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US President Donald Trump said he did not want Somali immigrants in the US during a cabinet meeting, as federal authorities prepared an enforcement operation in Minnesota’s Somali community. Officials said ICE would target undocumented residents, while denying any action based on race. Minnesota leaders warned the plan could affect US citizens and violate due process. The Department of Homeland Security said enforcement is based on immigration status, not ethnicity.
US Africa Command said it conducted more than 100 airstrikes in Somalia this year, up from 10 in 2024. AFRICOM reported the latest operation targeted ISIS-Somalia near Bosaso in Puntland, in coordination with Somalia’s federal government. Local sources said senior militants were hit and up to 10 killed, with no US casualties reported. AFRICOM denied reports that US troops carried out ground operations, citing operational security.
Somalia’s efforts to establish a unified national identification system have accelerated under the National Identification and Registration Authority, created in 2023 to issue secure digital IDs using biometric data. After years of fragmented records and low ID coverage, NIRA has opened registration centers, launched verification and mobile platforms, and begun mass enrollment targeting 15 million people by 2029. Officials say the system is critical for service delivery and broader state-building, but requires strong legal safeguards and interoperability.
Somalia’s Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced that Banadir Regional Local Council elections will be held on December 25, 2025. Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan said voting will take place across 16 districts with 61 political organizations participating. The commission said it is overseeing preparations to ensure a transparent and fair process, but the timeline remains uncertain after previous delays. Political groups continue to dispute the commission’s independence and the broader 2026 election timetable.
The National Union of Somali Journalists, supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, launched the “National Safeguarding Initiative for Women Journalists” in Mogadishu as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence begins. The program aims to protect women journalists through ethical reporting standards, safer newsrooms, leadership support and gender-sensitive editorial policies. Journalists and media leaders from Somalia attended the two-day event, which called for concrete protections and a stronger national commitment to women’s safety.
Somalia’s public health system is facing severe strain after the Trump administration’s shutdown of USAID operations led to over 6,000 health workers losing their jobs and up to 2,000 facilities being affected. Hospitals in Mogadishu report heavy reliance on donor funding as drought, insecurity and reduced foreign support worsen access to care. Officials warn that services for malnutrition, vaccinations and infectious diseases are deteriorating, with many rural areas lacking functioning hospitals.
