# Somalia
All time
One person became a refugee every four seconds last year
Over one million people fled across international borders last year with 6.5 million displaced in their own home countries.
Women 'embarrassed' after dressing as pirates to meet former Somali hostage
“There he was delivering this harrowing story about how he was held hostage and feared for his life, and we were all sitting there dressed as Captain Hook.”
16 dead following al-Shabab attack in Somalia's main court complex
The preliminary death includes all nine attackers.
9 striking photos from some of the worst crises of the past 40 years
From famine in North Korea to the genocide in Rwanda, these photographs offer an insight into global crises – and how the world has dealt with them.
Danish brothers charged with plotting terror attack
Two brothers with links to Somalia’s Islamist Shebab rebels have been formally charged over suspicions of plotting a terror attack.
Captors kill hostage in Somalia during French raid
The hostage, known as Denis Allex, had been captured in 2009.
Shebab Islamists abandon last stronghold in Somalia
Kismayu has been a vital lifeline for the Shebab in their five year revolt against African Union and Somali government troops.
Ethiopia's long-time ruler Meles Zenawi dies aged 57
Zenawi was an ally of the US in its counter-terrorism fight but his leadership raised many human rights concerns. He won his last election two years ago with 99 per cent of the vote.
Ireland to provide €3 million in vital aid to Somalia
Eamon Gilmore announced the funding during a trip to the capital Mogadishu today.
Running from war: Somali athletes defeat hardship for shot at glory
From Mogadishu, the road to the London Olympics is fraught with more uncertainty than most.
Aid workers kidnapped in Kenya safely released
The four were working with the Norwegian Refugee Council when they were abducted and one of their colleagues was killed during an ambush last week.
Grenade and gun attacks on Kenyan churches kill 10
Two churches were targeted in what officials believe were attacks mounted by Somali militants.
Al-Qaeda affiliate offers 10 camels as bounty on Obama
The Somalian group also offered up 10 hens and 10 roosters for Hillary Clinton.
EU carries out air strikes on Somali pirates
Attack helicopters took part in the attacks early this morning along the coastline of Somalia.
China is the world's 'number one executioner' - Amnesty report
A new report says that the number of countries who have the death penalty is declining but there has been a surge in the number of executions in the Middle East.
Kidnapped British woman freed by Somali pirates
Judith Tebbutt and her husband David were kidnapped in September. David was killed during the attack – a fact Judith, who spent six months in captivity, did not find out until weeks after.
Two hostages dead after pirates hijack ship off Somali coast
The Danish warship had been following the hijacked vessel for several days before attempting to board it.
World leaders threaten sanctions over Somalia
Those who hamper the troubled state’s political progress will face serious sanctions, leaders attending today’s major international conference in London warned.
‘For children in Somalia, nowhere is safe’ – HRW report
The rights group has criticised all sides of the Somali conflict of recruiting child soldiers and failing to adequately protect children.
UN: Somali famine is over, but action still needed
The UN said that long-awaited rains, coupled with substantial agricultural inputs and the humanitarian response are the main reasons for the improvement.
Praise for Special Forces after Somalia hostage rescue
Two hostages – a man from Denmark and an American woman – were freed after the operation.
Bomb attack targets packed refugee camp in Somali capital
Two people have died in the explosion which occurred shortly after a UN and media visit.
Failure to respond led to thousands of needless deaths in Africa - aid agencies
“Many donors wanted proof of a humanitarian catastrophe before acting to prevent one” – Oxfam, Save the Children.
MSF "deeply shocked" by staff killings
The staff members were killed in Mogadishu yesterday. MSF has said today that some staff members are to be relocated from the compound there for security reasons.
Two Doctors Without Borders staff "shot by fellow employee"
The incident involved a disgruntled former employee and took place in the Somali capital of Mogadishu today.
In pictures: the natural disasters of 2011
Last year saw a number of major natural disasters strike, including earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand and Turkey, volcanic eruptions in Chile and Iceland, and severe tropical storms in Asia.
Concerns raised for humanitarian work after Somali militants ban aid agencies
UNICEF says it fears for the lives of malnourished children who have been receiving food from its workers, who have been banned by al-Shabab fighters.
Somali militants ban 16 aid groups and UN agencies
The Islamist group has banned Concern, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and UNHCR – amongst others – from operating in the country, where 250,000 people face the immediate risk of starvation.
Ethiopian troops spotted in Somalia: report
Has Ethiopia followed Kenya in sending its troops to tackle Somali insurgents?
Kenya warns of 'Al Shabab donkeys' in Somalia
Tensions on the Kenya-Somalia border follows a spate of recent kidnappings and the imposition of a Kenyan military force in the region.
Somali gunmen kidnap US, Danish aid workers
The two colleagues work for a Danish organisation which works to remove unexploded mines.
France to supply troops fighting Somalia militants
But French authorities have denied reports that French naval vessels had carried out attacks near an al-Shabab stronghold.
14 injured in grenade attack at Kenyan nightclub
Kenyan police say they believe Somali militant group al-Shabab is behind the attack, which comes after the group’s recent warning of “bloody battles” which would endanger the lives of civilians.
Al-Shabab display bodies of African Union peacekeepers
The fighters displayed around 70 bodies of the troops after a battle in Mogadishu yesterday.
Frenchwoman abducted in Kenya dies weeks after kidnapping
The 66-year-old woman was taken from her rented house on a Kenyan island earlier this month by suspected Somali militants.
Car bomb hits Somali capital Mogadishu
This is the second bombing in Mogadishu in the past month. People have been leaving the city in droves (pictured) in recent weeks.
