Kenya Holds Seminar to Assess Two Decades of FOCAC’s Beneficial Outcomes

Folks gathered at the University of Nairobi in Kenya on September 13, 2024, to delve into "Strengthening Sino-African Relations: Reflections on Two Decades of FOCAC". The event, held last Friday, examined the significant milestones since the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) kicked off over 20 years ago. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) This insightful seminar took place on a Friday in the heart of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, scrutinizing key achievements since FOCAC's inception over two decades ago. High-profile…

Italian Ambassador Meets with Prime Minister in Somalia

"This note from the embassy highlights a vital bilateral endeavor aimed at bolstering stabilization and delivering vital services to Somalia," the note declared. Italy has rolled out a remarkable program aligned with the Mattei Plan, showing its goodwill to help Somalia strengthen its government. Through this, Italy supports Somalia in addressing the populace's needs, taking on direct responsibility for selecting and executing relevant projects with Italian Cooperation's aid. Initially, the program focuses on addressing…

Egypt’s Military Relations with Somalia Undermine Ethiopian Aspirations and Shift Power Balance

Egypt and Ethiopia have been butting heads for the past decade over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that Ethiopia’s been constructing. This hydroelectric behemoth has Egypt jittery, fearing it could mess up its water security downstream. With construction almost done and the first sparks of power generation already humming, GERD is a reality Egypt can't ignore anymore. So far, Egypt's kept its response diplomatic. They’ve fired off letters to the U.N. Security Council, accusing Ethiopia of flouting international…

Somalia’s NCA and IFC Introduce Rules to Enhance Telecom Competition and Optimize Submarine Cable Landings

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia's National Communications Authority (NCA) has teamed up with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to roll out fresh regulations aimed at enhancing submarine cable landings and ramping up competition in the telecom industry. Gathering for a two-day powwow in Nairobi, Kenya, the NCA and IFC sat down with telecom operators, industry gurus, and government bigwigs to sketch out a new rulebook. Their mission: to lay the groundwork for Somalia's digital future. These new regulations will dive into…

Sweden to Provide $34,000 Incentives for Refugees, Including Somali Nationals, to Return to Their Home Countries

The financial aid for returning refugees is now at 10,000 kronor per adult, 5,000 kronor per child, and 40,000 kronor per family. This increase hopes to jazz up an underutilized program, which saw just one taker last year, per the Swedish government.Ludvig Aspling from the Sweden Democrats mentioned that the assistance, around since 1984, hasn't hit the radar too much, owing to its low-key presence. "If more folks know about it, and with the extra dough, we expect more to go back," he noted. Aspling is optimistic this might…

Opinion Piece: The Fissures in Somalia’s Political Scene

By Axadle Editorial Board Folks, it's been a heck of a week in Somalia’s political scene. The Southwest State is heating up, and tensions are bubbling right under the surface. Everyone's pointing at Ethiopia, but let’s be real; the actual drama is unfolding much closer to home. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent a top-tier team to Baidoa—fronted by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and featuring NISA boss Abdullahi Mohamed Ali . Unfortunately, they returned to Mogadishu dragging two hefty political losses that have…

The Gulf States’ Growing Influence in Africa

How are the Gulf states flexing their muscles in Africa? Hassan Hassan, who founded and leads New Lines magazine, and Rana Mamdouh, a commissioning editor for Alpheratz (New Lines' Arabic sister publication), shine a light on this intricate web. Rather than clashing over ideologies, they honed in on gobbling up resources, further fragmenting nations already swimming in turmoil. It's complicated, to say the least.

Researcher Investigates Economic Consequences of Declined Humanitarian Aid in East Africa

The research falls into two segments: "The Cost of Inaction: Impacts of WFP Assistance Shortfalls on Food Security Outcomes in Somalia" and "The Cost of Inaction: Impacts of WFP Refugee Assistance Shortfalls on Food Security Outcomes in Uganda." In 2021, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) reached 34.4 million folks in East Africa through initiatives like providing school meals and specialized food for at-risk groups. Fast forward a year, and East Africa saw the number of food-insecure people balloon to 82 million.…