Regional forces in Somalia have retaken Kuday Island in Jubaland, a day after Al-Shabaab militants seized it. Troops, supported by federal special forces and air strikes, fought for more than 24 hours to reclaim the island. Officials reported at least 59 insurgents killed, 42 injured, and 10 vehicles destroyed. Kuday, a former militant base liberated in 2015, remains strategically important for regional security and control over southern Jubaland.

Türkiye has extended the deployment of its naval forces in the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia’s coast, the Arabian Sea, and surrounding waters for another year from February 10, 2026. Published in the Official Gazette, the move aims to protect Turkish-linked commercial vessels, counter piracy and maritime terrorism, and support humanitarian operations. Türkiye said the extension aligns with its international security obligations and complements ongoing multinational efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation.

Somalia’s Federal Parliament has ratified the new Intergovernmental Authority on Development Treaty, marking a major step in the country’s regional engagement. IGAD said the endorsement strengthens cooperation on peace, security, trade, climate resilience, and development across the Horn of Africa. The ratification helps meet the two-thirds threshold required to operationalize the 2023 treaty, replacing the 1996 framework and reinforcing Somalia’s commitment to regional integration and collective action.

Somalia and Qatar signed a defence cooperation agreement to strengthen military ties and boost security coordination. Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and his Qatari counterpart Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani signed the deal on the sidelines of DIMDEX in Doha. Somali officials said the agreement will improve joint security efforts and reflects growing strategic cooperation between the two countries at regional and international levels.

Somalia’s Information Minister Daud Aweis Jama has defended the federal government’s decision to cancel defence and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates, saying the move was necessary to protect Somalia’s sovereignty and public safety. He said the termination applies only to military cooperation and does not affect diplomatic relations. The government cited concerns over foreign interference and reaffirmed openness to future partnerships that fully respect Somali law, unity, and constitutional authority.

The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia has welcomed Somalia’s decision to convene a national consultative forum and invite the Somali Future Council amid rising tensions over the electoral timeline. The UN and the United Kingdom urged all parties to engage constructively ahead of the February talks in Mogadishu. The government said the forum aims to build consensus on elections, safeguard constitutional order, and strengthen national unity as mandates near expiry.