East Africa

Summit Highlights: A Call for Urgent Action in Somalia At the recent Extraordinary Summit of Troop Contributing Countries held in Entebbe, Uganda, regional leaders convened with a pressing sense of urgency. They voiced their deep concerns regarding the chronic underfunding of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission (AUSSOM). The conversation at this significant event pivoted around the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, passed in December 2023, which authorizes the use of…

Zimbabwe's Central Bank Resumes Gold Coin Issuance In a noteworthy development, Zimbabwe's central bank has made the decision to reinstate the issuance of gold coins, a program that had been temporarily halted for a period of ten months. This revival is not just a procedural footnote; it’s a strategic maneuver aimed at stabilizing the local currency, the Zimbabwean Gold (ZiG), which is currently grappling with significant challenges stemming from policy missteps. The financial landscape in Zimbabwe is particularly…

Recent discussions have shed light on the United States' interest in the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. This initiative, as articulated by Nigeria’s Finance Minister Wale Edun, could mark a significant step in U.S. investment in Africa's energy landscape. According to The Cable, Minister Edun made this announcement during his briefing on the outcomes of the ministry’s discussions at the recent Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, held in Washington, D.C. It's…

The Supreme Court of Kenya recently delivered a significant judgment, rejecting a government initiative aimed at seizing assets belonging to Gibriel Cusman Mohamed, a former Somali diplomat. The assets in question included a striking residence valued at KSh 110 million and cash amounting to KSh 8.6 million. Authorities had accused Mohamed of having ties to Yemeni terrorist organizations, raising profound questions about the intersection of diplomacy, legality, and ethical governance. Representatives from the Asset Recovery…

The Economic Forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa: A Landmark and a Journey The World Bank, a critical institution in shaping global economic policies, projects an encouraging uptick in economic activity for Sub-Saharan Africa. Expectations are set for growth to rise from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025, eventually accelerating to 4.3% by 2026–27. However, as with any journey, this optimistic outlook is littered with obstacles and uncertainties that could shape the path forward. Intriguingly, not all the region’s…

Rupert, the second richest individual on the African continent, has experienced a remarkable surge in his net worth, skyrocketing from $13.7 billion at the beginning of the year to $15.3 billion by April, as reported by Bloomberg's Billionaire Index. This extraordinary leap in wealth is not merely a numerical milestone; it echoes broader economic trends and personal anecdotes that encapsulate the complex intertwining of ambition, market dynamics, and the human spirit. Achieving a position as the 171st richest person in the…

Kenya's Recent Earthquake: A Closer Look On a serene Sunday afternoon, as the clock struck 4:17 PM, a tremor rippled through the picturesque coastal towns of Kenya, leaving many residents startled. The epicenter of this seismic event was located in the Indian Ocean, and it registered a magnitude of 4.5. For those living in Mombasa and its surrounding villages, the ground beneath their feet morphed from solid stability to a fleeting reminder of nature's unpredictable power. Imagine going about your day—perhaps enjoying…

The World Bank predicts a modest but notable increase in economic activity across Sub-Saharan Africa, projecting growth to rise from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025, with expectations to further accelerate to 4.3% by 2026-27. This forecast brings a glimmer of hope, yet many underlying challenges remain. According to the latest Africa’s Pulse report, the growth potential of the region is heavily influenced by a few heavyweight economies. Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa, among the largest economies on the continent,…

Somalia's Ongoing Battle Against Terrorism The shadow of terrorism looms large over Somalia and the broader Horn of Africa. It’s a stark reminder that even in the face of progress, we must remain vigilant. “The threat of terrorism remains real and immediate in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa. We risk losing the hard-earned gains we fought so hard to achieve,” warns Oboth, encapsulating the anxiety that many share. But what exactly does this mean for the everyday lives of ordinary Somalis? This question is not just…

African Union peacekeepers from Uganda stand vigilant, ensuring the safety of Somali lawmakers as they approach the Halane military camp in Mogadishu to cast their crucial votes in the presidential election on May 15, 2022. This moment encapsulates the shared hope for stability and progress in a nation long plagued by conflict. (AP file photo) NAIROBI: The unfolding narrative of the African peacekeeping mission in Somalia reveals an urgent need for reinforcements. A statement from military heads of troop-contributing…