Fighting Erupts in Somalia's Capital

 The New York Times published on 4 June 2026 an article titled "What to Know About the Fighting in Somalia's Capital, Mogadishu" by Hussein Mohamed and Matthew Mpoke Bigg.

On 4 June, government forces began fighting militia groups loyal to two of the president's rivals in Mogadishu, resulting in the worst violence there in years.  The clashes stemmed from Parliament's contentious decision to extend President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term of office for another year beyond its expiration date.

Somalia and Turkey Move Forward with New Port of Hobyo

 The Africa Report published on 26 February 2026 an article titled "Somalia: Hobyo Port Advances Amid Security Risks and Ethiopia Trade Scramble" by Mohamad Sheikh Nor.  

Hobyo Investment Company has a 70 percent stake and a Turkish-owned construction company a 30 percent share in a new port at Hobyo, which is intended to support central Somalia and possible trade to and from Ethiopia.  The new port faces challenges because it will strengthen certain local and foreign actors while sidelining those with interests in competing ports.

Building Resilient Cities in Somalia

 The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in December 2025 a study titled "Building Resilient Cities: Environmental Protection and Construction Safety in Somalia's Urban Development" by Abdullahi Ali Mohamed.  

The study highlights how unregulated construction, environmental degradation and intensifying climate shocks are reinforcing urban fragility amid weak institutional capacity.  It outlines an integrated policy framework focused on sustainable urban planning, professionalizing the construction sector, and strengthening climate resilience.  

Somalia: Al-Shabaab Steps Up Activity

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File published on 20 March 2025 an article titled "Al-Shabaab Ramadan Offensive" by Liam Karr.

Al-Shabaab stepped up its terrorist activity during Ramadan in central Somalia and on the outskirts of Mogadishu.  It included an unsuccessful improvised explosive device (IED) attempt on the life of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.  

Somalia: Semblance of Normalcy Returns to Mogadishu

 The Washington Post published on 4 March 2023 an article titled "Defying Attacks, Arts Return to Somalia with First TV Drama in 30 Years" by Katharine Houreld and Mohamed Gabobe.  

The article describes the production in Mogadishu of a ten part television series.  All the actors are local.  The director, Ahmed Farah, is Somali-Dutch.  

Evacuation of US Embassy Mogadishu in 1991

The Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training just posted, on the reopening of the US Embassy in Mogadishu, an oral history titled "Evacuating Somalia" in 1991 by Ambassador James K. Bishop.

Ambassador Bishop provided this oral history in November 1991. He describes the evacuation of the US embassy in Mogadishu in January 1991 by US military assets after the fall of Somali President Siad Barre and as the embassy compound was being overrun.

Mogadishu Suicide Bombing

The BBC asked me to comment 15 October 2017 on the horrific truck bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia that occurred the previous day. While al-Shabaab has not yet taken responsibility, it almost certainly was behind the bombing, which may have killed more innocent Somalis than any previous al-Shabaab attack. You can access the BBC clip here.

Land Is One of the Root Causes for Conflict in Somalia

The Rift Valley Institute and the Heritage Institute of Policy Studies published in February 2017 a major study titled "Land Matters in Mogadishu: Settlement, Ownership, and Displacement in a Contested City."

One of the most difficult and sensitive issues in Mogadishu's long process of normalization is competing claims for land. Control and ownership of land and property are among the underlying reasons for Somalia's conflict.

Somalia: Account of Most Recent Attack on Dayah Hotel

The New York Times published on 25 January 2017 an article titled "A Bloody Reminder for Somalia: Chaos Is Never Far Away" by Jeffrey Gettleman.

The journalist and photographer were in Mogadishu at the time of the attack on the Dayah Hotel. The article includes particularly graphic photography by Tyler Hicks.

Book Review of the Mayor of Mogadishu

The New York Times Book Review published on 6 January 2017 a review titled "His City of Ruins: The Story of the Somali Leader Who Tried to Remake Mogadishu" by Joshua Hammer.

This is a review of the book titled The Mayor of Mogadishu: A Story of Chaos and Redemption in the Ruins of Somalia by Andrew Harding, a BBC reporter. It is the account of Mohamud (Tarzan) Nur, a leader of the Somali community in London who returned to Mogadishu in 2010 to become mayor. While Nur had many accomplishments, he was sacked in 2014 following allegations that he looted millions from the city's budget. Harding concludes that morally compromised figures like Nur may be the best one can hope for in a country desperately short of heroes.

Somalia: Most Failed State

The Economist published on 10 September 2016 an article titled "Somalia: Most-failed State." It concludes that while there has been progress in Somalia, a country with a functioning government and safe streets seems as distant as ever.

Educational Challenges in Somalia

The Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies just published a study titled "Educational Challenges in Post-transitional Somalia: Case Study Mogadishu" by Abdullahi Sh. Adam Hussein, Qatar National Research Fund.

The study is based on information collected in Benadir region and focused entirely on formal basic schooling or the K-12 education system.  It identified the following as the major challenges: too much variation in curriculum, differences in language of instruction, and teachers with inadequate training. 

Somalia and Federalism

The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies issued a policy brief in February 2015 titled "Federal Somalia: Not If but How." 

Based on a survey of 213 Somalis in five cities, the study concluded that the majority view federalism as the most suitable form of governance to decentralize Somalia because it facilitates reasonable power sharing among clans, enables regional autonomy and ultimately leads to a reduction of conflict.  A substantial majority views the current federation process as deeply flawed because it is largely an elite-driven and externally facilitated scheme that promotes clan identity at the expense of citizenship. 

Attitudes towards Elections and Democracy in Mogadishu

The Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published a policy brief in December 2014 titled "Attitudes towards Elections and Democracy in Mogadishu."  It concludes that the overwhelming majority of Mogadishu residents consider democratic elections important and residents intend to vote in future elections.  There is widespread dissatisfaction with the 4.5 power-sharing model, although there is support for representation of minority communities and women.  The security situation is closely tied to attitudes towards elections.  Continuing insecurity will affect the preparations for and holding of elections. 

Security and Justice in Mogadishu

The Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in September 2014 a briefing titled "Perceptions of Security and Justice in Mogadishu." 

It concludes that the residents of Mogadishu generally feel safer due to a decline in conflicts between clans and other groups.  But despite notable improvement in the general security environment, new sources of insecurity have arisen.  Suicide attacks, hand-grenade attacks, targeted killings, and land disputes are now among the leading causes of concern.  Residents question the capacity of formal security services and the integrity of the judiciary, often relying instead on traditional elders to resolve disputes.

Mogadishu Still Not a Safe Place

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 28 August 2013 a highly informative interview with Andrews Atta-Asamoah, who just returned from a visit to Somalia.  Titled "Mogadishu Still Not a Safe Place," the interview makes clear that security in Mogadishu remains precarious even though there has been a lot of progress.  Al-Shabaab makes effective use of guerrilla tactics and AMISOM is overstretched.  Atta-Asamoah also worries that the federal government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is more concerned with pleasing the international community than dealing with the domestic Somali audience.

Mayor "Tarzan" of Mogadishu

Mohamed Mubarak wrote a short piece on Mohamoud Ahmed Nur, the mayor of Mogadishu but better known as "Tarzan," for Foreign Policy magazine. Nur previously ran an Internet cafe in London for 20 years.

Click here to read the entertaining article.

Suicide Bombing in Mogadishu

The Guardian ran an article on 4 April 2012 on the most recent suicide bombing in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab quickly took credit for the bombing. Clar Ni Chonghaile wrote the piece, which you can read here.

I am quoted in the article: "These attacks are disruptive and may set back efforts to develop and rebuild Somalia. They will not, however, build support for al-Shabaab. On the contrary, they alienate most Somalis."

Human rights policies of all groups in Somalia criticized

In mid-August, Human Rights Watch issued a report on the human rights situation in Somalia titled "You Don't Know Who to Blame."

Although the report is more critical of al-Shabaab than any other group, it also identifies abuses by the Transitional Federal Government, the African Union troops in Mogadishu, and Somali militias supported by Kenya and Ethiopia.

Al-Shabaab pushed out of Mogadishu

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Al Jazeera English asked me to comment Aug. 6 on al-Shabaab's retreat from Mogadishu.

I responded that this is the first time since al-Shabaab took control of most of Mogadishu that it had been completely forced out of the capital.

Al-Shabaab has been losing ground for months to the African Union (AMISOM) force in Mogadishu supplemented by forces from the Somali Transitional Government (TFG). But while al-Shabaab is no longer in the capital, it still controls most of south/central Somalia.

At some point, unless al-Shabaab forces continue to weaken, they will try to return to Mogadishu. This is an opportunity for the TFG but it may not be able to take advantage of the new situation.

The implications of this development are significant for the 100,000 or more Somalis seeking emergency food aid who recently moved into the AMISOM/TFG controlled part of Mogadishu from areas controlled by al-Shabaab. Until several days ago, there was fighting in part of Mogadishu, making it difficult for international relief agencies and Somali non-governmental organizations to feed these internally displaced persons.

With the departure of al-Shabaab, it should be much easier to care for the needs of these Somalis. On the other hand, the removal of al-Shabaab from Mogadishu will not make it any easier to provide food to famine victims in those areas of south and central Somalia still controlled by al-Shabaab. This is where the need is greatest and al-Shabaab continues to impose severe restrictions on the ability of international organizations to operate in territory it controls.

It remains to be seen if this major setback will cause long-term damage for al-Shabaab. There have been fissures among the organization’s leaders for a long time. Al-Shabaab’s mishandling of the drought and famine has exacerbated those divisions. The withdrawal from the capital of Somalia is another blow that may result in even more serious fracturing of the leadership.