Somalia news stories on Newser

EU Strikes Somali Pirates

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:10:11 CDT

The European Union launched its first raid on mainland Somali pirate bases overnight, destroying five of their boats using warships and helicopters. The naval attack was the first under an expanded Operation Atalanta, which gave the EU power to attack both land and sea targets. Last night’s attack focused on...

Somalia's Olympic Head Killed in Blast

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:35:34 CDT

At least 10 people, including the presidents of Somalia's Olympic committee and the country's soccer federation, were killed in a blast at the national theater in Mogadishu today. The suicide blast occurred during a ceremony at the theater, which was closed as Somalia's civil war began and recently reopened for...

American Travel Writer Kidnapped in Somalia

Kevin Spak — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:48:05 CST

Somali gunmen have kidnapped noted travel and surfing writer Michael Scott Moore, and are demanding an unknown ransom for his release. Moore, a Manhattan Beach native currently living in Berlin, holds both US and German citizenship. He was in Somalia because he was considering writing a book about Somali pirates,...

Rescued Aid Worker Loved Africa

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:47:29 CST

Jessica Buchanan, the American aid worker rescued in a Navy SEAL overnight raid , first came to Africa as a student teacher in Nairobi. "That experience just planted in her a love and passion for Africa," says the president of the Pennsylvania Christian college from which Buchanan graduated in 2007 with...

Obama Learned of SEALs' Success Before SOTU

Matt Cantor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:30:00 CST

If President Obama was smiling last night, it's partly because just hours before the State of the Union he'd taken a phone call telling him that the Navy SEALs rescue of Jessica Buchanan and a companion had been a success, Politico reports. Some 15 minutes after the speech—without having...

SEALs Raid Frees Yank, Dane in Somalia

Mark Russell — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:46:52 CST

Navy SEALs, reportedly the same team that took out Osama bin Laden, launched a daring helicopter raid early today in Somalia, freeing an American and a Danish aid worker held by kidnappers since October , reports MSNBC . Helicopters landed just outside the pirates' camp in the pre-dawn hours, entering the camp...

Ex-US Soldier Busted Trying to Join Somali Militants

Rob Quinn — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:00:00 CST

A former US Army soldier is in federal custody for a half-baked plan to join al-Shabab militants in Somalia. Prosecutors say Craig Baxam, 24, decided he wanted to live under Sharia law and tried to make his way to Somalia from Kenya carrying a Koran and a few hundred dollars....

2 Doctors Without Borders Workers Shot in Somalia

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:48:12 CST

At least two Doctors Without Borders workers were shot at the aid group's office in the Somali capital today, and at least one person was killed. An employee of the group lost his job yesterday, and came back today to carry out the attack, according to another employee. The AP...

Somalia's Rising Woe: Mass Rape

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:52:56 CST

Add another item to Somalia's long list of woes: A country wracked by violence and famine is also seeing a frightening rise in rape, reports the New York Times , which recounts the findings of aid workers and the tales of victims. The sexual abuse is occurring at the hands of...