(ERGO) – Community leaders are alarmed by the growing misuse of the painkiller Tramadol among rural pastoralists in central Somalia’s Galgadud region. Police, medical officers, and elders say that despite the adherence to traditional customs among these communities, increasing violent crime and social breakdown is being fuelled by the abuse of readily available drugs. Elders and religious leaders in Guriel conduct an awareness session about the risks of drug abuse/Abdirisak Hajirow/Ergo Radio Ergo spoke to one man, Abdinasir Ali Abdulle, 34, a pastoralist in Guriel, whose addiction led to the breakdown of his family and livelihood. According to Abdinasir, he started taking Tramadol regularly in 2020 and soon found that he was addicted. He became unable to look after his herd of livestock that the family depended on and couldn’t control his own behaviour. “When I started, I used to take 1 or 2 pills a day, but eventually I...

Hamza HendawiTuesday October 15, 2024 Egyptian military advisers, trainers and counter-terrorism commandos support Somali forces in fight against Al Shabab militants From left, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. AFP Egypt is building up its military mission in Somalia before the December 31 deadline for Ethiopian troops to withdraw from the Horn of Africa nation, with Cairo also training and supporting Somali security forces in the fight against Al Qaeda-linked militants, sources told The National on Tuesday. Egypt and Somalia, members of the Cairo-based Arab League, signed a milestone military co-operation agreement in August. Egypt has since sent weapons, military advisers, trainers and counter-terrorism commandos to Mogadishu. Thousands of Egyptian personnel were expected to be involved in the military mission by the end of the year, the sources said. Ethiopia is believed to have about 22,000 troops in Somalia, they...

Dr. Abdurahman Baadiyow In the last quarter of the 19th century, extending into the early 20th century, as the European powers extended control in the Horn of Africa, scholars of Islam became leading figures in the organization and leadership of Somali resistance. These scholars saw the defense of Muslim lands against Christian invaders-the Italians, British, French, and Ethiopians-as an Islamic duty. This eventually came to be known as the “Era of the Sheikhs,” as coined by Professor Said Samatar. Sheikh Hassan Barsane The most prominent scholars who took up arms were the leaders of the Darwish movement, Sayyid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan (1856–1920); Sheikh Ahmed Gabyow, head of resistance in Warsheikh and Adale (1844–1933); the leader of the Biyamal resistance, Sheikh Abdi Abiikar Gafle (1852–1922); Sheikh Hassan Barsane (1852–1927); Sheikh Bashir Sheikh Hassan (1905–1945), and Sheikh Ahmed Haji Mahadi, the mentor of Lafole resistance of Italians  (1896) among many. A key...

Tuesday October 15, 2024 Mogadishu (HOL) — The Banadir regional administration has suspended the commissioner of Hodan district, Ali Fahle, along with several members of his administration, for 45 days due to reported negligence. The decision followed an inspection led by the Deputy Commissioner of Security and Politics for Banadir Region, Mohamed Ahmed Diriye (Yabooh), who assessed the performance of district administrations in Hodan, Wabari, Howlwadag, and Hamar-Jajab districts in Mogadishu. Yabooh cited inefficiency and poor performance as the primary reasons for the suspension. The suspended commissioner is expected to undergo administrative training as part of the reprimand for failing to fulfill his responsibilities. In addition to the suspension, Yabooh issued a stern warning to the administrations of the Wabari and Hamar-Jajab districts, noting that their work would be closely monitored for 45 days. If found lacking, district employees risk dismissal. While the Banadir regional administration has not provided a...

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks as he meets with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters) BAGHDAD: Iran’s top diplomat vowed Sunday there would be “no red lines” for the country in defending its people and interests, ahead of Israel’s expected retaliation for Iran’s recent missile attack. “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X. Iran fired 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 in what it said was retaliation for the killing of Tehran-aligned militant leaders in the region and a general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed Israel’s response will be “deadly, precise, and surprising.”Araghchi was in Baghdad to discuss the wars in Gaza and...

Monday October 14, 2024 Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Upper House Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi has reversed his decision to remove Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama from the Upper House of Parliament following accusations that Jama had failed to attend several parliamentary sessions. In a statement released on Monday, Speaker Hashi announced that Jama would continue serving as a senator, and the political dispute between the two had been resolved following consultations with various parties. Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama confirmed the resolution of the disagreement, stating that he would remain committed to his senatorial duties. “I will serve my constituency and the Somali nation as a member of the Upper House,” Jama said in his statement. The dispute started after Speaker Hashi cited Article 59(a) of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, defining that senators lose their seats if they miss four consecutive sessions, as grounds for Jama’s removal. Jama had...

Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich crosses the finish line to win her third Chicago Marathon, setting the women’s world record with a time of two hours nine minutes 56 seconds on Sunday at Grant Park. (Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters) Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich put on a performance for the ages as she obliterated the women’s marathon world record in Chicago on Sunday, taking nearly two minutes off the previous best to win in a time of two hours nine minutes 56 seconds. Chepngetich ditched the competition by the halfway mark and ran through a chorus of cheers through the final straight as she claimed her third title in Chicago and crushed Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s previous record of 2:11:53, set last year in Berlin. Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede crossed the line seven minutes and 36 seconds later while Kenyan Irine Cheptai (2:17:51) was third. “This is my dream that has come true,” said...

Monday October 14, 2024 Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre lays the cornerstone for the reconstruction of Mogadishu Stadium during a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The project, backed by a youth-owned company, aims to restore the stadium as a symbol of national pride, creating jobs, and fostering unity through sports.  Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre laid the cornerstone for the reconstruction of Mogadishu Football Stadium on Sunday. The reconstruction project, which includes renovating the football field and constructing basketball courts and a swimming facility, is backed by investment from a youth-owned company. The Prime Minister said that the project is not just about restoring a stadium but transforming it into a catalyst for national development. “Rebuilding Stadium Mogadishu will enhance the beauty of the city, create job opportunities for young people, and boost both the economy and tourism,” Barre said during the...

By Abdullahi Ahmed Nor The recent tripartite agreements signed in Asmara last week, which seek to align the interests of Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt, initially appear to be a strategic step towards neutralizing Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Abiy Ahmed’s ambitions to annex Somali coastal territory in the North. However, if we carefully assess the benefits Somalia might gain from this agreement, it becomes evident that Somalia is not positioned to capitalize on it due to its internal political fragmentation. The leadership of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, driven by self-interest and detached from public sentiment and the political elite, continues to pursue policies that deepen the divisions within the country. Presidents Afwerki of Eritrea (Left), Al-Sisi of Egypt (center) and Hassan Sheikh of Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent trip to Asmara to sign the tripartite agreement between Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia occurred in the immediate aftermath of the catastrophic...

Sunday October 13, 2024   Mariam Mohamed is co-founder of Hoyo, which is one of 12 local startups that received 2024 microgrants from the nonprofit Market Entry Fund. She’s seen on October 1, 2024 at Hoyo’s Bloomington facility. Credit: Dymanh Chhoun | Sahan Journal “Hoyo” is the Somali word for mother. When sisters Mariam, Halima and Asha Mohamed launched Hoyo in 2015, their goal was to employ Somali women making a much-loved Somali snack: the deep-fried, beef-filled pastries known as sambusas. Since that time, Hoyo has grown into a local food success story, serving 200,000 sambusas a year at schools across Minnesota. Hoyo sambusas are also sold in co-ops and supermarkets. The business is one of 12 local food producers that recently received microgrants from The Market Entry Fund (TMEF), a St. Paul nonprofit that works with food and beverage producers from underrepresented communities.  TMEF’s Micro-Grants Program provides $5,000 to $20,000 grants to food startups. The goal is to...