Somali leaders have approved a new constitution, as the country approaches a U.N. deadline for completing its government transition. An assembly that began working last week in Mogadishu overwhelmingly approved the document Wednesday. The meeting came as a pair of suicide bombers tried to attack the area. Authorities said the bombers were killed, but at […]
UN: Somalia Transition at ‘Decisive Phase’
Posted July 25th, 2012 at 11:30 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations Security Council says Somalia’s transition is at a “decisive phase” and must be completed by August 20. In a statement Wednesday, the Council urged all parties involved in a U.N.-backed roadmap to a permanent government to follow through on their commitments. The statement came as a nine-day conference began in the Somali […]
Somali Assembly Begins to Adopt Constitution
Posted July 25th, 2012 at 2:50 pm (UTC-5)
A nine-day conference is under way in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, where an 825-member assembly is expected to ratify a new constitution. The Constituent Assembly began meeting on Wednesday, after the gathering was postponed three times this month. The assembly includes a broad range of regional delegates who will discuss and possibly amend a draft […]
Al-Shabab Executes 3 for Western Spying
Posted July 23rd, 2012 at 8:05 am (UTC-5)
Somali militant group al-Shabab has executed three of its own members for alleged spying on behalf of U.S. and British intelligence agencies. A pro-al-Shabab website says the three men were executed Sunday in the town of Merka. An al-Shabab judge said one man had admitted to working for British spy agency MI6 and handing over […]
UN: Somali Refugees Surpass 1 Million in Horn of Africa
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 1:15 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations refugee agency says the number of Somalis who have fled their country has surpassed 1 million. According to the agency, most of the refugees are fleeing to neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. The most recent arrivals — like previous ones — cite continued unrest and food shortages in Somalia. However, the outflow of […]
Eritrea Urges UN to Drop Sanctions
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
Eritrea is urging the United Nations to lift sanctions against the country after a leaked U.N. report suggested Asmara no longer supports Somali al-Shabab insurgents. The report by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, obtained Monday by news agencies including VOA, found no evidence that Eritrea directly supported al-Shabab in the past year. […]
UN: Somali Refugees Surpass 1 Million in Horn of Africa
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. refugee agency says the number of Somalis who have fled their country has surpassed 1 million. A spokesman says the latest data show most of the refugees have fled to neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. The most recent arrivals — like previous ones — cite continued unrest and food shortages in Somalia. However, the […]
Eritrea Urges UN to Drop Sanctions
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 12:45 am (UTC-5)
Eritrea is urging the United Nations to lift sanctions against the country after a leaked U.N. report suggested Asmara no longer supports Somali al-Shabab insurgents. The report by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, obtained Monday by news agencies including VOA, found no evidence that Eritrea directly supported al-Shabab in the past year. […]
UN Report: Somali Gov’t Deeply Corrupt
Posted July 16th, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
A United Nations report obtained by VOA says Somalia’s transitional government is so deeply corrupt that it is ruled by a popular Somali phrase — “What’s in it for me?” The U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea suggests some leaders want to “hijack or derail” Somalia’s political transition process for personal gain. The government’s […]
UN Report: Somali Gov’t Deeply Corrupt
Posted July 16th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
A United Nations report obtained by VOA says Somalia’s transitional government is so deeply corrupt that it is essentially ruled by a popular Somali phrase – “What’s in it for me?” The U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea suggests rampant theft of public funds is behind efforts by some political leaders to “hijack or […]
