2026 in Somalia
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Events in the year 2026 in Somalia.
Incumbents
[edit]- President: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (term ended, disputed: until 15 May), Aden Madobe (Acting president: since 15 May)
- Prime Minister: Hamza Abdi Barre.
- Speaker of the House: Abdi Hashim Abdelahi.
Events
[edit]Ongoing
[edit]- Somali Civil War (2009–present)
- Constitutional crisis in Somalia
- Controversies of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
January
[edit]- 6 January – Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar visits Somaliland following Israel's decision to recognize the territory as an independent state.[1]
- 7 January – The United States suspends all assistance to the Somali federal government following allegations of theft of food aid by local authorities.[2]
- 12 January – Somalia revokes all bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates, citing violations of its sovereignty.[3]
February
[edit]- 9 February – Somalia and Saudi Arabia sign a military cooperation agreement.[4]
- 10 February – A Fokker 50 operated by Starsky Aviation makes a water-landing off the coast of Mogadishu after overshooting the runway at Aden Adde International Airport during an emergency landing shortly after takeoff on its way to Puntland. All 55 on board survive.[5]
March
[edit]- 4 March – The Federal Parliament votes in favor of a proposed new constitution allowing for the direct election of MPs.[6]
- 17 March – The South West State of Somalia announces a suspension of all cooperation and relations with the Federal Government, citing interference in regional leadership and the backing of militias.[7]
- 30 March – The Somali Armed Forces take control of Baidoa, South West State, two weeks after regional president Abdiaziz Laftagareen resigns his administration's ties with the federal government.[8][9]
April
[edit]- 2 April – The Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport announces the registration of the ship Guney (IMO 8230417) under the Somali flag, the country's first national-flagged vessel since 1991.[10][11]
- 14 April – Twenty-seven al-Shabaab militants are killed by security forces in a large-scale defence ministry operation in Jubaland.[12]
- 22 April – An oil tanker sailing from Berbera to Mogadishu is hijacked by pirates off Puntland.[13]
- 27 April – A Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged cargo vessel is hijacked by pirates off Garacad, Puntland.[13]
May
[edit]- 10 May – One person is shot dead after security forces open fire on demonstrators in Mogadishu protesting against government‑ordered evictions.[14]
- 15 May – A third day of talks mediated by the UK and US between the Somali federal government and the opposition Somali Future Council collapses over their legal future and the electoral process after Hassan Sheikh Mohamud broke his constitutional presidential term limit. His four-year constitutional term formally expired on 15 May, but it ended with no plan for an upcoming election.[15]
- 20 May – Puntland president Said Deni and Vice president Ilyas Osman Lugator host a high-level US delegation in the presidential palace in Garoowe following the expiration of the mandate of Somalia’s federal government, where U.S. representatives sought to strengthen economic opportunities in Puntland’s oil exploration, fisheries, and mineral development sectors.[16]
- 21 May – The Government of Puntland states that federal executive and legislative mandates under the Somali provisional constitution have ended, as federal institutions enter a transitional phase with unclear mandates.[17]
June
[edit]- 10 June – Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was to have been the first Somali to become a referee at the FIFA World Cup, is denied entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[18]
Holidays
[edit]Source:[19]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 16 January – Isra' and Mi'raj
- 20 – 21 March – Eid al-Fitr
- 1 May – Labour Day
- 18 May – Somaliland Declaration of Independence
- 27 – 28 May – Eid al-Adha
- 17 June – Islamic New Year
- 26 June – Ashura
- 1 July – Independence Day
- 26 August – The Prophet's Birthday
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Israeli foreign minister visits Somaliland after contentious recognition of breakaway territory". Africanews. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Somalia: US halts assistance to federal government". Africanews. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ "Somalia cancels all agreements with UAE over alleged sovereignty violations". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ "Somalia, Saudi Arabia sign agreement on military cooperation". Al Jazeera. 11 February 2026.
- ^ "Pilot praised after crash-landing faulty Somali passenger plane on seashore". BBC. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ "Somalia's new constitution will see directly elected lawmakers". Africanews. 5 March 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ Sheikh, Abdi (17 March 2026). "Somalia's South West state says it has severed ties with the federal government". Reuters. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Is casilaadda Laftagareen kadib maxaa u dambeyn doona Koofur Galbeed?". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 30 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ^ Sheikh, Abdi (30 March 2026). "Somali army takes control of strategic city, regional leader resigns". Reuters. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ^ https://www.ftlsomalia.com/somalia-launches-first-national-ship-registry-since-1991/
- ^ https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/somalia-registers-ship-under-national-flag-after-over-3-decades/3888956
- ^ Biryabarema, Elias (14 April 2026). "Somalia says it killed 27 al Shabaab militants with international support". Reuters. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ a b "Suspected pirates seize vessel carrying cement off Somalia, the second hijacking incident in days". AP News. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ^ "Somali security forces open fire on protesters in Mogadishu, killing one". Africanews. 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ^ "Collapse of Halane Talks Pushes Somalia Into a New Political Crisis Over Elections". Garowe Online. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ^ "Somalia: Puntland and US Hold Talks on Somalia's Security and Development". Horseed Media. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ^ "Puntland breaks with the president and Parliament of Somalia". Demócrata. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ^ "What to know about the World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the US". AP News. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ^ "Somalia Public Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
