African Link Magazine

  From December 5 to 10, Somalia encountered arid conditions, indicating reduced rainfall nationwide. Partner reports revealed diminishing water levels in formerly inundated regions, particularly along the Juba River. Levels at key points like Dollow, Luuq, and Buale fell below flood risk thresholds, indicating a favorable trend. Nevertheless, apprehensions persist regarding potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera, dengue fever, and malaria. By December 8, the Somalia Disaster Management Agency  (SoDMA) reported that heavy rains and floods had impacted 2.48 million individuals. This figure encompassed 899,000 displaced persons and, sadly, recorded 118 fatalities nationwide. Delivering assistance encountered obstacles in logistics, access, and funding, yet partners managed to reach a minimum of 836,000 people with aid since October. Anticipations for December suggested scant rainfall, marking the conclusion of the rainy season in ...

  The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia  (ATMIS) has recommenced the crucial process of shifting security duties to the country’s government forces, signifying a noteworthy advancement following a hiatus  that lasted three months . The recent transfer encompassed key sites such as Villa Somalia, housing President Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the nearby parliament building, effectively handed over to the competent Somali forces. Since 2007, African Union (AU) forces, working in conjunction with Somali counterparts, have been safeguarding vital locations with in the nation’s capital . This recent stage of the drawdown marks a significant juncture as Somali forces take control of the central seats of the government’s legislative and executive  branches . In a recent interview , Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the AU ’s Somalia  representative and the current leader of ATMIS, verified the drawdown has resumed . He underscored the importance of transferring ...