Tag Archives: Mogadishu

Lifestyle

At least seven killed by overnight floods in Mogadishu

Maravi Post Reporter

At least seven people have died in devastating overnight floods in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. Local officials say torrential rain began on Friday night and lasted for about ten hours, displacing more than two hundred families. Nine houses were destroyed and six major roads badly damaged across several districts of the city.

According to the Banadir regional administration, two of the victims were women, and hundreds more have lost their homes. One father told AFP that two children died in his neighbourhood and he had never seen rain this heavy in Mogadishu. Meanwhile, another resident said people were trapped in their homes as the storm caused widespread havoc.

A UN report published in April says more than 45,000 people have been affected by flash floods in Somalia since mid-April. The Horn of Africa is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense.

In 2023, over 100 people were killed and more than a million displaced by similar flooding, linked to the El Niño weather pattern.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/56/12/07/ED_PYR_1456127_20250511053402.mp4
Lifestyle

Somali president focuses on reforms, not re-election for now

Maravi Post Reporter

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says he has not yet decided whether he will run for re-election in 2026. Speaking to Kenya’s Nation Media Group, he emphasized that his priority right now is improving national security, boosting the economy, and ensuring Somalia’s first direct elections in decades.

Since returning to office in 2022, Mohamud points to progress in Mogadishu’s security and economic growth. His government plans local elections for June 2025 and national elections by September, aiming to move away from Somalia’s traditional clan-based voting system.

However, opposition figures, including leaders from Puntland and Jubbaland, have raised concerns about the election timeline and potential constitutional breaches. Despite these tensions, Mohamud says he remains focused on national reforms and will decide on a potential third-term bid closer to election time.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/13/41/65/08/ED_PYR_1341658_20250428083134.mp4
Regional

Militants attack Somali hotel killing at least 12 people

Maravi Post Reporter

“The security forces continued to neutralise terrorists who have been cordoned inside a room in the hotel building. Most of the people were rescued, but at least eight civilians were confirmed dead so far,” Mohamed Abdikadir, an official said.

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The Hayat Hotel is a popular place for lawmakers and other government officials.

Friday’s attack is the first major incident since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May.

In August 2020, al-Shabab said it was behind an attack on another hotel in Mogadishu in which at least 16 people were killed.

Al-Shabaab has been fighting to topple the Somali government for more than 10 years. It wants to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Nigeria: Police found 20 mummified bodies in suspected shrine

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Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Somalia: Fighting erupts after president extends his tenure

Maravi Post Reporter
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Fighting broke out on Sunday in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu following the decision by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to extend his stay in power.

Soldiers loyal to his government and those opposed to him clashed with residents in the capital saying they heard gunfire across the city.

The spark of violence signals the dire political crisis Somalia which could further degenerate.

Tension has been growing after the country’s parliament approved a two-year extension of the president’s mandate.

The controversial special election bill was overwhelmingly approved by 149 members.

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But opposition candidates and some of the regional state leaders have rejected the resolution.

The president himself then signed off the approval to stay in power for extra two years, a move the African Union has condemned.

There have been calls for dialogue on the election impasse in the country.

But protesters have been agitating and chanting “We do not want a term extension. We do not want Farmajo. We do not want dictatorship.”

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Former Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur have said pro-government soldiers had attacked their homes.

The government has however denied such claims with Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble now calling for negotiations after Sunday’s violence.

Somalia: Lawmakers vote to extend President’s term by two years

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Malawi, Regional

11 killed in bomb attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia

Angella Semu
Al Shabaab militant group

Ten civilians and one police officer died following a gun and bomb attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists at beachfront hotel in Somalia’s capital.

Information ministry spokesperson Ismael Mukhtaar Omar confirmed the news in an interview.

Reports revealed that the attack began on early Sunday evening with a heavy explosion and gunfire from the hotel, which usually host government officials.

Official told AFP that security forces took about four hours to regain control of the Elite Hotel in the Lido beach area of Mogadishu after five assailants stormed it.

The dead included government official Abdirasak Abdi, who worked at the information ministry and 28 other sustained various degrees of injuries.

Somalia plunged into chaos after the 1991 overthrow of then-President Siad Barre’s military regime, leading to years of clan warfare followed by the rise of Al-Shabaab which once controlled large parts of the country and Mogadishu.

The group has targeted hotels multiple times over the years and its last major attack in Mogadishu was in December 2019 that killed about 81 people.