Sharif said that the events that took place in the districts of Abdi Azis and Hawlwadaag were planned attacks that used heavy weapons and government forces, arguing that the aim was to suppress the opposition and people who are ideologically opposed to the government.

According to him, his party was planning the opening of a new center and the organization of a peaceful demonstration, but he was attacked by forces that he said were for the defense of the nation. He also noted that traditional elders and members of political mediation have also faced similar attacks.

The leader of Himilo Qaran accused the government leaders of showing political intolerance and deviating from the principles of governance and the political agreements that governed the transition of the elections.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed also said that troops have been moved from different areas of the country to be used for political purposes, instead of focusing on the fight against Al-Shabaab.

He added that government weapons are in private hands, which he described as a threat to national security.

“Government weapons are intended for the defense of the people and fighting the enemy, and it is not appropriate to face politicians or civilians,” said former president Sharif.

On the other hand, he condemned the arrest and pressure on journalists and people who express their views, calling on the government to release people who he said were arrested for political reasons.

Sharif called for an end to political conflicts and to start a dialogue to reach an agreement on the country’s elections. He stressed that peaceful demonstrations are a constitutional right of citizens and cannot be suppressed by military force.

“An agreed and peaceful election is the only way to maintain stability in the country,” he added.

Finally, he called on the leaders of the government to avoid what he described as tyranny and social division, and prioritize political agreement and stability in the country.

The president said in an interview with Dawan TV that the international community has long supported Somalia, but he believes that Somalis should decide on their own political issues.

“The international community has worked with us for many years, especially in the areas of technical assistance and support for state reconstruction, but Somali politics are determined by Somalis,” said Hassan Sheikh.

The president said that his government has adopted a policy based on resolving internal Somali issues within the country, instead of holding meetings and talks abroad as has happened in the past.

Speaking about the opposition’s dialogue, Hassan Sheikh said that he still believes that a solution can be reached if both sides continue to talk.

“There is always an opportunity. The Federal Government’s doors are open, and it is ready to engage in dialogue until a solution is reached,” he said.

The President also spoke about a call from former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo for him to host the talks.

He said he had not received a formal request, but that he had regular contact and dialogue with the country’s former leaders.

The statement said that this step is part of the implementation of the local government election process in the Banadir Region, in line with previous preparations and plans related to the regional elections.

The ministry said that the aim is to hold the elections for the district council chairmen to fulfill the legal obligations assigned to them, and to provide complete district administrations.

The ministry also noted that the preparations of the parties involved in the elections were assessed, and it was satisfied that the level was reached to hold the elections.

The letter informed political parties and elected local council members to complete their preparations in the period leading up to polling day.

This decision came after the Somali president was asked why the elected members of parliament had not yet been seated to elect the district governors of the Banadir region.

President Hassan Sheikh said that the electoral commission was required to set a time for the district elections in the Banadir region.

The Ministry of Interior of the Federal Democratic Republic of Somalia has set July 5 as the date for the election of the district governors of the Banadir region.

The statement was made by Somaliland’s Representative to Taiwan, Mahmoud Aden Jama Galaal, during the inauguration of a new Somaliland office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Friday, which was inaugurated by Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister.

“We have the right to choose who we have relations with. It is our own decision, so the pressure efforts have not succeeded,” Galaal told reporters.

Somaliland and Taiwan opened representative offices in Hargeisa and Taipei in 2020, further strengthening cooperation in the areas of politics, development and economics.

Galaal said that all political parties in Somaliland are united in maintaining relations with Taiwan, and are not susceptible to political pressure from outside. He also said that Somaliland has not had any recent contact with the Chinese government.

The Reuters report noted that Somaliland has been self-governing since 1991 after declaring its independence from Somalia, and has enjoyed greater stability and peace than most regions of Somalia.

On the other hand, the Somali government has previously opposed relations between Somaliland and Taiwan, and in 2025 banned Taiwanese passport holders from entering Somalia, although it has since reopened them.

Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Francois Wu, said that cooperation between Somaliland and Taiwan has expanded significantly in the past six years. “Taiwan and Somaliland are two societies that symbolize democracy, freedom and the rule of law,” Wu said.

Reuters also noted that Taiwan has lost most of its diplomatic ties with Africa in recent years due to China’s efforts, and now only has full official relations with Eswatini.

This decision came after consultations with cattle-raising families in Mogadishu, and long-standing complaints in the capital regarding the impact of cattle being released on the roads.

The administration said that this issue causes several problems, including poor hygiene resulting from feces and dirt on the roads, which is described as affecting public health and the environment.

The spokesman also said that cattle being released on the roads disrupts traffic, which leads to accidents, congestion and risks affecting the safety of people and vehicles.

The administration added that this issue also hinders efforts to reforest and beautify the capital, as cattle destroy trees planted on the roads and green areas.

It was also stated that there is a health risk that may arise from the consumption of milk and beef, which may be fed with dirt and things that are not suitable for consumption.

Therefore, the Governor of Banadir Region issued decisions such as: To completely ban the release of cows on the streets of Mogadishu, To give cattle breeders a two-week period starting from June 16, 2026, and ending on June 27, 2026, to deposit their cows and at the end of that period, legal action will be taken against cows seen on the streets of the capital.

Finally, the Banadir Regional Administration thanked the public and cattle breeder families for their cooperation and understanding, stating that this decision is part of the efforts to improve the beauty, cleanliness and development of Mogadishu.

The match is scheduled to take place on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria, and will pit Champions League winners PSG against Europa League winners Aston Villa.

The appointment follows discussions between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), who recently signed a new partnership agreement to develop various aspects of football, particularly refereeing.

Omar Aden Artan, one of Africa’s most renowned referees, has been on the FIFA international referees’ list since 2018. Despite his young age, he has officiated at major continental and international level matches, including the second leg of the 2025/2026 CAF Champions League final.

In 2025, he also won the African Men’s Referee of the Year award, which CAF gave him after his outstanding performances in continental competitions.

Although FIFA had already included him on the list of referees for the 2026 World Cup, Artan was unable to participate in the tournament after being denied entry to the United States.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said that Artan is a high-quality referee who has already proven himself, and his appointment shows UEFA’s respect for his skills and the level of international refereeing he has achieved.

For his part, CAF President Patrice Motsepe described Artan’s appointment as a great honour for Somalia and the African continent as a whole.

“Omar Aden Artan has brought great honour to Somalia and Africa. His appointment in this match and his previous achievements are a testament to his world-class talent and reputation in world football,” said Motsepe.

This appointment makes Omar Aden Artan one of the highest-ranking Somali referees ever to be entrusted with the officiating of an official UEFA match, which is considered a historic achievement for Somali and African refereeing.

The three-day consultation brought together Federal Government agencies, Somali development partners including the World Bank, the European Union and the Government of Germany, and regional stakeholders to review progress on the current Regional Trade Facilitation Plan and identify priorities for its renewal.

The conference, which was addressed by Jamal Mohamed Hassan, Minister of Trade and Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia, and Mr. Liibaan Absiiye, Head of the Secretariat of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) and representative of the HoAI Chairperson, focused on the Somali National Consultation on Trade Facilitation in the Region.

The Somali Minister of Trade, Jamal Mohamed Hassan, stressed the importance of moving beyond political discussions and commitments to practical measures that facilitate trade and contribute to economic growth. He called for the development of priority projects that will strengthen regional trade integration, stressing the importance of achieving tangible results, such as the development of trade infrastructure, border crossings, and border transport links.

The Minister of Finance of the Federal Government of Somalia, Bihi Iimaan Cige, and the current Chairperson of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI), who officially closed the conference, stressed that genuine regional integration can only be achieved through strong technical cooperation and continuous collaboration among the member countries of the initiative.

Minister Bihi highlighted the important role of government institutions, business experts and professionals in implementing regional commitments, to translate them into effective reforms that facilitate trade and promote connectivity and economic growth.

This Consultation will help establish Somalia’s role in updating the Regional Trade Facilitation Plan, and will contribute to the discussions to be held at the HoAI Trade Ministerial Conference, to strengthen trade, connectivity and economic integration among the countries of the Horn of Africa.

While in Jowhar, the President is scheduled to hold consultation meetings with community leaders, intellectuals, local residents and Hirshabelle administration officials.

These meetings will focus on issues such as elections, security, the development of social services and strengthening local administration.

The elections expected to be held in Hirshabelle will elect local councils and members of the public, and the administration and the federal government have described them as an important step in strengthening governance, public representation and the democratic process in the country.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is also expected to inspect the general situation in Hirshabelle areas and inaugurate development projects implemented in Jowhar.

These projects include infrastructure, social services and the reconstruction of key government facilities.

Meanwhile, security in Jowhar city has been significantly tightened ahead of the president’s arrival, with security forces increasing operations to ensure peace in the city and the areas he will visit.

This visit also comes at a time when the Federal Government of Somalia is making strong efforts to implement the one-person, one-vote elections planned to be held in Hirshabelle, Galmudug and other areas, which the government sees as an important pillar of the country’s democratization process.

A statement from the Northeastern State Police Command said that security forces have information indicating that these actions are intended to mislead the public and damage the security and stability of the area.

The police said they are closely monitoring anyone suspected of organizing, recording, disseminating or facilitating these videos, noting that investigations are ongoing.

The command also warned against involvement in these actions, and stated that anyone found to be involved will be subject to legal action and brought before the competent judicial authorities.

The Northeastern State Police called on the public to cooperate with security forces and refrain from disseminating or supporting anything they said would harm the security, peace and stability of the community.

Recently, a 14-year-old girl was gang-raped in Lascaanod city, allegedly by young men who were relatives of two sisters who had previously been raped there.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Omar was subjected to additional screening upon his arrival in Miami from Istanbul, Turkey.

A CBP spokesman said the screening was part of a routine process to verify travelers’ information and eligibility for entry into the country. He added that he was ultimately determined to be ineligible for entry into the United States due to security screening, and was therefore denied entry.

U.S. officials did not provide further details about the specific reason for the Somali referee’s denial, but Somalia is among the countries affected by President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which has led to stricter screening for citizens of those countries.

Omar Abdulkadir Aden was named the best African referee in 2025 and was selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate at this year’s World Cup.

FIFA said it had no role in the visa and immigration procedures of the host country. A spokesman for the organization said the host government had the final say on who would be granted a visa and who would be allowed to enter the country.

The incident comes as other countries, including Iran, have also faced restrictions on entry to the United States as the Trump administration tightened immigration and border security policies.