As reported by CNN, Judge Matthew Sharbo placed conditions on the search warrant, requiring a specialized process for reviewing the documents to ensure that investigators do not gain access to materials pertaining to Ilhan Omar’s legislative work.

Such documents are afforded constitutional protection under the “Speech or Debate Clause” of the U.S. Constitution, which shields members of Congress from being held accountable for certain official legislative activities.

According to the CNN report, the Department of Justice had sought broad authority to examine the seized documents, but the judge rejected the notion that records related to legislative work should be treated like ordinary documents. This development could result in the federal investigation taking longer to complete.

The investigation concerns allegations regarding information contained in Ilhan Omar’s immigration and citizenship documents, dating back decades. The congresswoman has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the actions taken against her as politically motivated and aimed at targeting her.

However, the limitations imposed by the judge do not mean that the order for the investigation has been rescinded, nor that the investigation itself has been halted.

In a press release, Lafta-gareen announced that his ‘Darawish’ (regional paramilitary) forces had retaken the districts of Qansaxdheere, Buurhakaba, Berdaale, and Diinsoor, as well as the area of ​​Awdiile.

Lafta-gareen explained that the objective of these operations was to ensure security and restore stability, while commending both the forces and the local residents in the areas he claimed to have recaptured.

Reports from the Bay region indicate that forces loyal to Lafta-gareen have taken control of several areas in recent days. Clashes were reported in Buurhakaba, while other areas were reportedly taken over by the forces without any fighting.

Lafta-gareen further stated that the people of South West State have the right to participate in critical political decisions that affect their future and the governance of their territories. The new South West administration, led by Adan Madobe, has lost control of key districts within its territory, amid a growing risk that opposition forces could seize the city of Baidoa.

Opposition forces loyal to Lafta Gareen have entered the city of Baidoa on several occasions, intensifying concerns that the new administration might lose control of its interim headquarters.

The Chairperson of the Commission explained that the electoral system they are developing is based on a single, nationwide constituency. This means that Federal Parliament seats represent the entire country, rather than representation being strictly confined to the specific locality where a seat was elected.

As an example, he noted that a seat elected from districts such as Karan, Galkayo, or Baidoa could represent the whole country, adding that the Commission will utilize this approach for conducting the federal elections.

The Chairperson further stated that elections will be held in areas accessible to the Commission, while acknowledging that there are parts of the country that cannot be reached due to insecurity, as well as other locations where the Commission is unable to conduct elections.

The committee’s statement comes at a time when the Puntland and Jubbaland regional administrations are not participating in the electoral process currently being prepared. Furthermore, there are ongoing political disputes between the Federal Government and certain opposition politicians regarding the modalities for conducting the country’s elections.

The chairperson of the committee stated that his body’s mandate is to implement elections as stipulated by law. He noted that elections for local councils and representative assemblies in some regional states have already been concluded, while preparations are now underway for federal-level elections.

He added that the committee intends to conduct elections in all areas that can be reached, emphasizing that the “single-constituency” (or single-electoral-district) system serves as the foundation for their plan.

The President received a briefing from the vessel’s experts and officials regarding ongoing exploration efforts, work completed to date, and preliminary findings—all of which are part of initiatives to identify and verify oil resources within Somali waters.

The Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu stated that the visit highlights the progress in energy cooperation between the two nations, noting that the operations of the *Çağrı Bey* represent a significant milestone in the relationship between Somalia and Turkey.

The *Çağrı Bey* is a state-of-the-art platform designed for oil and gas exploration in deep-sea waters. Its operations off the Somali coast are part of energy cooperation agreements established between the two countries.

The Turkish Embassy further affirmed Ankara’s commitment to supporting Somalia in the areas of security, development, and the strengthening of government institutions.

The preliminary results from the oil exploration are expected to contribute to the data used to assess the oil resources present in Somali waters.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed described this move as unilateral, stating that the electoral process and the amendments to the Provisional Constitution did not follow the required legal procedures.

He announced that he has filed a constitutional case with the Supreme Court, seeking the annulment of the constitutional amendments and the actions resulting from them. He warned that the ongoing political dispute could lead to parallel electoral processes, a breakdown in governance, and civil conflict.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to refrain from unilateral actions and called on all political stakeholders to engage in dialogue to reach a national consensus—ensuring an electoral process that is acceptable to all parties. He also called on the Supreme Court to adjudicate the constitutional case submitted to it independently, while requesting the international community to assist in finding a solution to the country’s political conflict.

In a press release issued on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the government stated that this schedule represents a significant step toward implementing the electoral process and strengthening the nation’s democracy.

The government noted that, over the past 18 months, it has been working to facilitate an agreement among Somali political stakeholders regarding the country’s critical issues—most notably, the electoral framework.

It further affirmed that political consultations and dialogues will continue, with the government working to ensure these efforts lead to a broad consensus.

The government emphasized that welcoming the election schedule and continuing the dialogue are complementary efforts; it described these actions as part of the state’s responsibility to safeguard stability, national unity, and the constitutional rights of its citizens. Finally, it called upon all political stakeholders to participate in the consultations with good faith and a sense of national responsibility, and to cooperate in conducting peaceful elections that strengthen public trust and the future of governance in Somalia.

During an extraordinary meeting chaired last night by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the Council discussed the implementation of the Constitution, state-building efforts, and the strengthening of government institutions.

The committee appointed to accelerate the implementation of the Constitution is chaired by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; it has been given a two-month timeframe to prepare the bill regarding the government’s structure, which will define the number of ministers and the mandates of government institutions.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, this bill will be the first of its kind since 1968.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre stated during the meeting that the Constitution is in effect and that its implementation involves various stages. He also highlighted the government’s plan to hold a federal-level, one-person-one-vote election in the country in 2027. Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers received a briefing from the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation regarding the restoration of Somalia’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) code system, which relates to airline ticketing management systems.

The Ministry stated that restoring this system is crucial for managing and regulating flight ticketing services, integrating with global travel systems, and advancing civil aviation services in Somalia.

As reported by Reuters on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Ethiopian troops arrived in the town following a counter-offensive launched by the federal government that ousted rebels from several towns and forced them to retreat northward. The report noted that this information was confirmed by six sources connected to local residents and the parties involved in the regional conflict.

Eyewitnesses and a conflict-monitoring group had previously reported that Eritrean forces entered Zalambessa last week in support of the Tigrayan rebels. However, it remains unconfirmed whether Eritrean or Tigrayan forces were present in the town when Ethiopian troops arrived on Tuesday.

The Ethiopian government has accused Eritrea of ​​supporting the Tigrayan rebels and alleged that Eritrean troops have penetrated up to 60 kilometers into Ethiopian territory. Meanwhile, the Eritrean government has denied these allegations and called on the United Nations to take action against the Ethiopian government, stating that the accusations leveled against it amount to a declaration of war.

Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh requested action against Addis Ababa in a letter to the UN Security Council, citing Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which authorizes various measures including sanctions and military action. The Security Council was scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting on Tuesday regarding the situation in the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia and Eritrea had been in conflict for many years but reached a peace agreement in 2018. Eritrea also supported the Ethiopian federal government during the war in the Tigray region from 2020 to 2022, a conflict that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Relations between the two countries have since deteriorated again.

According to the schedule released by the commission, the Galmudug House of Representatives will be announced on October 13, while October 14 and 15 are designated for preparations by the lawmakers. The swearing-in of the House of Representatives will take place on October 16.

Additionally, candidate applications for the leadership (Speaker and deputies) of the House of Representatives will be accepted on October 17, while October 18 is set aside for candidate speeches and the election of the parliamentary leadership.

Regarding the election of the Galmudug regional state leadership, the commission stated that applications from candidates vying for the positions of leader and deputy leader will be accepted on October 19 and 20.

Candidates will deliver their speeches on October 21, while the election of the Galmudug leader and deputy leader is scheduled for October 22. This schedule outlines the stages of the election for the leadership of the parliament and the Galmudug administration. However, details regarding the contesting candidates and other election procedures are not included in the announced schedule.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Moallin Mohamud.

The discussions centered on reviewing the Penal Code bill currently before the House of the People, with the aim of aligning it with the social, economic, and technological changes that have taken place in the country.

Particular emphasis was placed on how the law could address new types of crimes, especially those related to technology and information systems.

The Speaker of the House of the People stated that modernizing the Penal Code is crucial for strengthening justice, protecting citizens’ rights, and ensuring public security and order.

This step is part of ongoing efforts to review and improve Somalia’s legal framework, aiming to align the country’s laws with societal needs and modern developments. The bill is still before the House of the People, and this meeting focused on its review and modernization.