East Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's road to recovery resumed on Sunday after new Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble took office on Sunday just a day after parliamentary approval, but the procedure used could raise new constitutional questions given the lack of his predecessor Hassan Khaire. At his office, Roble pledged to institute specific reforms in the country for the next four months just before the country heads to the election, promising to focus on security, the implementation of polls as well as the violence…

In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta is concerned about the recent rise in doping cases among the country's athletes. He asks the Ministry of Sports to develop a major training and testing plan to combat this scourge. For the Kenyan president, the country's reputation is at stake a few months before the Olympics. "Kenya has built its reputation as a stronghold of sport on pure and just victories." This statement is signed by Uhuru Kenyatta, who expresses his concern over the increase in doping cases discovered in recent…

The Ethiopian government has announced that it will launch tenders in next October for the partial privatization of the only mobile phone operator, Ethio Telecom, as well as the granting of two mobile phone licenses. Ethiopia is the last major African telephony market still closed to competition. By February 2021, the government hopes to have sold 40% of Ethio Telecom's capital and sold two mobile phone licenses. It is a real revolution for a country hitherto closed to foreign operators. Ethio Telecom actually has the…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - President Farmajo once again pledged early elections in Somalia just hours after parliament approved the recently signed pre-election agreement, further assuring members of the public pledge to hold elections on time timely agreed at the historic meeting that was convened at Villa Somalia. In Villa Somalia, Farmajo attended a roundtable hosted by the Raas Institute for Policy Studies, highlighting the government's efforts to hold elections that reflect the country's progress and democracy. He…

A shootout broke out between Kenyan and Somali soldiers on Saturday (September 26) along their common border. A demonstration was under way to condemn the violence of the Kenyan forces against Somalis. Kenyan soldiers then opened fire to disperse the protesters. Sustained exchanges of fire lasted for several minutes between the two neighboring countries' armed forces, witnesses say. It takes place in the town of Bulo Hawo in western Somalia, located right on the Kenyan border. This Saturday, residents of this locality are…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The journey for eventual recognition of Somaliland, the breakaway region in northern Somalia, may take a little longer to come to fruition following President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo's final sentiment, which has cast doubt on the quest for l State for the nation, which has lasted for three decades. On Saturday evening, Farmajo, at a panel discussion hosted by the Raas Institute, covered a litany of questions when he was greeted by a panel, where he addressed a number of controversial issues,…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Journalists' freedom in Somalia may be far from achieved after all, even with the recent appointment of a special prosecutor, who will look into the atrocities suffered by journalists, and despite frequent assurances from President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo himself. During a roundtable on the country's upcoming elections on Saturday night, Farmajo fired warning shots at journalists accusing them of lacking journalism knowledge and experience, in a statement that secretly exposes the strained…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's parliament on Saturday approved the electoral deal ending months of wrangling that almost threatened to disintegrate the country, in another dramatic occasion that would definitively define the nation's future political realignments. Ahead of the historic bicameral chamber session, there were concerns that Parliament would sabotage the implementation of the deal, after months of disagreements between the Senate and the Lower House, who were heavily divided over the quest to resolve the…

Two months after the sinking of a Japanese ship in Mauritius, the first overview of the consequences of the oil spill on biodiversity. It will take several months to assess the impact of the 1,000 tonnes of fuel spilled on the coral reef. Also on land, oil spills can have consequences, especially for two bird species that are already in danger. The water in the lagoon is petrol blue. Two months after the oil spill that hit Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, "we sometimes find oil products on the surface," said Vikash Tatayah,…

In Madagascar, we are measuring the impact of Covid-19's crisis on education. Civil society raised this issue during an online debate this Saturday, September 26th. For six months, classes have been suspended on the Big Island, except for graduate class students, to prevent the spread of coronavirus. With our correspondent in…