East Africa

The most recent in a series of maritime security workshops organized by IMO was held under the EU-funded Regional Programme for Maritime Security in the Red Sea Area (Red Sea Project). During the seminar, participants learned about the importance of collaboration among various government departments and agencies using IMO's model for a whole-of-government approach to maritime security. They discussed different scenarios, roles, responsibilities, processes, and procedures with the aim of enhancing cooperation for routine…

A spook from the IRS will continue testifying after a break. Said Shafii Farah and his attorneys enter court for the first day of a trial concerning food aid fraud. They are among eight defendants linked to Empire Cuisine in Shakopee. The fraud involves over $40 million in federal reimbursements for feeding millions of kids. The trial is now in its third week, with jurors hearing about legitimate food distribution and schemes to buy property in Kenya. Text messages detailing the alleged scam have been central. The…

North Western of Somalia is eager to finalize a contentious agreement with Ethiopia, hoping to secure recognition as an independent state despite Somalia's strong opposition. Celebrating its unilateral declaration of independence in 1991, North Western of Somalia seeks international recognition while pursuing a deal with Ethiopia. Under the agreement, Ethiopia would recognize North Western of Somalia as independent in exchange for leasing sea access and the construction of a military base. Negotiations are in progress,…

In a proactive move, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has closed down 17 state nonprofits involved in a massive scam related to the Federal Child Nutrition program, with losses estimated at $250 million. These closures are a direct outcome of thorough investigations triggered by the scandal surrounding the Feeding Our Future organization. Despite claiming to provide meals to underprivileged schoolchildren, these nonprofits were discovered to lack any genuine nonprofit activities. Audits unearthed false addresses,…

Below is a unique and rewritten content without any plagiarism: Dumped at the port of Mogadishu in Somalia on May 15, 2024, there was a shipment of subpar flour. The Somali authorities caught the unknown quantity of substandard flour that arrived at the port. This contraband was discovered in numerous containers held at the port, failing to pass the quality standards set by the Somali Bureau of Standards. The Bureau exposed that the goods were damp and had excessive moisture content, making them unsuitable for consumption.…

A significant number of heavily armed troops have been sent to the Middle Shabelle region by the Somali government to address the recent violent clashes between rival clans. Sulub Ahmed Firin, the Commander of the Somali Police Force, announced that the army's mission is to step in and stop the fighting in the villages near Biyo Adde in Middle Shabelle. He directed the police force to secure the area to prevent further loss of lives. More than 30 people, including innocent women and children, lost their lives in the recent…

During the 33rd Arab League Council summit in Manama, Bahrain, Arab leaders came together to address the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the urgent need to end the suffering of Palestinians. The escalating violence in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, highlights the necessity for global condemnation. Furthermore, the summit will address the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the crisis in Somalia to ensure their sovereignty is protected. The spokesman for the League of Arab States also mentioned discussions on water security and the…

The EU's anti-piracy naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, sent six suspected Somali pirates to Seychelles for trial over an attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Chrystal Arctic. The tanker was targeted in the Gulf of Aden on May 10, but the pirates were thwarted by the ship's security team's gunfire. Confirmation of the transfer came from Operation ATALANTA on Wednesday. The suspects are currently in custody, awaiting trial. Before the handover, a delegation including the Minister of Internal Affairs, a…

Mogadishu (AX) - A 70-year-old man in Mogadishu was given a seven-year prison sentence and a $3,000 fine by the Banadir regional court on Thursday for funding al-Shabab through money laundering. Ali Hussein Isaac, the elderly individual in question, was accused of transferring $500,000 from his personal account to al-Shabab members. Saleh Daban, the chairman of the Banadir regional court, disclosed that the punishment was split into two parts: four years for funding the group and three years for the money laundering…

Kenyan President William Ruto warmly greeted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the State House in Nairobi on May 16, 2024. The two countries, Kenya and Uganda, inked multiple deals to strengthen their partnership. One of the agreements permits Uganda to bring in and transport processed oil products through Kenya from other producing areas. This move aims to solve issues faced by Uganda's oil sector, as stated by Kenya's President William Ruto. Ruto expressed optimism that these agreements will strengthen their bond and…