By Asma Mohamud - Reporter
Ethiopia, July 19 2026 – Doctors in Ethiopia's Somali region have successfully separated conjoined twins in a rare and complex surgical procedure, regional authorities said on Saturday, describing the operation as a milestone for specialized healthcare in the region.
The surgery was performed by a multidisciplinary team of Ethiopian specialists at a referral hospital in the Somali region after months of medical evaluation and preparation, according to Somali Regional State Television (SRTV).
Health officials said both children survived the operation and were recovering under close medical supervision. They did not disclose the twins' ages or provide further details about their condition or long-term prognosis.
Regional authorities praised the medical team, saying the operation reflected the growing capacity of healthcare institutions in the Somali region to carry out advanced procedures that previously required patients to be referred elsewhere in Ethiopia or abroad.
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The operation involved surgeons, anaesthesiologists, paediatric specialists and nursing staff.
The Somali region has been expanding access to specialized healthcare in recent years through investment in referral hospitals, training of medical personnel and partnerships with national and international organizations. Earlier this year, doctors at Jigjiga University Sheikh Hassan Yabare Comprehensive Specialized Hospital began providing free paediatric heart surgeries as part of efforts to strengthen advanced medical services in the region.
Conjoined twins, an uncommon condition in which identical twins are born physically connected, occur in roughly one in every 50,000 to 200,000 births worldwide, according to medical reports. Successful separation depends largely on the extent to which vital organs are shared.