Somalia’s president meets with members of Minnesota’s Somali community

October 3rd, 2009 Somalia's president says terrorism growing thereST. PAUL, Minn. — The president of Somalia said Saturday his government is challenged by terrorism — which he called a "foreign idea" — and asked the Somali diaspora support him as he struggles to create peace in his war-torn country.

September 30th, 2009 Somali group executes 2 men accused of espionageMOGADISHU, Somalia — An extremist Islamic group has executed two Somali men in the country's capital, accusing them of being spies for foreign organizations. A firing squad of 10 al-Shabab men killed the two on Monday in Mogadishu's main livestock market, says Said Yusuf, who was one of hundreds of witnesses.

September 9th, 2009 APNewsBreak: Somali president plans US tourCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Somalia's United Nations ambassador says his country's newly elected president plans a tour this fall of U.S. communities with large Somali populations.

August 3rd, 2009 Somali pirates receive ransom for German shipNAIROBI, Kenya — A European Union naval spokesman says Somali pirates have received a ransom to release a German vessel they have been holding for more than three months. Morten Gramberg declined to give any other details about the ransom or when the Hansa Stavanger would be released.

July 15th, 2009 Somali DM: Arrests made in French advisers kidnapMOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia's defense minister tells French radio that authorities have arrested suspects in the kidnapping of two French security advisers in the Somali capital. Defense Minister Mohamed Abdi Ghandi said on France's RFI radio Wednesday that troops also have gone to areas where the hostages might be.

June 20th, 2009 Somali Cabinet OKs state of emergencyMOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia's government is calling for a state of emergency to be declared in the lawless country. Information Minister Farhan Ali Mohamud says the Cabinet made the decision Saturday because Somalia "is in danger" and is facing a deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

June 18th, 2009 Somalia's president says al-Qaida is behind attackMOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia's president says al-Qaida is behind a suicide bombing that killed the national security minister in a western Somali town. Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed says a senior Somali diplomat also died in Thursday's attack in Belet Weyne that killed at least 20 people.

May 14th, 2009 MOGADISHU - Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has signed a bill that will allow the implementation of Sharia or Islamic law in the country. Since Somalia has now implemented the Sharia, there is no reason for the continuation of hostilities in the country, Ahmed said Wednesday after signing the bill into law.

May 6th, 2009 Somali pirates hijack German-owned shipNAIROBI, Kenya — A U.S. Navy spokesman says Somali pirates have hijacked a German-owned ship with its 11 Romanian crew members in the Gulf of Aden.

May 6th, 2009 Somali pirates seize German-owned shipNAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates have seized a German-owned ship with its 11 Romanian crew members in the Gulf of Aden, a U.S. Navy spokesman said Wednesday.

April 24th, 2009 Minn. won't penalize group in Somali piracy caseST. PAUL, Minn. — A Republican state legislator in Minnesota has failed in his attempt to punish a group that helped line up an attorney for an accused Somali pirate.

April 18th, 2009 MOGADISHU - NATO forces Saturday freed 20 people taken hostage by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden last week, a media report said. A Dutch warship in a NATO anti-piracy mission freed 20 Yemeni hostages from a vessel that was captured by the pirates last week, the report quoted a NATO spokesperson as saying.

January 11th, 2009 BAIDOA - Somalia's presidential election will be held Jan 26, officials announced here Sunday. Sheik Adan Mohamed Nur, acting president of the restive African nation, confirmed the election date.

January 4th, 2009 PARIS - A French warship Sunday foiled attacks by Somali pirates on two commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden, the French president's office said. Patrolling off the Somali coast, the French warship 'Jean de Vienne' captured 19 Somali pirates when they tried to seize a Croatian freighter and a Panamanian cargo ship.

December 28th, 2008 MOGADISHU - Somalia's President Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed Monday resigned, ending an infighting with Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein which almost brought the transitional government to the brink of collapse. Yusuf made the announcement while addressing parliament in the southern town of Baidoa.