Latest Horn of Africa Stories

MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - One of ten suspected Somali pirates captured by the U.S. Navy early this year accused on Thursday the United States of torture at the opening of a trial intended to deter rampant piracy off Somalia's coast. "We were arrested by the U.S. Navy and forced to board the American ship. Inside the ship we were tortured by the Americans who could not understand our language," defendant Hassan Mahamud Mohamed told the court in Kenya's coastal town of Mombasa. He did...

By Hassan Yare BAIDOA (Reuters) - Four more top officials deserted Somalia's interim administration on Thursday, as a government delegation made plans to travel to Khartoum for talks with their Islamist rivals who control a large part of the country. The latest resignations bring to 38 the number of senior officials who have quit Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi's government in the past week, a development that may allow the Islamists to take ministerial posts. Although the Islamists,...

By Hassan Yare BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Four more ministers resigned from Somalia's Western-backed government on Tuesday, in a move that may ultimately clear the way for rival Islamists to take ministerial posts. Minister of Minerals and Water Mohamud Salad Nur and three other assistant ministers announced their resignation less than a week after 18 senior officials also quit, dealing a blow to the fragile interim government. "This is our decision because this cabinet has failed the...

BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Four more ministers resigned from Somalia's interim government on Tuesday, plunging the fragile administration into further turmoil after 18 top officials quit last week. "This is our decision because this cabinet has failed the reason for which it was established. It has failed to reconcile the Somali people," said Sayeed Hassan Shire, an assistant minister who resigned. The move came as East African foreign ministers and top diplomats met in Kenya for...

By Guled Mohamed BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Some Somali lawmakers threw punches and wrestled on the floor after Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi survived a crucial confidence vote that could have led to the collapse of his government. Armed police entered parliament to separate four brawling members of parliament and escort Gedi out during several minutes of chaos after he survived the censure motion, witnesses said. Gedi won 88 votes to his opponents' 126 -- short of the two-thirds...

By Guled Mohamed BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Somali lawmakers threw punches and wrestled on the floor after Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi survived a crucial vote of no confidence which could have signaled the collapse of his government. Armed police entered parliament to drag the brawling members of parliament apart and escort Gedi out in chaotic scenes after he garnered 88 votes to his opponents' 126 -- short of the two-thirds majority they needed to censure him. Defeat would have...

By Pascal Fletcher KINSHASA (Reuters) - The United States sent its most explicit warning yet to Horn of Africa foes Eritrea and Ethiopia on Saturday to stay out of the escalating crisis in Somalia where they are believed to be backing rival sides. "There are many foreign elements in Somalia right now," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said, citing reports Ethiopia was sending troops to back the interim government and Eritrea arms for rival Islamists....

By Guled Mohamed BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead a Somali minister outside a mosque on Friday, triggering riots by pro-government protesters who threw rocks and burned tyres at the interim administration's provincial base of Baidoa. Witnesses said assailants opened fire on Constitution and Federalism Minister Abdallah Deerow Isaq as he left prayers -- an attack sure to heighten tensions in the violence-plagued Horn of Africa nation which many fear is sliding toward war....

By Guled Mohamed BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead a Somali minister outside a mosque on Friday, triggering riots by pro-government protesters who threw rocks and burned tyres at the interim administration's provincial base of Baidoa. Witnesses said assailants opened fire on Constitution and Federalism Minister Abdallah Deerow Isaq as he left prayers -- an attack sure to heighten tensions in the violence-plagued Horn of Africa nation which many fear is sliding toward war....

By Guled Mohamed BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead a Somali minister outside a mosque on Friday at the fragile interim government's provincial base Baidoa in what a cabinet colleague called a "terrorist action." Witnesses said assailants opened fire on Constitution and Federalism Minister Abdallah Deerow Isaq as he left prayers -- an attack sure to heighten tensions in the violence-plagued Horn of Africa nation which many fear is sliding toward war. Police later caught one...