
Cirka News
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News, insights, and in-depth analysis from Africa's leading newsroom. Stay informed with the latest updates @CirkaNews #Somalia's Most Trusted News Source
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Lipstick on a Pig: Turkey’s Golden Boy Bolts as Al Shabab Closes In The only thing Turkey seems to have perfected in #Somalia is putting lipstick on a pig and calling it progress. Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, the so-called “commander” of the Somali “National” Army and one of Turkey’s handpicked trainees, has once again shown his true colors. When Al Shabab advanced in Middle Shabelle, Odowaa didn’t fight, he fled. The man trained and armed to lead the charge against terrorists instead ran with his tail between his legs as the region, now nearly 86% under Al Shabab control, fell deeper into chaos. In any real army, a general who abandons his troops would be court-martialed and stripped of his rank. But this is #Mogadishu, a city where nepotism, clan loyalty, and foreign puppeteering are more valuable than bravery. So Odowaa remains in command, collecting titles while the country burns. Meanwhile, Turkey’s TRT Afrika keeps polishing the mess, pumping out propaganda that paints Villa Somalia’s failures as “partnerships.” It’s no coincidence, the same uneducated strongman running Villa Somalia just handed over 95% of the nation’s natural resources to Ankara, keeping a humiliating 5% for himself. It’s not a partnership. It’s a puppet show, and no amount of lipstick can make this pig look like a success story.
Cirka News147,408 views • 8 months ago

HEADLESS CHICKENS IN UNIFORM: TURKEY’S FAILED TROOP FACTORY IN MOGADISHU All that so-called “training,” and when it’s time to face real terrorists, #Mogadishu’s security forces scatter like headless chickens. The same soldiers paraded in donor-funded ceremonies for the cameras can’t even hold the line when bullets start flying. But don’t worry, Villa #Somalia’s Turkish protectors will keep rolling out their glossy PR videos, boasting about “training” another batch of recruits who will soon disappear when the fighting starts. It’s the same tired script: train, film, fail, repeat. Some NATO officials have quietly questioned why #Turkey maintains the second largest army in the alliance. The answer might be simple, it’s all for show. They pad the numbers, wave the flag, and play soldier until real conflict demands real courage. Turkey’s military isn’t tested, it’s timid. It’s the same force that trembles at the thought of #Israel, a small but fierce nation that actually fights and wins. So it’s no surprise that those trained by Ankara’s so-called “military experts” crumble at the first sign of resistance. The only thing they’ve mastered is the art of retreat.
Cirka News110,878 views • 8 months ago

BREAKING NEWS: Al-Shabab has issued a new threat, releasing a video filmed on the outskirts of Maraaga in Sool. The group claims it shadowed a Mogadishu-linked delegation that entered the area without security checks. In the footage, Al-Shabab openly calls for the collapse of both Puntland and Somaliland.
Cirka News69,553 views • 5 months ago

BREAKING: Al-Shabaab Breaks Siege After Government Forces Withdraw from Strategic Area Al-Shabaab is making a bold push to break through a critical area in an attempt to reunite its forces, which have been trapped in #Somalia’s central regions for nearly two years. The militant group’s objective is twofold: free its besieged units and sever the key supply route linking government forces in the north to #Mogadishu. In a significant development, government troops and allied militias withdrew this morning from the Guulane direction. This unexpected pullback allowed Al-Shabaab to lift the long-standing siege on their fighters and successfully reunify their forces, posing a major threat to regional security and supply lines. The situation remains fluid and highly volatile.
Cirka News144,785 views • 1 year ago

Al-Shabaab Fighters Appear in Somaliland’s Golis Mountains (Currently occupied by SSC), Raising Alarm In a troubling development, Al-Shabaab has released a video showing its fighters operating in the Golis Mountains of Somaliland’s SSC-occupied region. This marks the first reported appearance of Al-Shabaab militants in Somaliland’s northern territories. The fighters in the video are seen communicating in dialects typically associated with southern and central #Somalia, including the Maxaa Tiri dialect and Maay Maay, rather than the local northern Somali dialect. The group identifies itself as the Liwa Al-Quds unit, further raising concerns about the growing presence of Al-Shabaab in regions previously considered more secure. This development highlights the consequences of #Mogadishu’s ongoing policies, which have contributed to instability and fragmentation across Somali regions. By failing to effectively address the growing influence of extremist groups, Mogadishu is not only allowing the spread of Al-Shabaab but also fostering division that is creating more disabled Somali regions, weakening the overall national security framework. Security analysts have warned that if the video’s authenticity is confirmed, the situation could escalate rapidly. They stress that swift and effective action is necessary to contain the spread of Al-Shabaab’s influence in #Somaliland (SSC occupied portions), as its presence in the northern region could have severe and destabilizing consequences.
Cirka News106,333 views • 1 year ago

🚨BREAKING: Never-before-seen footage shows Al-Shabaab boldly setting up a checkpoint just kilometers from Mogadishu on the road to Balcad, well within striking distance of the capital. This comes only 24 hours after senior Shabaab figure Ali Dheere delivered a fiery open-air speech, flaunting the group’s presence. The video, posted by the militants themselves, paints a chilling picture of confidence and control despite Somali government-backed media claiming major air and ground offensives are “crippling” the group. So who’s lying? Is the government winning or spinning?
Cirka News105,163 views • 1 year ago

Breaking: Escalation in Mogadishu Ahmed Hure, senior adviser to Puntland President Said Deni, has been forcibly taken from the Areboor Hotel in Mogadishu. His location is unknown and Somalia’s security agencies have issued no statement. The incident comes as several MPs representing Puntland were reportedly beaten by soldiers acting under orders from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Critics say the government is now openly using force against political opponents as tensions over the constitution reach a boiling point in Mogadishu.
Cirka News33,176 views • 4 months ago

PUNTLAND PRESIDENT IN MILITARY UNIFORM ISSUES STERN WARNING TO SOOL BARI AND MOGADISHU Wearing a military uniform, the President of Puntland has delivered a direct and unmistakable message to the political actors in Sool Bari: “We see what you are doing, and we have tolerated it long enough.” Addressing the situation in Sanaag, the President stated: “The people of Sanaag made their decision in 1998. They chose #Puntland. They are part of this state and will be protected by the Puntland Defense Forces. You, on the other hand, chose to leave. So leave it at that.” The warning continued with strong language against continued destabilization efforts: “Your aggression and attempts to divide will not be tolerated. What we send next, you will not like. Heed my words.” Turning to the federal government in #Mogadishu, the President didn’t hold back: “Focus on Al-Shabaab. They control more territory in South #Somalia than you do. If you want to be taken seriously, start by securing your own house before interfering in Puntland’s affairs.” This is the clearest sign yet that Puntland’s leadership is no longer interested in silence or soft diplomacy in the face of federal provocation and internal sabotage.
Cirka News71,736 views • 11 months ago

We Told You So!: Somali Army Collapse Exposed as Failed General Admits Shocking Death Toll, Up to 22,000 Soldiers Dead The truth is finally out, and it’s far worse than anyone imagined. Mogadishu “National” Army (SNA) Commander General Odowaa Yusuf Raage has dropped a bombshell, admitting that up to 15,000 government soldiers have been killed in the war against Al-Shabaab. Speaking before the Upper House of Parliament, the visibly shaken general confessed, “If I were to tell you the exact number of government soldiers killed, you would be shocked.” Well, we at Cirka News aren’t shocked because we told you so. Months ago, we reported that government casualties had spiraled out of control, and #Mogadishu’s spin machine attacked us for it. Now, even insiders admit the death toll could be as high as 22,000. Behind closed doors, Odowaa reportedly elaborated that the losses since the 2022 military offensive have reached catastrophic levels, confirming what many Somalis feared, that the government’s so-called “war on terror” has been a total failure. Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab is back with a vengeance. The militants have recaptured towns and villages once declared “liberated” and are now dangerously close to the capital. The situation has become so dire that former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed warned the Mogadishu army had “effectively collapsed,” saying there’s “no unified force left to fight Al-Shabaab.” Security analysts say the carnage exposes a complete collapse in military planning, logistics, and coordination between Mogadishu and the regions. Morale among soldiers is at rock bottom, while Al-Shabaab continues to exploit corruption and chaos within the federal system. The verdict is clear: Mogadishu’s campaign has not only failed, it’s collapsed. Unless sweeping reforms and real leadership emerge soon, South #Somalia could lose even more ground to Al-Shabaab, making this the country’s most humiliating defeat in decades. Cirka News warned this was coming. Now, even the government can’t deny it.
Cirka News46,778 views • 7 months ago

Mogadishu’s Make-Believe Security: The “Elite” Police Force That Exists Only on Paper The failed government in #Mogadishu and its gullible international donors who seem addicted to losing millions are once again parading a new “elite” police unit as the next big reform. But no one’s asking the obvious question: what happened to the last elite units that fled the battlefield the moment Al Shabab attacked? This latest stunt is nothing more than a glossy facade, another desperate attempt to fool the world into believing that #Somalia’s security is improving. The truth is brutal. There is no national security, just a fragile city administration barely holding on and unable to execute even the most basic defense strategies. Meanwhile, Al Shabab has once again broken a siege after government forces hastily withdrew from a key strategic area. Villa Somalia, true to form, has offered no statement, only more fake videos staged to look tough for donors and propaganda outlets. Somalia’s so-called leaders may sell illusions, but the battlefield tells the truth, and it’s uglier than ever.
Cirka News38,551 views • 8 months ago

BREAKING NEWS: The Puntland government has activated full self-defense measures across all regions, from the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean to its southern border with South Somalia. Puntland is preparing for war amid what it says are escalating attacks on its territorial integrity by the Mogadishu administration. Officials accuse Hassan and his agents of chaos of driving the crisis, warning that conflict is approaching Garowe. War is coming.
Cirka News27,128 views • 5 months ago

BREAKING: Somalia on the Brink as Al-Shabaab Expands, Warns International Crisis Group Somalia is teetering on the edge of collapse, with Al-Shabaab militants seizing more ground and the Mogadishu government paralyzed by political infighting, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned in a new report. The militant group has advanced across key central and southern regions, including Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, and Hiraan, threatening towns previously retaken by government troops. Analysts now warn that #Mogadishu itself could soon come under direct threat if the situation continues to deteriorate. The African Union led mission, AUSSOM, is also running out of cash, with only 27% of its $166 million budget for 2025 secured. Donor fatigue is setting in fast. U.S. support plunged from $770 million in 2024 to just $150 million this year, while European contributions have also sharply declined. ICG’s report paints a picture of a deeply fractured state, where political rifts between the federal government, opposition figures, and independent regional administrations such as #Puntland and #Jubbaland are eroding any chance of unity. The infighting has raised serious doubts about the feasibility of upcoming elections and the government’s ability to maintain territorial control. African Union and European Union officials are expected to convene in late November to discuss emergency funding and operational support for AUSSOM. “Unless Somali authorities and international partners act decisively, the risk of a total security vacuum and an insurgent takeover is dangerously high,” the ICG report concluded.
Cirka News33,238 views • 8 months ago

TURKEY’S WEAPONS, AL-SHABAAB’S WAR CHEST: Militants Flaunt Captured Gear in Somalia Humiliation Al-Shabaab has released damning footage showing off Turkish-supplied weapons, Somali military vehicles, and even UN aid, all now in jihadist hands. The video is a stunning indictment of foreign support gone wrong. Guns and gear meant to strengthen Somalia’s army are now a trophy display for militants. US support was also implicated, echoing February’s GOP Oversight warning that Western aid is fueling terror. Turkey’s military aid is now a propaganda gift to Al-Shabaab. Who’s being held accountable? No one. #Somalia #AlShabaab #Turkey #SNA #ForeignAidFail #GOPOversight #SecurityCrisis
Cirka News35,761 views • 1 year ago

BREAKING: HSM Forces Daallo Flight Carrying MPs to Abort Landing in Garowe In a dramatic and highly controversial move, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud forced a Daallo Airlines flight carrying Members of Parliament and civilians to turn back to Mogadishu while it was on approach to Garowe. The aircraft was reportedly descending when the order came through, stunning passengers and igniting immediate political backlash. Critics say the decision reflects the growing politicisation of state institutions, accusing the administration of using control over national airspace as a tool in escalating federal–regional tensions. At a time when Somalia speaks of democratic transition and institutional reform, the incident is intensifying debate over whether power is being exercised with neutrality or with political intent.
Cirka News14,566 views • 4 months ago

JUST IN: SOMALI COMMANDER TRAINED BY TURKEY EXPOSES MILITARY CHAOS AS FRONTLINE TROOPS SHOW NO DISCIPLINE AND ARE READY TO FLEE A leaked video from a Turkish-trained Somali military commander has revealed shocking details about the dire situation in Middle Shabelle, exposing the lack of discipline and training among frontline Somali troops. Speaking to Cirka News, the commander didn’t hold back, mocking the so-called soldiers who, instead of preparing for battle, are more focused on dancing only to flee the moment the first bullet is fired. The commander blamed the surge of untrained clan militias and the sharp decline of professional soldiers, raising suspicions that this chaos is intentional. “I personally don’t understand, but it seems as if this was deliberately designed by the chain of command, including the Commander-in-Chief of the Somali National Army,” he stated. With #Mogadishu’s defenses crumbling and Al-Shabaab on the offensive, who is really in charge of #Somalia’s military?
cirka news31,610 views • 1 year ago
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JUST IN: Al Shabaab Releases Images of Captured Somali Military Bases Just 30 KM from Mogadishu Al Qaeda affiliated Al Shabaab militants have released images showing their seizure of government military bases in the Balad region, just 30 kilometers from #Mogadishu. The shocking images confirm the Somali government’s failure to secure its own backyard as the terrorist group continues to gain ground. Despite repeated claims of military success from Villa #Somalia reality on the ground tells a very different story with Al Shabaab now operating dangerously close to the capital.
Cirka News31,345 views • 1 year ago

🚨 BREAKING POLITICAL STORM IN MOGADISHU Deni’s Fiery Speech Sparks Outrage and Deepens Divisions MOGADISHU: Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has triggered a political firestorm after delivering explosive remarks in Mogadishu accusing the city’s power holders of “destroying the capital” and publicly questioning where Hawiye government figures were during his gathering, a statement that quickly ignited backlash across political circles. During the speech, Deni reportedly declared that #Mogadishu would not be left under the control of current Hawiye political leadership and suggested that aligned forces would ultimately seek to reclaim influence over the capital, remarks that critics say risk inflaming already fragile tensions. Prominent voices within the Hawiye community have condemned the statements, labeling Deni a political provocateur and accusing him of undermining #Somalia’s unity and stability. Supporters of Deni, however, argue that his comments reflect deep frustration among factions who believe they have been sidelined from power and decision making in the capital. Analysts warn that escalating rhetoric from rival political camps could deepen divisions at a time when security threats and political fragility remain high, raising fears that verbal clashes could spill into wider instability if not contained.
Cirka News12,774 views • 4 months ago