West-Africa

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — China has said it will provide equipment to help strengthen Somalia’s correctional facilities, following high-level talks in Mogadishu aimed at boosting prison security and improving services. The pledge came after Somali Correctional Service Commander Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud met with Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Wang Yu on Tuesday. Their discussions centered on expanding bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on modernizing Somalia’s prison system and building the…

In a brazen display of coordination and power, an alliance of al-Qaida-linked militants and separatist rebels in Mali launched a series of simultaneous attacks, intensifying the threat of division within the West African nation. Over the weekend, the militants struck multiple targets, including the capital's airport and a desert town, causing chaos and highlighting vulnerabilities. Among those killed was Defense Minister Sadio Camara, whose death in a car bomb attack has created a significant power vacuum. This offensive…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Halimo stands at a dry water point in Somalia. Photo: CARE International Mogadishu (AX) — The war raging in the Middle East is now feeding another emergency far from the battlefield: Somalia’s hunger crisis is getting worse. Aid agencies and officials say the conflict is pushing up fuel and food prices, disrupting humanitarian supply lines, and deepening acute malnutrition among children. For pastoralist families, the first blow is being felt at the water point. Diesel prices are climbing, making…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Wednesday put its security sector under the microscope, as government officials and international partners gathered in Mogadishu for a senior-level review centered on reform, accountability and the long-term viability of the country’s armed forces. The session brought together federal government representatives, the World Bank and other international partners to take stock of progress and pinpoint the remaining weak spots in critical institutions. Discussions centered on…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 A casual remark by Kenya’s president has ignited a transcontinental debate, after William Ruto was quoted as saying Kenyans “speak some of the best English in the world” and that Nigerians can require “a translator” when speaking English. Kenya's President William Ruto. / Reuters Are Kenyans better English speakers than Nigerians, or have national pride and online banter simply taken over? That question has dominated social media in recent days after remarks attributed to Kenyan President William…

In a decisive move to bolster national security, Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers approved a draft law on April 24 aiming to establish a military reserve comprising 100,000 personnel by 2026. Defense Minister Célestin Simporé emphasized the initiative as a means to engage citizens actively in safeguarding the nation, stating it would "embed Patriotic Defense within a logic of citizen participation." The government has long relied on a significant number of civilian volunteers known as the Volunteers for the Defense of…

BY MARK VANCLEAVE AND ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, ASSOCIATED PRESSWednesday April 29, 2026 Federal investigators swept through multiple locations in Minnesota on Tuesday, carrying out searches and removing boxes of records and other material in what authorities described as an ongoing fraud probe into publicly funded programs for children. State and federal agents were seen at childcare centers in the Minneapolis area, though officials released no information about the suspected crimes. KSTP-TV reported that one team arrived with…

In a significant legislative move, the House of Representatives has granted approval for President Bola Tinubu's proposal to secure an external loan of $516.3 million aimed at constructing key segments of the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway. This ambitious project, spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers, is set to connect the states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos, commencing in Illela, Sokoto, and culminating in Badagry, Lagos. This green light comes on the heels of robust recommendations from various…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is poised to widen its seafood exports after China unveiled a zero-tariff policy for imports from 53 African countries, a move that could reshape the country’s fisheries sector and give a lift to economic growth. The policy, which takes effect on May 1, will allow Somali marine products to enter Chinese markets duty-free, removing a major obstacle that has long held back direct trade. Fisheries Minister Ahmed Hassan Aden said the arrangement opens a direct route to one of…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — South West State’s elections for the House of Representatives and local councils have been pushed back after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission granted political parties more time to complete candidate submissions. In a statement released Tuesday, the commission said parties had requested an extension on April 23 to finish the registration process for candidates. It added that it met with party leaders on April 25 at its headquarters to discuss the request. The…