News

Two Kenyans and seven Somali guards were killed in a bomb attack on a vehicle carrying workers to the United Nations compound in Garowe in the Somali region of Puntland on Monday, police said.

Authorities suspect Islamist al Shabaab militants of carrying out the bombing in the northeastern city, Mohamed Abdi, a police officer at the scene said.

“A blast hit the bus carrying workers to the U.N. office … At least nine people died,” he told Reuters. Six bystanders were wounded, he added.

The Somali cabinet on Thursday (May 29th) appointed a five-member committee for the Constitution Review and Implementation Commission, eight months after the government called for the establishment of the commission. 

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, who chaired the cabinet meeting, welcomed the appointment of the committee members, who he said are all knowledgeable about the constitution.

A reconciliation conference opened in the Dolow district in Gedo region Monday (May 26th) with representatives from the Interim Jubba Administration (IJA), Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ), the Somali federal government and lawmakers from the Gedo region in attendance, Somalia's Goobjoog News reported.

The conference is expected to lead to reconciliation between  IJA and ASWJ militias that clashed in Bulo Hawo two weeks ago, leaving at least 12 people.

Several MPs have reported to Shabelle that the Prime Minister and President have to take responsibility for yesterday’s attack on parliament building in Mogadishu.

MP Abdisamad Maclin Mohamud said that the PM and President are required to take responsibility immediately. He said that until the situation has been solved, parliament will refuse to work and will go on strike.

Also, MP Abdilatif Sanyare said that the recent call for the president to resign by over 100 MPs, has now increased.

The Somali parliament on Wednesday (May 21st) formed a sub-committee tasked with finalising the country's provisional constitution before it is voted on in a nationwide referendum and preparing electoral laws for the 2016 elections.

Lawmaker Abdi Ali Hassan was elected as the chair of the committee and Elmi Mohamed Nur as his deputy, Africa Review reported.

Hassan said he was confident his committee would succeed in fulfilling its duties. "The current parliament will have to be replaced in 2016 by one-man, one-vote elected legislators," he said.

The Minister of Interior & Federalism for the Somali Federal Government announced that the Ministry will undertake significant changes including the laws that the government has imposed.

Abdullahi Godax Barre, the Interior Minister strained that the reason for the laws to be changed are mainly because they are wrong, and will modify them before bringing it before Parliament to endorse the regulations.

Members of the Somali Parliament are expected to begin on the motion against the Minister of Interior & Federalism. A motion was recently brought forward by legislators and the Speaker of Parliament has decided that the MPs will be able to get their say today.

Lawmakers previously questioned the Minister of Interior & Federalism Abdullahi Godax Barre, and legislators claim that they disapproved of his answers and therefore set forth their motion against  him.

Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu on Saturday morning, the Minister of Information for the Somali Federal Government highlighted the progress and advancement the government has made since January 2014.

Mustaf Sheikh Ali, the Information Minister, emphasized that the government has taken effective steps and actions to improve the security conditions in Mogadishu and other parts of the country.