warsameblog

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Exposing Corruption and Conspiracy: The Expulsion of Sweden’s Aid Chief in Somalia

Anna Saleem Högberg, SIDA Representative The recent expulsion of Anna Saleem Högberg, head of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) in Somalia, has unveiled a web of corruption and conspiracy implicating high-ranking Somali officials. While the Somali government cited procedural errors in her expulsion order—a persona non grata (PNG) designation typically reserved for diplomats—the…

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Al-Shabaab’s Resurgence: Could Mogadishu Be Next After the Fall of Adan Yabaal?

The fall of Adan Yabaal, a strategic town in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, has sent shockwaves through the country’s political and security circles. Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group, executed a swift and calculated offensive, overwhelming government forces and captured the town on April 16, 2025. Located roughly 245 kilometres north of Mogadishu, Adan Yabaal has long been a…

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Final Notice to Subscribers

Subject: Important Update: Transition to Substack for Premium Content Delivery Dear Valued Subscribers,We sincerely appreciate your continued support for Warsame Digital Media (WDM). To enhance your experience and deliver content more efficiently, we are transitioning our premium articles exclusively to Substack, a platform that offers improved features and reliability. What’s changing? End of…

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The Worsening Security Situation in South-Central Somalia

IntroductionThe security landscape in South-Central Somalia has deteriorated alarmingly in recent months, marked by the resurgence of Al-Shabab militants and the Somali government’s faltering response. The fall of Adan Yabaal again, a strategic town in the Middle Shabelle region, to Al-Shabab in late 2025—and reports of Somali National Army (SNA) commanders fleeing the battlefield—underscore a…

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The Crisis of the Somali National Army: Structural Failures and the Path to Collapse

The Somali National Army (SNA), tasked with defending the nation against insurgency and restoring state authority, stands as a symbol of both hope and despair. Under the DamulJadiid administration, the SNA has been crippled by systemic mismanagement, clan-based politicization, chronic underfunding, and a lack of cohesive national identity. These factors have rendered the army ineffective in…

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The Elusive Secession of Somaliland: Destabilization and Regional Fallout

The long-standing aspiration for Somaliland’s independence has recently been overshadowed by a growing pattern of regional destabilization and troubling allegations of collusion with extremist groups. Once viewed as a model of relative stability in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland’s territorial ambitions, particularly over the contested SSC-Khatumo region, have resulted in significant political…

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The Somali Paradox: Refuge, Return, and the Collapse of a Nation

In 1991, the collapse of the Somali government thrust the country into a state of chaos, pushing hundreds of thousands of Somalis to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, especially Kenya. This mass displacement marked the beginning of a long and painful journey for a nation that, decades later, remains trapped in cycles of instability, corruption, and failed statehood. While international…

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Somalia at the Brink: Possible Responses if Mogadishu Falls to Al-Shabab

Introduction Somalia stands at a perilous crossroads, as the threat of Mogadishu—the nation’s capital and symbolic center of governance—being overrun by Al-Shabab militants grows increasingly imminent. Al-Shabab, a jihadist group aligned with al-Qaeda, has persistently destabilized Somalia through guerrilla warfare, terror attacks, and the establishment of parallel administrations in rural…

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WDM NEWS BRIEF – DETAILED REPORT

1. Al-Shabaab Captures Strategic Town in Middle Shabelle, Somalia Al-Shabaab militants have captured a key strategic town in the Middle Shabelle region, marking a significant escalation in the group’s operations across South-Central Somalia. This town, situated along a vital corridor for movement and supply, had been under government control in recent months and played a critical role in the…

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Can Somalia Survive Without External Assistance Amid a Shifting Global Order?

The world is undergoing a seismic shift in political and economic dynamics. The Western world, once seen as the pillar of global stability and prosperity, is now facing growing internal crises—economic stagnation, political division, and declining global influence. The prolonged Ukraine war has exposed both the financial and strategic limits of Western countries. As the war drains Western…

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Review: The Sword That Broke Terror – How a Small Somali State Defied the Odds and Crushed ISIS

Said Abdullahi Deni Every so often, a book comes along that doesn’t just tell a story—it redefines how we think about courage, leadership, and what’s truly possible in the fight against terrorism. The Sword That Broke Terror is that book. Set against the harsh backdrop of northern Somalia’s Calmiskaad mountains, this 400-page powerhouse chronicles how Puntland, an often-overlooked region,…

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The Cancellation of Somali National Army Day: A Symptom of Systemic Security Challenges

The cancellation of this year’s Somali National Army Day (April 12) marks a sobering moment for Somalia, underscoring the profound struggles facing its armed forces. The decision, attributed to shortages of personnel, funding, and equipment, is not merely a logistical setback but a symbolic indictment of the systemic issues plaguing the nation’s security apparatus. This development reflects…

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Review: ''The Age of Forever Wars: Why Military Strategy No Longer Delivers Victory''

This compelling article provides a sobering critique of modern military strategy and its consistent failure to deliver decisive victories in recent conflicts. It traces the evolution of strategic thought from the rapid triumph of Operation Desert Storm in 1991—once seen as a herald of a new era in warfare—to the protracted, inconclusive, and often devastating conflicts that have characterized the…

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Unmasking Deception: Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre’s Laascaano Visit and the Imperative for SSC-Khatumo Vigilance

IntroductionPrime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre’s recent visit to Laascaano has ignited controversy, with critics alleging that its stated objectives—promoting federal unity and recognizing SSC-Khatumo’s administrative status—mask a deeper, more politically charged agenda. Behind the rhetoric of empowerment lies a two-fold mission: advancing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s contentious electoral…

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A Crisis of Care: Maternal Health Neglect in Puntland and the Urgency for Systemic Reform

The recent account of a repairman’s wife denied basic drugs and hygiene supplies after delivering her child at Garowe Government General Hospital is not an isolated tragedy—it is a searing indictment of Puntland’s collapsing healthcare system. This incident, emblematic of systemic neglect, exposes a dire reality: in one of Somalia’s most politically significant regions, mothers and newborns are…

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Review of "Covert Action in Irregular Wars: Unraveling the Case of Timber Sycamore in Syria (2012–2017)" by Jonathan Hackett

IntroductionJonathan Hackett’s article, published in Small Wars Journal, offers a critical examination of the CIA’s Timber Sycamore operation, a covert program aimed at overthrowing Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime through support for rebel forces. Drawing on declassified documents, government records, and interviews, Hackett—a former Marine Corps interrogator and special operations…

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Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre’s Visit to Laascaano: Optics, Ambitions, and Unspoken Tensions

In the intricate tapestry of Somali politics, Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre’s high-profile visit to Laascaano—a burgeoning city-state shaped by the influx of SSC-Khatumo residents fleeing poverty and instability—has ignited a flurry of speculation, conspiracy theories, and geopolitical intrigue. The visit, marked by an oversized delegation of ministers, lawmakers, lobbyists, and political…