalia's central Galgaduud region, Anadolu News Agency reports. "We are deeply saddened to learn that many soldiers lost their lives and were injured in the terrorist attack that took place today against the military bases in the Galgaduud region of Somalia," said a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement. Some of the wounded are under treatment at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital in the capital, Mogadishu, it added. READ: Humanitarian operations in Somalia remain challenging: UN The Ministry said the attack will not hinder the Somali National Army's determination in its fight against the terrorist group. "We wish Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives, extend […]]]> 607584 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230117-somalia-at-least-10-soldiers-killed-in-al-shabaab-attack-on-military-base/ Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:32:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=606919 At least 10 soldiers were killed and several wounded in an Al-Shabaab attack on a military base in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region on Tuesday morning, Anadolu News Agency reports. The deadly assault on a base in Hawadley, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu, began with a suicide car bombing, according to Ahmed Ibrahim, a security official in the area. "There was heavy fighting between the army and the terrorists. The death toll could rise," he told Anadolu. Local clan militias who are supporting the Somali military's anti-terrorism efforts are also housed at the base, he said. Among the 10 confirmed fatalities so far, is Col. Abshir Mahmud Mohamed, a battalion Commander of the Somali Army, according […]]]> 606919 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230110-us-air-strikes-on-somalia-up-30-in-2022/ Tue, 10 Jan 2023 17:27:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=605565 READ: US airstrike kills 27 Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia    ]]> 605565 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230109-iraq-to-write-off-some-of-somalias-debt/ Mon, 09 Jan 2023 16:39:17 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=604643 Iraq is reportedly set to write off some of Somalia's debt, according to a report by Al-Ahram citing an official in the Arab League, to which both countries belong. The Director of the Arab League's Horn of Africa and Sudan Department, Zayd Saban, revealed that the organisation has received an official memorandum from Baghdad saying that it will partially cancel Somalia's debts to Iraq. Saban said that decisions made at past Arab summits have urged member states to forgive Somalia's debts. According to Somalia data, as of December 2019 Mogadishu owed Iraq approximately $187 million. The African country is currently experiencing a food crisis, brought on by devastating drought and decades of conflict. By the middle of 2023, over 8 […]]]> 604643 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230108-somali-govt-claims-al-shabaab-terror-group-requests-negotiations/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 11:20:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=604368 The Somali government on Saturday said the al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group al-Shabaab requested to open negotiations with the government for the first time, reports Anadolu Agency. Somalia's Deputy Defense Minister Abdifatah Qasim said al-Shabaab terrorists do not have a chance to negotiate with the government, except for Somali nationals who are members of the terror group. "There are two groups within al-Shabab. The first part is the foreigners, and the second part the local Somalis who are in the group. Those locals have a chance to open up negotiations, but those foreigners who invaded our country have no right for talks. The only option is to return to where they are from," Qasim announced. His remarks came in a news conference […]]]> 604368 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230105-somalia-uae-strike-security-deal-in-push-to-mend-fences/ Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:15:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=603945 Somalia and the UAE have signed an agreement to bolster military and security ties, along with cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts, as the two countries work to improve strained relations, Anadolu News Agency reports. The deal was inked on Wednesday evening in Abu Dhabi by Somali Defence Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and his counterpart, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Bowardi. The agreement will enhance "institutional capacity-building of Somalia's security forces and support ongoing efforts to eradicate Al-Shabaab from Somalia," Nur said in a statement. The Al-Shabaab terror group is an Al-Qaeda affiliate that has claimed thousands of lives in a deadly campaign against the Somali government and international forces since at least 2007. Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has declared "all-out war" against […]]]> 603945 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230105-turkiye-somalia-discuss-judicial-cooperation/ Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=603809 Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag yesterday met his Somali counterpart, Hassan Moalim, in the Turkish capital Ankara to discuss mutual judicial cooperation. During the meeting, Bozdag praised what he described as the "efforts of the Somali authorities" to end the activities of Turkish terrorist organisations on its soil. He told reporters that the Somali authorities had handed the management of schools belonging to these groups to the Turkish government. The Turkish minister pointed out that his country would sign new agreements with Somalia in the fields of "human rights and justice." Moalim said he had visited prison institutions in Turkiye and received information about their system, stressing that he had spoken with Turkish officials about the "importance of historical relations, […]]]> 603809 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221231-reporters-without-borders-iraq-syria-at-the-forefront-of-countries-killing-journalists/ Sat, 31 Dec 2022 13:47:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=603244 Iraq and Syria have ranked high among the most dangerous countries for journalists, according to a report by Reporters Without Borders published on Friday. The report indicated that 1,668 journalists were killed worldwide between 2003 and 2022 – an average of 80 journalists annually. The report stated that Iraq and Syria alone recorded: "The deaths of more than one-third of the reporters who have been killed." They came before Mexico (125), the Philippines (107), Pakistan (93), Afghanistan (81) and Somalia (78), while more than 95 per cent of reporters killed are men. The years 2012 and 2013 were the worst during the past two decades as, according to RWB: "144 and 142 journalists were respectively killed, mainly because of the […]]]> 603244