⚡️UPDATE: #Somalia’s @JSStatehouse President Ahmed Madobe strongly condemned what he described as the #Somali federal government’s recent actions against opposition politicians, calling the move “a troubling escalation of the country’s political tensions.” Speaking in Kismayo on Sunday, he argued that security forces entrusted with protecting citizens were being used to intimidate government critics, raising fresh concerns about democratic freedoms and political pluralism.

⚡️UPDATE: #Somalia’s Minister of Agriculture, @Hon_Maareeye, has on Sunday officially received a package of modern equipment from @Tika_Turkiye aimed at strengthening and modernizing the Ministry’s operations, enhancing institutional capacity, efficiency, and technical performance. This support will help accelerate service delivery, improve coordination and implementation of agricultural development programs, and contribute to the country’s broader goal of achieving sustainable food self-sufficiency and agricultural growth.

⚡️LATEST: #Somali President @HassanSMohamud met with a delegation of Italian business leaders and investors at the Presidential Palace in #Mogadishu, where discussions focused on expanding trade, investment, and economic cooperation between #Somalia and #Italy. He highlighted the country’s progress in security and economic development and encouraged investment in key sectors, while the Italian delegation expressed interest in the nation’s emerging markets and ongoing development projects.

⚡️UPDATE: #Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who also serves as the government spokesperson, Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, held a telephone discussion on Sunday with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty. During the call, the two officials exchanged views on the strong and longstanding relationship between Djibouti and Egypt, highlighting the importance of continued diplomatic engagement between the two nations. The ministers reviewed ongoing areas of collaboration and discussed opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors of shared interest, including regional affairs, development initiatives, and economic partnerships. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing coordination and expanding ties in ways that support mutual interests and contribute to stability and progress in the region.

⚡️LATEST: Former #Somali President @HESharifShAhmed warned that #Somalia is at “a critical juncture,” stressing that the country's four-year electoral cycle is “a fundamental pillar of its governance system and must be safeguarded through consensus-based elections free from manipulation”. In a statement on Sunday, he said upcoming elections should be fair, transparent, and broadly accepted by all stakeholders, arguing that national agreement on the electoral process is essential for maintaining stability and democratic legitimacy.

⚡️UPDATE: United States President Donald Trump has criticised Israel for launching an attack on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, on the day he has said a deal to end the #US-#Israel war with Iran could be signed. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the Israeli attack on Beirut “should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran”. The statement came shortly after Iran’s top negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Israel’s attacks had again drawn US trust into question.

⚡️LATEST: China says it is holding an American citizen accused of espionage, identifying the man as a political analyst at a policy think tank focusing on neighbouring Myanmar. #China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the arrest of the man on suspicion of “spying” and “endangering national security” on Friday, a day after United States media reports said a scholar holding dual US and Myanmar citizenship was detained in early June.

⚡️LATEST: #Somalia’s @JSStatehouse President Ahmed Mohamed Islam on Sunday presided over the graduation of the elite Duufaan unit of the Jubaland Darawiish forces, urging the troops to apply the skills acquired during their training — particularly in community engagement — in areas they are expected to liberate in the coming days, while emphasizing that the success of military operations depends not only on security gains but also on winning the trust and support of local residents.

⚡️LATEST: #Romanian President Nicusor Dan has nominated Adrian Vestea, a National Liberal Party member and former mayor, as prime minister to form a new government after the previous choice for the post withdrew. Vestea, 52, ⁠is the county council president of the central Romanian county of Brasov. Eugen Tomac had ⁠been seeking to lead a government of technocrats but lacked support from the parties in parliament.

⚡️UPDATE: #Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States and therefore unable to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his full FIFA tournament payment. After being detained and questioned for 11 hours at Miami airport over alleged links to suspected terrorist associates — claims he denied — Artan was deported to #Somalia, but FIFA confirmed it would pay him as though he had participated in the tournament.

⚡️LATEST: President @Isaac_Herzog welcomed President @Abdirahmanirro to Tel Aviv for a "historic state visit" focused on "advancing cooperation in security, trade, water innovation, renewable energy, and regional development," while also marking the opening of #Somaliland’s embassy in #Jerusalem, according to diplomats familiar with the preparations. Sunday’s programme includes high-level diplomatic engagements with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, commemorative visits to Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem, a tree-planting ceremony with KKL-JNF at the Grove of Nations, and meetings with leading #Israeli business figures aimed at strengthening investment, partnerships, and long-term economic ties.

⚡️LATEST: British forces have seized a Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker that was trying to transit the English Channel, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says. The operation lasted six hours, the ministry said, adding that the vessel will be “provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns”.

⚡️ BREAKING: A delegation led by President @Abdirahmanirro arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday, drawing regional attention as the #Somaliland leader’s visit comes amid shifting diplomatic alignments in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. The arrival marks a notable moment for Israel and Somaliland relations, underscoring emerging political engagement between the two sides.

⚡️LATEST: President @Abdirahmanirro and First Lady Fardowsa Mohamed Roble are expected to arrive in #Israel on Sunday for the first official visit by a #Somaliland leader since #Israel recognized the territory’s independence in December 2025, a move rejected by #Somalia, signaling a deepening of relations between the two sides, according to media reports. During his stay in Israel through Thursday, President Irro is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, as well as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, senior government officials and business leaders, building on earlier behind-the-scenes contacts that helped pave the way for formal diplomatic recognition.

⚡️UPDATE: Welcoming the newly deployed Ghana Formed Police Unit contingent replacing GFPU-4 across #Mogadishu, #Baidoa and #Beletweyne, African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in #Somalia Police Coordinator Samuel Asiedu Okanta urged personnel to uphold professionalism, discipline and ethical conduct while supporting the #Somali Police Force through joint operations, specialized instruction and mentorship designed to enhance law-enforcement effectiveness and advance Somalia’s peace, security and stabilization agenda.

⚡️LATEST: #Somaliland’s envoy to #Israel, Mohamed Haji, cautioned that remarks by Somali President @HassanSMohamud about seeking foreign backing against @Presidencysl_ “could inflame tensions in the Horn of Africa,” saying such “a course risked triggering further confrontation”. In a social media post, he added that #Hargeisa “had the means and partnerships to defend itself against any threat,” warning that attempts “to destabilise the self-declared republic” would draw a response while reaffirming its commitment to peace and cooperation.

⚡️UPDATE: #US President Donald Trump said the United States would find and destroy Iran's enriched uranium when the region is calmer, as he announced that a deal to end the war would be signed on Sunday, even as Iran indicated that no signing was expected that day. Iran, however, said that the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States will not take place on Sunday but may happen in the coming days.

⚡️UPDATE: #Ghana has criticized Canada’s refusal to grant a visa to footballer Thomas Partey for its World Cup match against Panama, calling the decision “high-handed and extremely unfair” and formally requesting a review through diplomatic channels. #Canada’s decision is reportedly linked to pending rape and sexual assault charges against Partey in Britain, which he denies; although he cannot play in Canada, he remains eligible for Ghana’s matches in Boston and Philadelphia.

⚡️BREAKING: Former #Somali President @HESharifShAhmed on Saturday evening rejected allegations by President @HassanSMohamud that opposition-led protests were intended "to create instability and serve a foreign-backed agenda opposed to #Somalia’s state-building efforts". Speaking at his home in #Mogadishu, he accused the government of using political justifications "to eliminate" opposition leaders. He also claimed that resources intended for counterterrorism operations were being "used" in political disputes, calling instead for dialogue to resolve differences.