Matt Bryden

The return of Erik Prince The comeback of America’s most infamous mercenary

Tough but fair. The Economist's new podcast about Erik Prince and the future of PMCs. Worth a listen. #Iraq #Somalia #DRC #Haiti #Ukraine #

www.economist.com/podcasts/202...

At least 700 dead in Tanzania's post-election protests, opposition says Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in Tanzania after taking to the streets to protest this week’s presidential election, which saw the increasingly authoritarian incumbent, President Samia...

www.france24.com/en/africa/20...

Djibouti parliament vote to lift presidential age limit allows Guelleh re-run Djibouti's parliament has voted unanimously to lift a presidential age limit, opening the way for its 77-year-old leader Ismail Omar Guelleh to run for a sixth term in April 2026 election.

Sigh...

Djibouti parliament vote to lift presidential age limit allows Guelleh re-run rfi.my/C84a.BS

🚨 BREAKING

#Ethiopian PM Abiy received #Somalia President Hassan in Addis Ababa. Sources say the visit aims to block #Somaliland President Cirro's planned trip to Addis and seek Ethiopian backing for #Mogadishu’s plan to detach Gedo region from #Jubaland administration led by Madoobe.

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of preparing for war as Red Sea tensions rise Ethiopia has written to the UN, accusing Eritrea of "funding, mobilizing and directing armed groups" on its soil.

#Ethiopia accuses #Eritrea of preparing for war as Red Sea tensions rise in a letter its Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos sent to the UN chief Antonio Guterres.

Somaliland’s Electoral Commission Wins Global Transparency Award in Botswana By: Mohamed Duale Gaborone, Botswana – Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) has received the Transparent Election Award in recognition of its credible and transparent management of the cou...

#Somaliland’s Electoral Commission Wins Global Transparency Award in Botswana

"The award also underscores Somaliland’s growing reputation as a model of democratic governance in the Horn of Africa."
#elections #democracy

horndiplomat.com/2025/10/soma...

Somalia’s opposition Salvation Forum, together with #Puntland & #Jubaland state leaders form the "Council for Somalia's Future", following talks in Nairobi.

They called for a national summit inside #Somalia to finalize the council & urged unity against threats to stability.

Electoral Showdown in Somalia: Averting Another Round of Turmoil | International Crisis Group Political tensions are rising in Somalia. With elections due in 2026, politicians are arguing over the terms for the polls. The government and its opponents urgently need to compromise in order to sta...

Crisis Group warns looming electoral showdown could plunge #Somalia into fresh turmoil, calling urgent inclusive talks between stakeholders on 2026 vote rules — or risk a repeat of past violence and paralysis.

@comfortero.crisisgroup.org @crisisgroup.org

As President Hassan Sheikh attends UNGA this week without a much-needed Jubaland deal, and amid mounting AUSSOM debt and Al-Shabaab advances, Villa Somalia’s diplomacy looks adrift nine months into its UNSC tenure. Read more in our latest #Somalia #SomaliWire: sahan.global/issues/the-som

By Sahan Research, #Ethiopia and #AI

'[These] are the ones now directing much of our future, a handful of nearly exclusively white North American men, wealthy, vainglorious and battling out the future of humanity with their egos in the race for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data supremacy'

Jubaland’s crisis spills into Mandera - with Villa Somalia destabilising Gedo and AS exploiting the vacuum, Nairobi’s partnership with Madoobe remains a necessary, if uncomfortable, pillar. Read more in Sahan's latest #SomaliWire: sahan.global/issues/the-s...

Why Somaliland Matters The time has come to treat Somaliland for what it already is: a functioning state that has earned its place among nations.

Somaliland's quest for international recognition receives a powerful vote of support from an unexpected quarter. #Somaliland #Somalia
americanmind.org/salvo/why-so...

Sahan's latest #SomaliWire unpacks the NSF's rejection of Villa Somalia’s splinter deal and the sustained electoral impasse with Jubaland and Puntland still excluded. The concerns over Mogadishu's flawed polls rumble on. #Somalia #Elections #Conflict Read more: sahan.global/issues/the-s...

Senator Ted Cruz urges the US government to recognise the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state ahead of a visit to Washington, DC by its President, Abdirahman 'Irro'. #Somaliland #Somalia

In our latest #SomaliWire, we unpack the possible consequences of the FGS's proposed closed-list, single constituency model. Excluding most of Somalia, the FGS OPOV plan presents as a democracy in name only. Read more: sahan.global/issues/the-s...

Somalia gripped by fears of militant Islamic uprising With Al-Shabaab 25 miles outside of Mogadishu a weak government consumed by infighting and corruption tells citizens capital will not fall

Only foreign aid and African Union troops stand between Somalia's embattled federal government and an Al-Shabaab takeover.#Somalia #conflict #terrorism
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

OP-ED: Somalia at the Precipice: Why Decentralized Security is the Only Path Forward

Excellent and sober analysis from Abdusalam Salwe on the deepening crisis in #Somalia.
garoweonline.com/en/opinions/...

The Somali Wire this week looks at the fall of Moqokori to Al-Shabaab and its wider implications for the counterinsurgency campaign in central Somalia.

To read, subscribe to @SahanResearch publications: sahan.global

Congressman Scott Perry Introduces "Republic of Somaliland Independence Act"

US Congressman Scott Perry pushes for recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. #Somaliland
perry.house.gov/news/documen...

Somalia at a Crossroads: Resurgent Insurgents, Fragmented Politics, and the Uncertain Future of AUSSOM - Combating Terrorism Center at West Point Abstract: Nearly three years after the Somali government launched its offensive against al-Shabaab, the security landscape remains precarious. Al-Shabaab has resurged, coordination between federal and...

An excellent, well-balanced piece of analysis on Somalia's prospects in the face of a resurgent Al-Shabaab and diminishing international security assistance, by Dr Daisy Muibu and Yayedior Mbengue at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. #Somalia #AlShabaab
ctc.westpoint.edu/somalia-at-a...

Exclusive: Somaliland president says recognition of state ‘on the horizon’ following Trump talks The breakaway territory’s independence has never been internationally recognised. Insiders say recent US overtures are encouraging – but the consequences could be inflammatory in the tinderbox region

Nothing new in this article, but it's a useful update on Somaliland's rising stature on the international stage.#Somaliland #Somalia
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Kenyan President William S. Ruto received Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi 'Irro' at State House, Nairobi, on 29 May 2025 to discuss strengthening relations between the two governments. #Somaliland #Kenya

Abdirahman Warsame on Substack Somalia's Authoritarian Turn: How Exclusion Fuels Instability. Somalia's delicate democratic transition is unraveling at an alarming pace. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud‘s decision to replace the Na...

A leading Somali opposition figure, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, analyses his country's deepening crisis. #Somalia
substack.com/@abdirahmanw...

The new “Justice and Solidarity Party” isn’t about justice, solidarity, or elections—it’s about Villa Somalia tightening its grip. Borrowing from Erdoğan’s playbook, #Somalia risks sliding from fragile federalism into one-man rule. Read more here:https://sahan.global/issues/sw-issue-819

Trump Team Divided Over Future of U.S. Embassy in Somalia (Gift Article) Some State Department officials have proposed closing the embassy in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, as a precaution after recent gains by Al Shabab militants.

The United States mulls over its options in Somalia as Al-Shabaab advances on the capital, Mogadishu. #Somalia
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/u...

En Somalie, les insurgés chabab gagnent du terrain sans réaction du gouvernement Les djihadistes, qui ont conquis plusieurs points stratégiques du pays, ont pris le contrôle de la ville de Masaajid Cali Gaduud, à 175 kilomètres au nord de Mogadiscio, mercredi.

En Somalie, les insurgés chabab gagnent du terrain sans réaction du gouvernement #Somalia #Somalie #Shabaab #Conflict #Security
www.lemonde.fr/afrique/arti...

From Insurgency to Power Grab: Al-Shabaab’s deadly advance on Mogadishu signals Somalia’s descent into disaster - Addis Standard From Insurgency to Power Grab: Al-Shabaab’s deadly advance on Mogadishu signals Somalia’s descent into disaster Addis Standard Op/Ed -

An excellent article in yesterday's Addis Standard sets out #Somalia's "last chance" to prevent an Al-Shabaab victory and the emergence of a "radical Islamist state in the Horn of Africa".
addisstandard.com/from-insurge...

Al-Shabaab’s Resurgence: A Call for Unity and Action in Somalia - WardheerNews omalia stands at a critical juncture in its battle against Al-Shabaab as the militant group escalates its offensive against Somali army

One of Somalia's prominent opposition politicians, Abdirahman Abdishakur, calls for urgent political reforms to avert a takeover by Al-Shabaab militants. #Somalia #Shabaab
wardheernews.com/al-shabaabs-...

JUST IN: #Somalia's govt forces raided Risaala Media HQ in Mogadishu, shut it down and arrested staff—hours after the outlet reported on a blast targeting the president's convoy.

Desperate measures.