Leaked intel reveals secret negotiations between President Hassan Sheikh and Al-Shabaab, raising alarms in Puntland, Jubaland — and beyond.

Secret pact between Somalia’s president and terror group Al-Shabaab risks unraveling regional order as insiders confirm exchange of power, territory, and intelligence — all under Qatari-tinged backchannels.

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is accused of finalizing a covert agreement with Al-Shabaab, brokered by wealthy Hawiye businessmen and laced with security, power-sharing, and financial arrangements that shatter every counterterrorism red line in place since 2007.

According to intelligence sources leaked to WARYATV, the so-called “first phase” of talks has been quietly concluded. The two main items at stake: a freeze in Al-Shabaab’s military advance toward Mogadishu, and the reinstatement of key Shabaab-aligned figures inside Somalia’s government — particularly Mahad Salaad as head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

And that’s just the surface.

Hassan Sheikh reportedly requested a temporary halt to Shabaab’s offensive, and demanded the militants not obstruct federal troops deploying to Gedo for a future strike on Kismayo. Al-Shabaab agreed — but demanded a slice of the spoils:

Control over Xarardheere

A guaranteed revenue cut from Kismayo if Mogadishu takes it

Permanent reinstatement of their allies in NISA

And most explosively — the continued payment of “zakat” by Mogadishu’s top business elite, effectively legalizing terror financing under a religious veil.

These developments coincide with the sudden delayed dismissal of Sanbaloolshe, the current NISA chief, who’s reportedly headed to Iraq to ink a suspicious “security pact.” Sources suggest he’s being eased out to make way for Mahad Salaad — a known sympathizer of Islamist circles and someone long considered Al-Shabaab’s preferred man in Mogadishu’s corridors of power.

Mahad “Karate”, a globally sanctioned Shabaab kingpin, is said to be negotiating directly on behalf of the terror group. This is not a misunderstanding or misinterpretation — it is a de facto normalization of Al-Shabaab’s political role inside Villa Somalia.

The consequences are seismic.

If the agreement holds, Al-Shabaab’s war machine will pivot — not toward the federal government — but against Jubaland and Puntland, regions that have resisted Hassan Sheikh’s political monopoly. The risk? A new internal war fought not between federal states and terrorists — but between federal states and a terror-empowered presidency.

While Puntland and Jubaland are reportedly preparing defensive realignments, Somaliland is unlikely to be drawn into the chaos. Sources close to regional intelligence confirm that Somaliland maintains covert counterterrorism capabilities that Al-Shabaab “fears and respects.” In short: Hargeisa is watching, but not flinching.

What’s unfolding is not diplomacy — it’s betrayal. The Somali public, international partners, and frontline regions must now decide: Is this peace, or is this a handover of the republic to its enemies?

Somalia is not just at a crossroads — it may already be on the road to surrender.

Dayax Band and Xidigaha Geeska headline independence celebrations, uniting Somaliland through powerful music and patriotic pride ahead of May 18.

Somaliland’s top artists lead a cultural movement through concerts and new patriotic songs, transforming the 2025 May 18 Independence Day into a nationwide showcase of unity and statehood ambition.

Somaliland’s quest for international recognition may be fought in diplomatic corridors, but this May, it’s being sung from city rooftops, stadiums, and streets. As May 18—the anniversary of Somaliland’s 1991 breakaway from Somalia—draws near, artists have stepped up to lead the charge, turning the independence narrative into a cultural juggernaut. From Hargeisa to Berbera, this isn’t just a concert tour—it’s a sonic declaration of statehood.

Legendary music collectives Dayax Band and Xidigaha Geeska are headlining the campaign, and their message is loud and defiant: Somaliland is here, united, and not backing down. With patriotic lyrics, sweeping orchestral arrangements, and roaring crowds, the concerts have captured the soul of a people who continue to assert their sovereignty in the face of global indifference.

The return of Mohamed Said BK after a five-year hiatus is more than symbolic. His electrifying performance—especially the track referencing his contributions to “the South” and Somaliland’s leadership in statecraft—has become a rallying cry. Daaha Gaas and Mustafe Dollar have matched that energy, releasing anthems that echo with generational pride and political resolve.

This year, the state isn’t watching from the sidelines. President Irro personally received artists at the presidential palace, with officials like Muniir Ahmed Egal calling the celebration “a moment for all Somalis who believe in Somaliland’s cause.” Schools are rehearsing. Community centers are mobilizing. Flags are everywhere.

The music, the crowds, the defiance—it’s a cultural front line. And as global powers hesitate, Somaliland’s people are already singing like a nation reborn.

Trump receives lavish welcome in Riyadh with golden swords, Arabian horses, and elite business ties — signaling a major Saudi shift in diplomacy under Crown Prince MBS.

In a spectacle steeped in opulence and strategic symbolism, former U.S. President Donald Trump received a royal welcome in Riyadh on Tuesday, underscoring a renewed and unapologetically transactional era of U.S.-Saudi relations. The event, a far cry from President Joe Biden’s 2022 fist bump, reestablished Trump as a power player on the global stage — and reaffirmed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s bet on American-style pragmatism over values diplomacy.

Golden swords. Arabian horses. American fighter jet escorts. Theatrics were front and center as Air Force One touched down in Riyadh, flanked by six F-15 jets. A traditional coffee ceremony, white horses bearing flags, and a guard of honor brandishing golden blades greeted Trump’s motorcade. It was no mere diplomatic visit — it was a show of power, wealth, and mutual need.

Inside the palace, Trump and the crown prince — seated beneath chandeliers in gilded chairs — traded praise. “He’s my friend,” Trump said. “An incredible man.” Crown Prince Mohammed, for his part, called Trump “my dear president.” Saudi musicians played “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “YMCA” — unofficial campaign anthems from Trump’s rallies.

The Saudi investment forum that followed was just as calculated: a power-lunch guest list featuring Elon Musk, Ruth Porat (Google), Jane Fraser (Citigroup), Stephen Schwarzman (Blackstone), and Jensen Huang (NVIDIA). The message? Saudi Arabia is open for business — American business.

Missing was the caution and chill of the Biden years. During his presidency, Biden labeled Saudi Arabia a “pariah” and received little ceremony on his 2022 visit. His attempts at diplomacy — including the now-infamous fist bump — were met with oil production cuts by OPEC+, signaling Saudi defiance.

Not so for Trump, who sidesteps human rights talk for hard deals. And it’s paying off. Riyadh now looks to the Trump administration for weapons, tech partnerships, and the geopolitical cover it once doubted it could afford.

This meeting — high on pageantry, low on principle — signals the crown prince’s full pivot away from moral lectures and toward hard-nosed, cash-first diplomacy. “We don’t want people to lecture us,” said Saudi energy mogul Mohammad Abunayyan. “That time is over.”

With Trump’s return to power, it appears Riyadh is rolling out more than just red carpets — it’s rolling the dice on America First 2.0.

Elon Musk has been officially listed as an invited attendee at a high-stakes Saudi-US investment forum set to take place in Riyadh this Tuesday, according to internal planning documents reviewed by Reuters. The forum coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East visit and is expected to deliver headline-grabbing economic announcements.

Musk is joined on the invitation list by the CEOs of global heavyweights including BlackRock, Boeing, Citigroup, IBM, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines—signaling the forum’s scale and ambition.

The event is being framed as a symbol of renewed U.S.-Saudi cooperation under Trump’s second term, with Riyadh expected to commit vast investments into the American economy. Trump previously urged Saudi Arabia to inject more than $1 trillion into the U.S. over four years, including a $100+ billion arms deal that is reportedly in the works.

Tesla’s formal launch in Saudi Arabia in April—after years of frosty relations—marks a key shift in Musk’s relationship with the Kingdom. The rift began in 2018 after Musk’s failed attempt to take Tesla private with claimed support from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. That fracture now appears to be mended, with Riyadh welcoming Musk’s return amid a broader realignment between U.S. corporate elites and Gulf capital.

Musk’s rising political profile—now a senior figure in the Trump administration and a key architect of the president’s deregulation agenda—has further strengthened his ties with Saudi power brokers eager to embed themselves deeper in Washington’s new economic order.

With Trump reshaping U.S. foreign and economic policy around strategic alliances and transactional diplomacy, Riyadh’s courtship of Musk and America’s corporate elite reflects a bold bid to lock in influence—and dollars—for the long term. The Riyadh forum may well become a defining moment in this new axis of power.

In the world of high-stakes diplomacy, perception is power—and right now, the U.S. and China are locked in a petty yet telling tug-of-war over a single question: Who made the first move?

Ahead of this weekend’s much-anticipated U.S.-China trade talks in Switzerland, the two superpowers aren’t just negotiating tariffs. They’re wrestling over narrative control. Beijing claims Washington requested the meeting. President Donald Trump says it was the other way around—and he’s not backing down.

“They said we initiated it? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files,” Trump shot back on Wednesday, swearing in new U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue.

This isn’t mere diplomatic drama—it’s a proxy war for leverage. As Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies explains:

“For Washington, saying Beijing called first reinforces the story that tariffs are working. For China, denying outreach helps save face at home and preserve the illusion of parity.”

China’s Protocol Problem

Former top U.S. diplomat Daniel Russel offers historical clarity:

“In my entire career, I don’t know of a single time a Chinese leader initiated a call with a U.S. president.”

Why? Because in Beijing, the one who dials first is seen as weak. It’s not diplomacy—it’s dominance. And that’s a game Trump knows how to play.

Tariff Tug-of-War

Since Trump’s hike to a staggering 145% on Chinese goods, and Beijing’s 125% retaliation, both economies have been reeling. Yet neither wants to blink first. Trump keeps implying that Chinese President Xi Jinping called him.

“He’s called,” Trump told TIME, offering no date or transcript. “And I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness.”

Beijing fired back: “All is fake news.”
But then, like a slow walk-back, China’s Commerce Ministry admitted the U.S. had “repeatedly conveyed” interest in reopening talks.

So Who Blinked? Both Did. And Neither Will Admit It.

Sun Yun of the Stimson Center explains the confusion:

“Both sides are in regular contact. They just define ‘reaching out’ differently.”

On Chinese social media, the narrative is being cautiously managed to paint the U.S. as the petitioner. In the U.S., Trump is already spinning the deal as a “win” before a single handshake in Switzerland.

By Thursday, Trump had shifted tone:

“We can all play games — who made the first call, who didn’t. Doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens in that room.”

What’s at Stake? Everything.

With global markets jittery and U.S. investors eager for clarity, this is more than a trade meeting—it’s a stage. And the opening act is already setting the tone: distrust, bravado, and silent desperation.

In the end, it may not matter who picked up the phone first. But everyone will remember who walked out of that Swiss meeting in control of the story.

A sudden spike in military strikes between India and Pakistan has sparked fears of an unprecedented full-scale war between two nuclear powers.

The chain of events began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 25 tourists. India blamed Pakistan-based groups. What followed was a rapid slide into retaliatory drone and missile attacks, with both sides now exchanging fire on military bases. For the first time, both nations appear to be operating under open-ended military escalation—with no signs of stepping back.

The biggest fear: a nuclear confrontation.

India’s nuclear policy is anchored in a “No First Use” doctrine—but with caveats. India reserves the right to respond with massive retaliation if struck with nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. However, recent political signals suggest this posture may be softening. Defense officials have said NFU “depends on circumstances,” leaving room for preemptive action.

Pakistan’s strategy is built on deliberate ambiguity. It has no NFU policy and maintains the option to use tactical nuclear weapons early in a conflict. Pakistan has outlined four triggers: major territorial losses, military collapse, economic strangulation, or political destabilization. But these red lines are vague—and dangerously flexible.

With over 350 nuclear warheads combined, a strike—even tactical—could trigger retaliation spiraling into a wider nuclear conflict. Experts warn that a limited exchange could still kill millions and cause long-term regional and global fallout.

Despite both sides claiming deterrence as their primary goal, strategic ambiguity and rising political pressures raise the risk of miscalculation. The United States and China are reportedly pushing for back-channel mediation, while President Trump has floated the idea of an emergency ceasefire summit.

A nuclear war remains unlikely—but not impossible. As nationalist fervor grows and red lines blur, the world watches nervously.

China’s J-10 vs. France’s Rafale Has World Militaries Watching Closely

Somali Hajj pilgrims pay over double regional rates as government faces growing pressure for reform. 

As 431 Somali pilgrims leave for Hajj 2025, public outrage grows over high costs — with Somalia charging over $4,600 per pilgrim, more than double the price in neighboring countries.

The first wave of Somali pilgrims embarking on the 2025 Hajj departed Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport on Friday, joining millions of Muslims worldwide on the sacred journey to Mecca. But as the spiritual excitement builds, so does public anger over what many are calling “exploitative and unjustifiable” Hajj costs imposed on Somali citizens.

A total of 431 pilgrims were seen off at a high-profile farewell ceremony attended by senior government officials, including Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Aden, and Transport Minister Mohamed Farah Nuh.

“You represent Somalia,” said Sheikh Mukhtar, advising pilgrims to uphold discipline and comply with Saudi Hajj regulations. The Minister prayed for their safe journey and divine acceptance of their pilgrimage.

Sticker Shock at $4,604 Per Pilgrim

The Ministry of Endowments has pegged this year’s official Hajj cost at $4,604, up from last year’s $4,434 — citing increased accommodation and transport prices in Saudi Arabia. While officials claim the hike is modest, Somali pilgrims still face some of the highest Hajj fees in the region, igniting public outrage.

In comparison:

Ethiopia and Kenya offer Hajj packages as low as $1,600

Djibouti pilgrims pay roughly $1,850

Sudan charges about $2,000 despite ongoing internal strife

Somalia’s cost is nearly three times higher, raising suspicions of profiteering by local Hajj agencies. In a previous statement, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre blamed “middlemen and greedy service providers” for inflating costs and called for sweeping reforms in the sector.

A History of High Costs and Broken Promises

This isn’t a new problem. In 2022, Somali pilgrims paid between $5,500 and $6,000, with many taking out loans or selling property to afford the trip. While the government touts this year’s rate as “progress,” many view it as window dressing that still leaves the majority of citizens priced out of a religious obligation.

“Why must Somali Muslims pay more than anyone else in the region to fulfill their faith?” asked a Hajj applicant who was forced to withdraw due to cost. “This is spiritual apartheid.”

Public Demands Transparency and Overhaul

Religious scholars, civil society groups, and frustrated citizens are now demanding full transparency in Hajj pricing, public disclosure of contracts with Saudi agencies, and the establishment of an independent oversight body.

Unless the government responds decisively, critics warn that Somali citizens will continue to be spiritually excluded from one of Islam’s five pillars — not by distance or war, but by bureaucratic greed.

As the 2025 Hajj season begins, one thing is clear: Somalia’s pilgrims are flying to Mecca, but the anger over Hajj costs is not going away anytime soon.

General Goita silences dissent, suspends all political activity in Mali as fears of indefinite military rule mount.

The fragile experiment with democracy in Mali has come to a halt — again. In a sweeping decree issued Wednesday night, military ruler General Assimi Goita suspended the activities of all political parties and political associations “until further notice,” citing vague “public order” concerns.

The move, seen as a direct response to a rare public protest over the weekend, is the junta’s latest escalation against civil society — and a dangerous signal that Mali’s transition to democracy may be dead in the water.

“We expected this,” said protest leader Cheick Oumar Doumbia, who helped mobilize last Saturday’s demonstration in Bamako. “This is the only language they know: repression. But we are a people committed to democracy.”

The decree comes days after a coalition of over 80 political parties and civic groups united to demand the military hand back power by December 31, 2025 — a transition deadline that the junta is now clearly ignoring.

Just last week, Mali’s transitional authorities repealed the law governing political parties, raising fears of a broader dissolution campaign. Now, the suspension of party activity across the board all but confirms the junta’s intent to rule by decree.

The Long Road to Authoritarianism

Goita first seized power in a 2020 coup, then again consolidated control after a second power grab in 2021. Under the guise of a “transitional government,” Mali has seen elections delayed, media constrained, and political space steadily eroded.

Most alarmingly, a national political conference last week recommended Goita be installed as president for a renewable five-year term — a blatant shift from transitional rule to permanent authoritarianism.

“This isn’t a transition anymore. It’s a cold-blooded regime change,” said one West African diplomat, speaking anonymously. “The mask is off.”

In 2024, Mali briefly suspended political parties for three months — now the language of “until further notice” suggests indefinite suppression.

Wider Implications for West Africa

Mali’s drift toward autocracy comes as a growing number of countries in West Africa — including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea — fall under military control. The promise of democratic consolidation in the Sahel now feels increasingly remote.

With ECOWAS weakened, Western pressure diffused, and regional alliances fraying, military strongmen are discovering they can suppress political life with impunity.

For now, Mali’s opposition has pledged peaceful resistance. But with arrests, harassment, and party shutdowns escalating, the space for dissent is narrowing fast.