East Africa

Conservative legislator Tim Loughton, facing retribution from China, got detained and thrown out of Djibouti due to the African nation's strong connection with Beijing. China penalized seven lawmakers in 2021, including Loughton, for allegedly spreading falsehoods about human rights violations in Xinjiang. Loughton, a long-time MP, was stopped at the airport during his brief visit to Djibouti and promptly escorted onto the next flight out. He believes his harsh treatment by Djibouti stemmed directly from his criticism of…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has arrived in Nairobi, Kenya for the African Heads of State and World Bank Summit on April 29, 2024. Hosted by the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank, the summit will focus on African development and investment opportunities, along with strategies to boost them through major projects. Villa Somalia announced that President Mohamud will engage in sideline meetings with African leaders and IDA officials to enhance cooperation between Somalia and…

An ongoing search and rescue effort is underway for a private boat that capsized between Madogo and Garissa on Sunday evening. The boat was carrying passengers across a flooded section of the road, with some individuals seen on top of the overturned vessel and others swimming in the turbulent waters. Onlookers, visibly shocked by the incident, stood helplessly on the shore, some crying out for assistance. Additional footage showed the overloaded boat navigating the swollen Tana River before succumbing to the powerful…

In Garasbaaley on the outskirts of Mogadishu, a landmine explosion took the lives of six Hormuud Telecommunication Company workers on Sunday. Hormuud Telecom, the top telecom provider in Somalia, called the attack a deliberate targeting of commercial companies in the country. The company did not blame any particular group, and no one has claimed responsibility. The Somali government condemned the attack, pointing fingers at the al-Shabab group. The six victims were named as Hussein Moalim Abdi Weheliye, Mohamed Abdule…

In the face of recent economic turmoil and uncertainties, Somalia has a compelling opportunity to explore the potential benefits of integrating Bitcoin into its national financial strategy. This innovative digital currency could not only serve as a safeguard during turbulent economic times but also act as a catalyst for strengthening Somalia's resilience against future shocks. Somalia, along with many other developing nations, faces a multitude of challenges that can significantly disrupt its economic stability. These…

Residents retrieve their belongings post-flood in Nairobi; Flooding and heavy rains claim at least 70 lives in Kenya, exacerbating the impact of climate change in East Africa. The death toll has doubled from earlier reports, with severe downpours affecting Kenya and other vulnerable East African nations. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura confirmed 70 fatalities due to floods, 32 of which were in Nairobi, and 15 in the Rift Valley region. Over 120,000 people are displaced, 22 are injured, and 8 are missing. The…

In Mogadishu, Somalia, six workers from Hormuud Telecom died in an IED explosion on the outskirts of the capital. The incident occurred as their vehicle was struck by a remote-controlled landmine from Garas-Balay to Elasha Biyaha. The names of the deceased workers are Hussein Maalim Abdi Weheliye, Mohamed Abdulle Wardhere, Mohamed Ahmed Wehliye (Gabashey), Abdikarim Osman Abdi, and Abdinasir Ahmed Mohamud. Although no group has claimed responsibility  but Al-Shabab militants are known for such attacks targeting the…

In Somalia, around 88,000 people were displaced in the first quarter of 2024 due to conflict, flooding, and insecurity. The UNHCR highlighted clan conflicts, political tensions, and ongoing military operations against al-Shabab as major threats to the fragile security situation in the country. Indiscriminate attacks by al-Shabab have caused significant harm to civilians, leading to further displacements and casualties. The overall humanitarian crisis in Somalia is exacerbated by decades of conflict, political unrest, clan…

The envoy mentioned that skilled Kenyan workers are in various sectors like corporate, humanitarian, and hospitality. Currently, there are over 30,000 Kenyans working in Somalia, a number expected to increase significantly due to Somalia's inclusion in the East African Community, ensuring free movement among member states. Somalia was not included in the recent Central Bank of Kenya report on remittances, which highlighted countries like Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa as major sources of money transfers from Kenyan…

London (AX) — The Irish government is gearing up to tackle the influx of Somali asylum seekers and migration issues from the UK by introducing emergency laws to deport those who first entered the UK before coming to Ireland. This move comes amidst fears that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to deport individuals to Rwanda is prompting asylum seekers to reroute to Ireland. Justice Minister Helen McEntee revealed that a whopping eighty percent of recent arrivals had passed through the UK-Ireland border. In…