Mahbub M Abdillahi

I spent several months speaking to officials in Somaliland, Somalia, diplomats and others, to piece together this report on what contributed to Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland and, crucially, how it happened. 👇🏿

Somaliland has been pursuing formal diplomatic recognition for over 30 years. Israel was the first to offer it. How did this happen? Read our deep dive into how Israel’s recognition affects internal Somali politics and, potentially, the shape of security in the Red Sea going forward. storage.googleapis.com/madamasr/en/20…

#Ethiopia: Statement on the abduction of #Addis_Standard Managing Editor by plainclothes men from his workplace JAKENN Publishing PLC expresses grave concern over the disappearance of its Managing Editor, #Million_Beyene, who was taken at approximately 10:40 a.m. today (15 April 2026) from the newsroom by a group of unidentified individuals in plain clothes. The individuals informed Million that he was “needed for questioning” before taking him to an undisclosed location. Security camera footage reviewed by JAKENN shows a sequence of events in which multiple individuals in civilian clothing entered the building in a staggered manner over several minutes. The footage captures at least three men, wearing caps and face masks, and one without a cap and a face mask, moving through the stairwell area and coordinating their movements. Shortly thereafter, Million is seen being escorted out of the premises by the group. The individuals appear to act in a deliberate and organized manner, with one leading ahead while others follow closely behind as they exit the building together. Since then, JAKENN’s leadership and legal team have made extensive efforts throughout the day to establish his whereabouts. However, the #Addis_Abeba Police, #Federal_Police Commission, #Lemi_Kura Sub-City Police Department, and the #Meri area police station have all confirmed that Million Beyene is not in their custody. Jeylan Abdi, Communication Head of the Federal Police Commission, stated that Million Beyene is not under their custody. Separately, senior surveillance unit officers within both the Addis Abeba Police and the Federal Police Commission, who reviewed the security footage in response to inquiries, have stated that the individuals appearing in the video are not recognized as members of their respective forces. JAKENN Publishing PLC calls on the relevant authorities, including the Addis Abeba Police, the Federal Police Commission, and Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to launch an immediate, transparent, and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Million’s disappearance and to ensure his safe and prompt return. Million Beyene is a provider for his family and a seasoned professional with years of experience in both government and independent media. His abduction comes amid repeated and intensifying security and administrative pressures targeting Addis Standard’s newsroom and operations in recent months. “We strongly condemn this alarming act,” said Yonas Kedir, Editor-in-Chief of Addis Standard. “The taking of Million Beyene by unidentified individuals is unacceptable and deeply troubling. We call for his immediate release, and we urge authorities to act swiftly to ensure his safety and uphold the rule of law.” JAKENN Publishing PLC reiterates its commitment to the safety of its staff and to the principles of press freedom and the rule of law, and urges all concerned authorities to treat this matter with the utmost urgency it demands. addisstandard.com/?p=56522

The politics of recognition in the #Somali Horn reveals a deeper structural convergence, where opposing projects mirror each other in privileging symbolic validation over the material reconstruction necessary for genuine #sovereignty. ✍️ @HornTheory geeska.com/en/ideology-re…

He Led Congo for 18 Years. Now, He’s a Hunted Man. nytimes.com/2026/03/30/wor…

These idiots will fall for anything as long as it fits their stupid narrative 🤦🏽‍♀️ Keep showing the world how stupid you all are and we will be here with our popcorn. 🤣🤣 theguardian.com/us-news/2026/m…

My report on the constitutional crisis unfolding in Somalia for @MadaMasr. I’ve spoken to a range of figures for and against the amendments, and the picture on what the change means is divided between triumphalism and existential dread for 🇸🇴 madamasr.com/en/2026/03/10/…

“This period should remind Somali leaders that durable state-building depends on consensus-based constitutionalism rather than unilateral political maneuvering.” Read here my recent interview with Geeska.

My Interview with @MAbdirizak on Somalia’s current crisis. shorturl.at/pYMbp

Thrilled to get this out. I think it’s the most comprehensive overview for Africa & Middle East audiences of the current state of play in the Red Sea, how things got here, what lies ahead, and what's at stake. It’s long but worth the read, and there’s a one-page summary.

News: #Ethiopian Media Authority revokes Addis Standard’s online media registration; Editor-in-Chief disputes claims The Ethiopian Media Authority (#EMA) has announced the revocation of the online media registration certificate of #Addis_Standard, effective 24 February 2026, citing repeated violations of media ethics, national laws, and what it described as the country’s national interests. The statement did not specify which reports or actions formed the basis of the decision. Responding to the EMA’s announcement, Yonas Kedir, Editor-in-Chief of Addis Standard publications, rejected the Authority’s claims, saying the outlet had never received any formal notices of violations. “The claim that Addis Standard received repeated notices is factually incorrect. At no point has the Ethiopian Media Authority formally notified Addis Standard newsroom of any prior violations or enforcement actions,” he said. He added that the publisher, #JAKENN Publishing PLC, is reviewing legal options to protect its rights and ensure due process is upheld. Established in 2011 as a monthly magazine, Addis Standard has faced multiple challenges over the years, including scrutiny from government institutions. In April 2025, Ethiopian police raided the Addis Standard office and the home of one of its senior staff membersl, briefly detaining three managers for several hours and confiscating multiple electronic devices, including laptops, phones, and data storage equipment. During the Tigray war, in June 2021, Ethiopia’s media regulator suspended Addis Standard… Read more: addisstandard.com/?p=55383

Troops and heavy weapons movements have been reported across northern #Ethiopia fueling growing fears that conflict could once again engulf #Tigray. Geeska spoke with Michael DeAngelo about the developments in northern #Ethiopia. geeska.com/en/michael-dea…

There is so much to be said about this tour. My first instinct was to go into critique mode. But I have thought about this for a while. And honestly for a 21 year old I would say he has done something beautiful. Something that will be remembered for a long time. He did more for African tourism (once you remove the really embarrassing Nigerian part of it) than any tourism board in Africa in the past few years. He was a young man having the time of his life, coming with no pretence of expertise or philanthropy. Just doing random stuff he enjoyed. Sometimes chaotic. Often genuine interactions with people across the continent. We saw the funny, the interesting and the ugly (again, thanks Nigeria). I see a rare example of a young streamer who has gone beyond the sometimes banal streaming culture to do something truly worthwhile.

Half of all Sudanese children not in education due to civil war, says aid group reuters.com/world/africa/h…

fwiw nowhere in the thousands of colonial era documents I've read about Somalis, including from actual fascists, have I ever seen someone refer to Somalis as inherently stupid as this man seems to do daily

This is Al Rekabiya primary school in Old Omdurman which was extensively damaged during the war. The school has now reopened to try and give an education to its 300 pupils who had their education frozen for 2 years by the war. However, in order for these children to have a chance at getting a descent standard of education; their school buildings need significant reconstruction work. This is why we intend to soon begin our first school reconstruction project. If you would like to support this work or the other important work we do please click on the link in the reply.

Women are bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with the majority of female-headed households not having enough food to eat, the U.N. said on Friday. reuters.com/world/africa/w…

The 🇺🇸 is deeply concerned by reports that Federal Government of Somalia officials have destroyed a US-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid for vulnerable Somalis. The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance.