Somalia faces extraordinary challenges in the fight against Al-Shabaab and Daesh armed groups, a UN expert said today, expressing solidarity with the people and the Government in the face of persistent terrorist threats.

“I recognise the extensive efforts by the Somali authorities to prevent terrorism, through a comprehensive strategy combining law enforcement, military operations, combating violent extremism and addressing the root causes of terrorist recruitment,” the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul said in a statement at the end of an official visit to the country.

“I also acknowledge Somalia’s severe security and resource constraints.”

Saul noted with concern that Somalia has adopted excessive and overbroad terrorist definitions and offences, as well as expansive intelligence and security powers that could compromise fundamental human rights. He warned that some terrorism offences attract the death penalty even when they do not involve intentional killing, as required under international law. (press release)

Last year, nearly 235,000 people left Ethiopia and headed towards the Red Sea coastline, according to the International Organization for Migration, the UN’s migration agency. The country is Africa’s second largest by population, but it has been wracked in recent years by successive crises, including various ethnic armed conflicts and related economic instability. Much of this Ethiopian exodus has been directed along the so-called “Eastern migration route”, which crosses the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden into Yemen, and ultimately Saudi Arabia…The journey takes [migrants] into a dark, transnational economy fuelled by human suffering. Along the route, people smugglers and violent militias prey on their desperation for profit. Many die along the way. And for those lucky enough to reach Saudi Arabia itself, further dangers lurk – including…the terrors of the country’s prison system…Saudi Arabia has been heavily criticised by human rights groups for its treatment of migrants, both legal and irregular. Legal migrants face various forms of exploitation, including forced labour, excessive working hours, and wage theft, according to Amnesty International. Irregular migrants face even more severe treatment. In 2023, a report by Human Rights Watch documented numerous “mass killings” of Ethiopian migrants by Saudi border guards. (The New Humanitarian)

A major political gathering of Somali opposition leaders opened on Wednesday in Mogadishu, with participants calling for a clear roadmap toward timely, inclusive, and transparent elections as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term nears its end in May 2026. Organised by senior opposition figures, the forum brings together former presidents, ex-prime ministers, parliamentary leaders, and current lawmakers. The meeting is seen as a coordinated effort to apply political pressure on the current administration to avoid delays and disputes that have marred previous electoral cycles. Sources close to the organisers say the talks will focus heavily on ensuring the next elections are held as scheduled and that all stakeholders are consulted in shaping the electoral process. (Garowe Online)

In a diplomatic move aimed at strengthening ties with Mogadishu, Kenya has blocked the planned inauguration of Somaliland’s liaison office in Nairobi, signaling a renewed commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia, has long sought international recognition and maintains warm relations with Kenya. However, in a calculated effort to avoid straining bilateral relations with Somalia, Nairobi has opted to step back from the engagement. In a statement released Monday — the second of the day — Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the May 27 event to open Somaliland’s liaison office had not received official approval and would not be permitted to proceed…Earlier, Kenya had reaffirmed its respect for Somalia’s territorial integrity, while justifying its engagement with Somalia’s federal member states, including Somaliland, which operates an autonomous government. (Garowe Online)