East Africa

Military bigwigs running the show reported that they tore down fortified spots and obliterated prime hideouts in the village, effectively throwing a wrench into Al-Shabaab's plans to launch attacks nearby. They said this capture is a turning point in the two-year mission to kick Al-Shabaab out of Mudug. Somali forces have been in the thick of action, constantly working to free areas from Al-Shabaab’s grip. Snagging Baraag Ali-Gaduud marks not just a tactical victory but also a strategic leap in the grand scheme of securing…

(Mogadishu AX) — An escalating water crisis in Ethiopia's Somali Region now threatens over 350,000 people, according to a recent CGIAR report. Both refugee and local communities are battling crumbling water infrastructure, relentless climate change, and depleting resources. The urgency for immediate intervention is clearer than ever to safeguard livelihoods and lives. Originally built to serve about 100,000 individuals, local water systems are now overwhelmed, catering to more than triple that number. Refugee camps, set…

Jigjiga (AX) – In a horrific incident on Tuesday night, armed assailants gunned down six men, including five from the same family, within a mosque in Ethiopia's Somali Regional State. Residents believe the tragedy was a result of a vendetta between competing clans. The slain men—Bishar Baalul, Omar Aw Ahmed, Mahad Mohamud Abdullahi Waanis, Mahdi Sheikh Adan Wali, and Mohamed Dheere—were all devout Muslims, deeply committed to their faith and community. So far, no faction has stepped forward to claim responsibility for this…

Baidoa (AX) – Military officials reported a deadly skirmish in Somalia's Qansah Dhere district, resulting in the deaths of at least a dozen al-Shabab militants, including some foreign fighters. Southwest Darwish authorities confirmed the presence of foreign combatants among the dead but kept the specifics under wraps. Regional and federal troops, joined by local militias, have ramped up their efforts to reclaim territories still held by al-Shabab in the Bay and Bakol regions. In a similar operation back in April, Somali…

Sayid Ali Moalim Daoud faces the bench during his hearing on September 18, 2024, as the Somali Supreme Court reaffirms his death penalty for the murder of his pregnant spouse, Luul Sheikh Abdiaziz. CREDIT/ SNTVMogadishu (AX) — The Somali Supreme Court has ratified the death sentence of Sayid Ali Moalim Daoud for the brutal slaying of his expectant wife, Luul Sheikh Abdiaziz, dismissing his appeal and validating the judgments from the lower courts. Chief Justice Bashe Ahmed Yusuf delivered the definitive verdict, declaring…

Liban remarked, "Our school board members invest countless hours to deliver top-notch education for our students. As a mother and leader in central Ohio’s immigrant community, I'm eager to back this mission and address the needs of every student, particularly those underserved and part of our growing population." Liban helms Somali Community Link, a nonprofit in Columbus aimed at aiding immigrants and refugees. She's also a consultant at Immigro Consulting, a board member for Our Helpers, and a POWER commissioner with the…

Nairobi (AX) — The plot thickens in the legal wrangle between Somalia's Nairobi embassy and a Kenyan builder following the court's decision to keep the embassy's bank accounts frozen. An insider shed light on the origins of the relationship between the Somali embassy and Kingsley Construction Limited, which brought a lawsuit against the Somali government for breaching their contract. Back in 2015, figures such as Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid and Former Somali Ambassador Gamal Mohamed Hassan, along with…

Plans are brewing to safeguard Red Sea shipping routes disrupted by attacks from Iran-backed insurgents in Yemen. In a significant moment, Ethiopia's Premier Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki shared an emotional embrace after signing a historic truce in 2018. Reuters Egypt and Eritrea are contemplating a military partnership and intelligence exchange to reinforce their already strong bond, insiders say. According to sources, the agreement would detail measures to protect Red Sea shipping, disturbed by…

A snapshot captures the Nairobi Expressway in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 8, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights Kenya's auditor general has embarked on a thorough examination of the nation's debt, aiming to quantify what is owed to different creditors, Finance Minister John Mbadi revealed to Reuters on Monday. In the heart of East Africa, Kenya's debt is towering at 10.5 trillion shillings ($81.71 billion). The audit of these borrowings was a critical outcry from anti-tax hike demonstrators in…

Türkiye's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, addressed the media alongside Egypt's Foreign Minister during a joint press briefing in Cairo on August 5, 2024. AFP The third round of mediation talks under the Ankara Process between Somalia and Ethiopia, originally slated for September 2, and then moved to September 17, has now been postponed indefinitely, without a new date announced, as per Turkiye Today. Although no official explanation was provided for the delay, it follows remarks by Somalia's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moalim…