Written By Lisa Murimi

Somalia officially began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) today, marking its second time on the global decision-making body since its first term in 1971-1972.

This milestone reflects Somalia’s progress in rebuilding its institutions and combating security challenges, including a long-standing civil war and the persistent threat of Al-Shabaab militancy. 

The country has made significant strides, particularly since launching a major offensive against the militia in August 2022.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the election as an opportunity to promote global peace and advocate for regional security and counter-terrorism funding. 

He highlighted the significance of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which began operations this week.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, addressing the UN General Assembly in September, emphasized the need for sustainable funding for peacekeeping missions, particularly in Somalia, where such efforts have been critical in combating terrorism.

Joining 15 other nations, including permanent members with veto powers, Somalia aims to elevate its global standing, advocate for African interests, and attract investment. 

As a spokesperson for East Africa, Somalia’s presence underscores the region’s collective interests on the world stage, signaling progress toward stability and prosperity.

Shock and dismay prevailed in Montenegro on Thursday after a gunman fatally shot 12 people, including two children, in a western town before killing himself.

At least four others were wounded in the shooting rampage in Cetinje on Wednesday that followed a bar brawl, officials said. This was the second such incident in the town in the past three years.

The shooter, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinović, killed the owner of the bar, the bar owner’s children and his own family members, officials have said.

The attacker, who first fled after the rampage, was later located and surrounded by police. He died after shooting himself in the head, Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović said.

Residents of Cetinje were stunned and grief-stricken. Vanja Popović, whose relatives are among the victims, said that “we are all in shock.”

“How can I feel after this?” Popović said. “No one expected it. You can’t even ask anyone anything.”

Police had dispatched a special unit to search for the attacker in the town, which is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of Podgorica, the capital. All roads in and out of the city were blocked for hours as police swarmed the streets.

Šaranović said that the shooter had died while being taken to a hospital in the capital and succumbed from the “severity of his injuries.”

Officials have said that the attacker was at the bar throughout the day with other guests when the brawl erupted. He then went home, brought back a weapon and opened fire at around 5:30 p.m.

Prosecutor Andrijana Nastić said Thursday that the attacker went to six locations during the shooting rampage, including the last one, where he shot himself.

Four men were killed at the bar, Nastić said. The shooter then moved on to another location where he killed four more people, and then two children at a third site. He then went on to kill two more people at two other locations before eventually shooting himself, Nastić said.

“Further investigation will determine the exact circumstances of the events,” she added.

The government has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday, and all planned New Year’s festivities have been canceled throughout the country.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that the government may try to impose a total ban on weapons “because we must ask ourselves after this who should be allowed to have guns in Montenegro.”

The small Adriatic Sea nation, which has a population of around 620,000 people, is known for its gun culture and many people traditionally have weapons.

In August 2022 in Cetinje, which is Montenegro’s historic capital, an attacker killed 10 people, including two children, before he was shot and killed by a passerby.

Police have said that the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting received a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behavior and had appealed his latest conviction for illegal weapons possession. Montenegrin media have reported that he was known for erratic and violent behavior.

“Instead of holiday joy … we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives,” Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović said in a post on X.

Las Vegas authorities have identified 37-year-old Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Donald Trump’s hotel.

While Livelsberger has not been officially confirmed by law enforcement, multiple U.S. media outlets have reported his identity, raising concerns about the incident’s connection to a recent terror attack.

President Joe Biden addressed the media regarding the explosion, indicating that both local law enforcement and the intelligence community were actively investigating links between the Las Vegas incident and a horrific ramming attack in New Orleans that left 15 people dead.

“We are keeping a close eye on this situation,” Biden stated. “Law enforcement is exploring any possible connections.”

Livelsberger’s military background adds a layer of intrigue to the unfolding situation. He served 19 years in the Army and was stationed at a base where he overlapped with Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, the assailant responsible for the New Orleans attack.

Jabbar was killed by police after his assault, which raises questions about potential motivations and networks between the two veterans.

Las Vegas Metro Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that investigators are probing any possible links between the explosion and global terror activities. “We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world,” McMahill said.

Additionally, online car rental service Turo revealed that their platform was used to rent both the Ford truck utilized in the New Orleans tragedy and the Tesla involved in the Las Vegas explosion. As investigations continue, authorities urge vigilance and cooperation from the public to uncover more details surrounding these incidents.