West Africa

MOGADISHU — Mogadishu City Club and Horseed Sports Club will contest the Jaranaal Da’uud Tournament final on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, with the Somali Football Federation unveiling an updated format that guarantees a decisive result on the day — extra time and, if needed, penalties — as part of a broader bid to raise standards across the domestic game. In a letter signed by SFF Chairman Ali Shiino and circulated Saturday, the federation confirmed both clubs’ participation in the final and detailed the match regulations designed…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali and Egyptian authorities on Saturday rejected social media reports claiming Somali passports had been suspended for travel to Egypt, saying flights and immigration procedures remain unchanged and Somali travelers are being processed as usual in Cairo. EgyptAir, Egypt’s national carrier, said there has been no “suspension or restriction on the acceptance of Somali passports” and emphasized that “Somali passengers holding valid travel documents and the required entry permits can continue to travel…

Egypt takes helm of AU Peace and Security Council, puts Sudan and Somalia atop agenda CAIRO — Egypt on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, pledging to focus its one-month term on the crises in Sudan and Somalia while advancing a broader agenda linking peace, security and governance across the continent. The presidency, which began Feb. 1, comes amid what Cairo described as escalating and overlapping challenges in Africa — from protracted armed conflicts and fragile…

Somalia’s next election is unlikely to be a direct, one person, one vote contest. Time constraints and the limits of the current federal institutions point instead to another indirect vote. The decisive question is not the model, but whether the process can meet a minimum threshold of credibility. After two troubled cycles in 2016/17 and 2021/22, an integrity-first approach is the only path to an indirect election that voters, candidates and institutions can accept. Those past votes did not fail because indirect elections…

MOGADISHU — Brig. Gen. Elio Manes assumed command Friday of the European Union Training Mission in Somalia, a handover EU officials said keeps momentum behind Somalia’s push to take greater responsibility for its own security. Manes took over from Brig. Gen. Sofia Westermark during a formal ceremony at EUTM-S headquarters in Mogadishu. The transfer followed standard operational procedures to ensure continuity in a mission EU officials describe as central to Somalia’s long-term security reform and institution-building. In his…

Jigjiga, Ethiopia (AX) — The leaders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti on Saturday jointly inaugurated Shabeely Resort, a 385-hectare tourism and development project in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, positioning it as a flagship for regional integration and economic cooperation in the Horn of Africa. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh presided over the ceremony, which Ethiopian officials framed as a catalytic moment for cross-border tourism, trade…

Foiled Coup Attempt in Nigeria: A Deep Dive into Events of September 2025 A reported attempt to overthrow the Nigerian government, foiled in September 2025, has raised alarms about the stability of the country's leadership. This sinister plot allegedly included plans to assassinate senior government officials, potentially targeting President Bola Tinubu himself. The Premium Times has disclosed details surrounding this chilling event, which has unmasked deeper layers of political unrest within Nigeria. The Unraveling of…

Fela Kuti: A Posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for the Afrobeat Legend Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is set to make history as the first African artist to receive a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nearly three decades after his death. The Recording Academy announced that Fela is being honored for his significant contributions to modern Nigerian Afrobeats and for inspiring countless global artists. His radical blend of politics, performance, and pan-African groove continues to…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali National University has accused authorities of illegally demolishing parts of its land in Mogadishu’s Hodan district and says it is taking legal action to stop any further seizures and reclassification of its property. In a statement issued Thursday, the state university said demolitions in the Banadir region have affected facilities used for student services as well as the residence of the university’s chairperson. The administration said no competent authority had granted permission for the…

Drone and Artillery Attack at Niamey Airport Raises Security Concerns Heavy security has been deployed around the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey following a suspected militia attack on Thursday. The incident, characterized by the use of drones and heavy artillery, has heightened tensions in a region already fraught with instability. Located approximately 10 kilometers from the presidential palace, the airport serves as a critical air force base and as the headquarters for the joint military force comprising…