West Africa

Mogadishu (AX) — At the crack of dawn, the stillness of El Baraf was shattered. You could feel the tension in the air, palpable and unnerving. Just days ago, the town fell into tumult when Al-Shabaab launched an overwhelming assault on the Somali National Army (SNA) and local militias. This was not just another battle. It was a turning point in a theater of conflict that many have come to accept as the norm. The Somali government, recognizing the gravity of the situation, has crafted a decisive response. Troops aren't…

The world's prosperity gap, a measure of the disparity between average incomes and a target of $25 per person per day, has stagnated ever since the pandemic began. Why, you might ask? The culprit seems to be a dual assault of dwindling economic growth and an uneven income distribution among countries. While it’s easy to blame this on external shocks, could it be a call for introspection on how intertwined our economies really are? Achievements are not made overnight. Here's a compelling statistic: between 1990…

Dhusamareb (AX) – In the moonlit tranquillity of a Thursday night, the Somali army, in concert with vigilant local clan militias, set the stage for a deliberate military operation in Dabagalo—a haven nestled within the Harardhere district of the Mudug region. Their mission? To dismantle an Al-Shabaab stronghold that, until then, had been an insidious blight on the community's path. Six militants met their fate, taken down as if they were extensions of the very shadows they sought to exploit. What makes a group of people…

On the dusty streets of Accra, the buzz amongst locals revolves around an announcement that came as quite the surprise. You see, a letter has arrived from abroad—a formal communiqué sent by none other than the legal counsel of Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, former finance minister of Ghana. The correspondence sheds light on Ofori-Atta's peculiar status, detailing a confirmed date for his much-anticipated return. Will his return solve the riddles that surround him? Let's dive back to a pivotal date—February 12, 2025. On that day,…

Mogadishu (AX) – The tapestry of diplomatic relations often weaves itself in unexpected patterns. Recently, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi found himself at the center of a swirling storm of speculation, dismissing allegations that the federal government barred former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble from securing diplomatic passport clearance for a journey to South Africa. During a candid discourse with VOA Somalia, Minister Fiqi painted a picture of respect and regard for Rooble, highlighting…

Mogadishu (AX) – On Thursday, the Somali government stepped into the spotlight, addressing its vigilant watch over the legal and humanitarian status of Somali nationals imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. This move comes on the heels of a fervent protest in Mogadishu, where families of detainees facing execution spilled their worries onto the streets. Their cries echo: will justice have an ear? The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, echoing a chorus of duty and humanity, pledged allegiance to the cause of these…

Certainly, the global stage seems to be witnessing yet another chess move, as Russia anchors its media ship on African shores. Specifically, Ethiopia sets the stage for this audacious debut, marking a significant tectonic shift in media landscapes across the continent. But what does this mean? Does Russia’s sudden media presence spell a new era for Ethiopia and Africa at large, or is it a strategic ploy woven into geopolitical ambitions? Introducing a new media center, strategically stationed in Ethiopia,…

Professor Nana Browne Klutse, the interim head of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has sounded the alarm. Calling the situation an emergency, she reaches out to international partners, urging them to support Ghana’s reclamation efforts. But what does it mean when land crying out for healing is left unattended due to financial constraints? In a recent dialogue with the Ghana News Agency, Professor Klutse shared how a World Bank initiative had managed to reclaim some land—though, regrettably, only on a pilot…

The decision to initially prevent Nigerians with ECOWAS passports from entering Niger stems from the nation's recent withdrawal from the West African regional group known as ECOWAS. But why such a drastic move? It all circles back to the political tremors reverberating through the region. Niger's exit—occurring alongside fellow nations Mali and Burkina Faso—followed a trio of coups that placed military governments at their helm. Some attempts at negotiations fell flat, and eventually, their departure was solidified in…

Ever wondered why Coca-Cola is everywhere, why Nike is a global fashion statement, or why so many people dream of strolling through Paris or catching a Hollywood premiere? That’s the power of influence, soft power, to be exact. Soft power is a country’s ability to influence global perceptions, behaviours, and alliances, not through force, but through attraction and persuasion. According to the Brand Finance's Global Soft Power Index, it’s measured through a nation’s impact on business,…