West Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has pinpointed Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), and Burundi as the hardest-hit nations in Africa amid the ongoing mpox outbreak. The latest multi-country situation report from the WHO paints a sobering picture: DR Congo has logged 30,766 suspected cases, 5,610 confirmed cases, and regrettably, 25 fatalities. Meanwhile, Burundi has reported 2,188 suspected cases, with 853 confirmed, yet it has fortunately not endured any deaths. A glance at the data, spanning from…

Polling stations across Mozambique have swung wide open for a gripping general election. Citizens are stepping up to the ballot box to choose a new president, provincial governors, and representatives for parliament. At the forefront of the race is the ruling party, Frelimo, putting forth the candidacy of Daniel Chapo. Chapo aims to take the helm from Filipe Nyusi, the sitting president who has served a full two-term limit. Frelimo has exerted control over Mozambique since it gained independence from Portuguese colonial…

The food crisis in Somalia is grim, with around 4.4 million people expected to face severe hunger between October and December, according to the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "Currently, about 3.6 million Somalis are grappling with extreme hunger. This figure is projected to swell to 4.4 million as we move into the latter months of the year, when anticipated rainfall is below average," reported OCHA. From October through December, a time notorious for rising disease outbreaks…

In Mogadishu, Somali leaders are staunchly defending a new security agreement they’ve forged with Egypt. To them, this deal nestles comfortably alongside Somalia’s collaborations with the U.S., Turkey, the EU, and several Gulf nations.Hussein Sheikh Ali, who advises Somalia on national security matters, clarified that Egyptian forces might soon participate in the awaited African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This mission is destined to succeed the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia…

 Qatar has urged the global community to ramp up support in humanitarian and developmental aid, along with technical help, to bolster the efforts aimed at enhancing human rights capabilities in Somalia. The call emphasizes fulfilling both domestic and international commitments aligned with Somali priorities.These sentiments were shared by Turki Mohammed Abdullah al-Khalifa, the Third Secretary from the African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He spoke during an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert…

Mogadishu (AX) - Somali troops, backed by global allies and local militia, have dispatched at least 59 al-Shabab fighters in a couple of assaults across Galgadud and Middle Shabelle over the past 48 hours.A dispatch from the Ministry of Information on Tuesday revealed that near Garilay in the Galgadud region, 32 militants, among them top brass, were taken out. Meanwhile, in Yaaqle village, close to Hawadlay in Middle Shabelle, 27 more met their demise.The announcement also sadly acknowledged that four soldiers from the…

Mogadishu (AX) – At a special gathering led by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Somalia's Cabinet of Ministers gave the green light to a whopping $1.3 billion budget for 2025. This decision was made during an urgent session held on Tuesday. This budget showcases a 24.4% jump from the previous year's allocation, all thanks to a surge in home-grown revenue. The Ministry of Finance spilled the beans, revealing that the budget for 2025 had ballooned by $263 million compared to the $1.08 billion earmarked for 2024. “Ramping up…

Mogadishu (AX) – Somali Premier Hamse Abdi Barre reinforced on Tuesday that the discussions by the National Consultative Council (NCC) in Mogadishu are progressing as planned. This is even after Jubbaland's leader, Ahmed Madobe, returned to Kismayo amidst tensions over the forthcoming elections. In the heart of Mogadishu, Prime Minister Barre gave his word that both federal and regional dignitaries are deep in dialogue over crucial matters. "Once all topics are hashed out, they’ll make their decisions public," he mentioned.…

Erdogan announced a transformative shift for the once conflict-ridden Somali region, saying it will now be heralded for growth, prosperity, and peace thanks to the discoveries by Oruc Reis. Under a deal inked in March between Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the ship will conduct seismic surveys in Somali waters. Around 11 a.m. (0800GMT), the vessel set sail through the Istanbul Straits after making its entrance from the Black Sea, cruising past…

MP Mukhtar Mohamed Guled, helming the Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Livestock, and Marine Resources, brought forth the legislation for its third discussion. As the presiding figure, Speaker Sheikh Aadan Mohamed Nur, accompanied by Second Deputy Speaker Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, declared the outcome, ushering the bills to the Upper House for further examination. Praising the legislative body's quick adaptability, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mohamed Abdi Hayir Maareeye, along with Chairman Guled,…