Omar Ali Abdi, who spoke briefly to the press today, told them that if military operations are taking place off the coast of Somalia against pirate groups, the federal government is the legal authority to decide on such matters.

The State Minister also noted that the government is preparing a comprehensive report on the incidents that occurred off the coast, indicating that measures will be taken to address the escalating situation.

“A comprehensive report will be sent, God willing,” said the State Minister of Defense.

The statement comes as Puntland condemned international warships, which on August 18 and 20 bombed the Garmaal area off the coast of Puntland.

Puntland said the attacks targeted fishermen and their property, expressing concern about the potential harm from such operations in areas near the coast where ships hijacked by pirates are being held.

Israel carried out eight airstrikes that hit the airfield and buildings at the base, with no casualties reported. While Israel said the aim was to prevent a Turkish military presence at the base, Ankara has categorically denied that Turkish troops were there or were planning to establish a base there.

Turkey responded harshly to the attack, describing the Israeli move as irresponsible and a threat to Syria’s sovereignty. Ankara said it would continue to support the Syrian government, particularly in the building and training of its own forces. The Syrian government has said Turkish officials have previously visited the base, but it was part of a training and experience-sharing partnership, and there is no plan for a permanent Turkish base.

The incident has raised the risk of the rivalry between the two Syrian states escalating into direct military confrontation. Turkey is a NATO member, while Israel is a key US ally. The US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said the attack was a dangerous move that could escalate the situation, noting that Turkey was not informed in advance of the strike.

The crisis comes as Ankara has significantly increased military cooperation with Damascus. Turkey trains and supports Syrian forces, while Israel fears that the new Syrian government could gain a strong military power with Turkish support. Therefore, the Abu al-Duhur attack can be seen as a message from Israel to Damascus and Ankara that it will not accept a Turkish military presence that it sees as a threat to its security.

Meanwhile, Israel has issued a stern warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz saying that his country will not tolerate anyone who poses a threat to its security. Turkey, in turn, has insisted that it will defend Syria’s sovereignty, indicating that the two sides are now directly competing for Syria’s political and military future.

Reuters reported that an oil tanker called the Sibo 1, which is said to have links to Iran, has become one of the latest targets of the pirates. The ship was seized off the coast of Yemen and was then diverted to Somalia.

Information obtained by Reuters shows that the Sibo 1 is at least the 13th ship to be attacked or hijacked this year near the coast of Somalia or in the Gulf of Aden, which connects Somalia and Yemen.

This represents a significant increase from the previous year, with data from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) indicating that only five such attacks were recorded in 2025.

Timothy Walker, a senior fellow at the Institute for Security Studies, said piracy has often been controlled but not completely eradicated.

Meanwhile, Jay Bahadur, a researcher and associate director at Scopus Insights, said the seizure of an Iranian-linked ship casts serious doubt on the possibility of a link between the Houthis and the recent hijackings.

However, he said there was evidence that Somali pirates were receiving support from some criminal networks in Yemen, particularly those involved in arms trafficking.

Experts have also pointed to long-standing links between criminal groups in Somalia and Yemen, which are based on arms and people smuggling, and Reuters said that war and tensions in the region have also contributed to the resurgence of piracy.

Rising oil prices could make tankers more attractive to hijackers, while some international forces and ships previously focused on fighting piracy off Somalia have been diverted to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Strait of Hormuz to deal with threats from Iran and the Houthis.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Authority (UKMTO) said six armed men seized the Eritrean-flagged Sibo 1 on Thursday.

The US government imposed sanctions on the ship in December, accusing it of being part of a so-called “shadow flotilla,” a group of vessels that help Iran evade US sanctions on oil and petroleum products.

The Reuters report comes as the Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden are once again facing growing concerns about piracy, hijackings and links between Somali and Yemeni criminal networks.

Reuters has not provided direct evidence that the Houthis are officially behind the latest hijackings, but experts cited by the agency have pointed to signs of links and coordination between the groups involved.

The Commander of Mahaday Police Station, Lt. Col. Suleyman Cowsey, said that the forces received information about a plan by the group to use landmines to harm the public.

According to the commander, the forces quickly responded to the scene and shot the two men before they could carry out their plan.

The forces also displayed the bodies of the two men and one of the landmines that was said to have been planted in the livestock market.

The reports added that the other landmine exploded, with the security forces saying that they had eliminated the threat to the public in Mahaday district.

This incident comes at a time when government and regional forces are increasing operations against Al-Shabaab, especially on roads and in crowded areas.

The Minister said that these members could facilitate holding Lafta-gareen accountable, describing him as responsible for recent bomb attacks in the city of Baidoa.

“We are requesting Kenya to arrest Abdiasis Lafta-gareen, then through Interpol to bring him to justice in Somalia and hold him accountable,” the Minister of Security of the South West State said.

The Minister also said that he has links with Al-Shabaab, saying that the forces are maintaining security in Baidoa.

He added that if Lafta-gareen surrenders, he will be treated like Al-Shabaab members who defect from the group and surrender to the South West State administration.

“Initially, we had our brothers infected, but now we have seen brothers who are linked to Al-Shabaab. If they surrender, the procedures for those who defect from Al-Shabaab will be followed,” the minister said.

The statement by the South West Security Minister comes at a time of tension and revelations between the South West administration and the previous explanation as Lafta-gareen.

The scholars said that many complaints had been received from the community, which concerned people who had legal property documents, but were said to have had their property disputed or taken away, with some being imposed with fees that had no clear legal basis.

They stressed that a person’s property should not be taken away by force, administrative order or intimidation, unless a fair legal and judicial process is followed.

The scholars called on the President of Somalia, the Prime Minister, the Banadir Regional Administration and relevant institutions to independently investigate land complaints, protect the rights of the people, and hold accountable anyone found guilty of abuse of power, theft or corruption.

They also called on the judiciary to act independently and fairly in land disputes, while warning businessmen, notaries and brokers against getting involved in property acquired through oppression and injustice.

The Union of Somali Ulema Councils said that if the outstanding complaints are not addressed immediately, they will take other measures they deem appropriate to the situation.

The meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamsa Abdi Barre, was presented with a report on the security situation and the latest operations of the armed forces.

The Cabinet also heard a report from the Ministry of Finance on the 2025 annual budget, economic growth, domestic taxes and the reform of the government’s financial system.

The Ministry of Finance reported that the Somali economy grew by 3.1 percent, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP).

Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre, following the report, stressed the importance of Somalia achieving economic self-sufficiency, by making good use of domestic production and the country’s resources.

He also called for increasing domestic revenue, encouraging investment, and strengthening transparency, financial accountability, and safeguarding national assets.

The Prime Minister commended the Ministry of Finance for the results of an assessment conducted by the Office of the Auditor General, which for the first time rated the government’s financial management with a “Clean Opinion,” the highest level of transparency in financial management.

Hamsa Abdi Barre said that the Somali economy is recovering significantly from past difficulties, expressing hope that the country will achieve economic self-sufficiency in the future, reducing its dependence on foreign aid.

The Prime Minister said that this progress is part of the resilience and efforts of the Somali people.

The commission said the delay was temporary, and that it was necessary to complete important tasks to prepare for the election.

According to the commission’s press release, voter registration is still ongoing in four districts of Hiran region, which is one of the reasons for the postponement.

The commission also said that political organizations need to be given more time to mobilize their supporters, so that they can fully participate in the electoral process.

Another reason for the delay is that political organizations are allowed to submit lists of candidates for the election.

The Electoral Commission said it will announce the new election schedule and official date within two weeks.

The postponement of the Hirshabelle elections comes as Somalia is making efforts to implement direct elections and expand public political participation.

The commission called on all election stakeholders and the people of Hirshabelle to monitor the new schedule and official announcements from the Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Hirshabelle: House of Representatives and Local Council elections postponed.

The meeting focused on Somalia’s transition from the ratification phase of the AfCFTA to its implementation and benefiting from the continent’s trade market.

The Federal Parliament of Somalia ratified the AfCFTA, while the President of Somalia signed the ratification bill on 31 July 2026. The next step is for Somalia to submit the official ratification document of the agreement to the African Union.

The two sides also discussed issues such as rules of origin, certificates of origin, trade tariffs, non-tariff barriers and how to prepare Somali businesspeople to benefit from the opportunities arising from the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA agreement connects a market of over 1.4 billion people, with the economies of the member countries estimated to be worth over $3.4 trillion.

Somalia, which has the longest coastline on the African continent and ports on key routes linking the Horn of Africa, East Africa and the Gulf, is looking to leverage the agreement to expand exports and trade in the region.

The government specifically highlighted opportunities in exporting products such as processed meat, frozen or processed fish, hides and skins, sesame and rubber.

The meeting also discussed the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which facilitates trade payments between African countries, and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, which is designed to support governments and businesses facing the costs of implementing the agreement.

Somalia is also interested in participating in discussions on digital trade, with the government seeking to leverage the country’s expertise in mobile money services and digital commerce to shape the future of digital trade on the African continent.

Wamkele Mene’s visit is also set to conclude with a meeting with Somali business leaders and the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which will discuss trade opportunities in goods and services, the role of the private sector, and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund.

The ministry said the incident took place on August 17 and killed Hassan Alasow Raage, also known as Hassan Xusuleey, who was 50 years old and was born in the Ruunirgood district.

According to the press release, Hassan Xusuleey was one of the Al-Shabaab leaders operating in the Middle Shabelle region, responsible for the group’s transport in the region. He also previously served as the head of what the group calls “Sakawaadka” in the Ruunirgood district.

The ministry said the two young men killed the leader in a location in the district, then took an AK-47 rifle and ammunition from him.

The statement also said that the slain leader was accused of robbing residents of their property and livestock, blocking and disrupting traffic in the district and surrounding areas.

The ministry added that these actions caused some residents to flee the district.

The Ministry of Defense praised the efforts of the residents in fighting the Al-Shabaab group.