West Africa

Baku (AX) — Anar Najafli, who leads the State Protocol Department at Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, met with Somalia's non-resident ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fathudin Ali Mohamed, earlier this week to officially receive his credentials.Ambassador Fathudin, doubling up as Somalia's representative to Turkey, engaged in discussions with Najafli to explore avenues for boosting ties between the two nations, focusing particularly on trade, education, and development partnerships. Interestingly, Fathudin's journey to Azerbaijan…

The government has announced an ambitious 25-year development strategy designed to enhance competitiveness, promote sustainable resource management, and uphold exemplary governance, establishing a foundation for economic autonomy. Dubbed "Senegal 2050," this initiative aspires to raise per capita income by an impressive 50% over the next five years. There’s also a goal to extend the average life expectancy by three years and to mitigate national debt and fiscal deficits. The overarching intention is to diminish reliance on…

Mogadishu (AX) — Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir, and a posse of Egyptian business folks are gearing up for a jaunt to Somalia soon. Their mission? To suss out promising chances for investment. Mahmoud Abdirahman Farah Benebene, the big cheese over at Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, Investment, and Economic Development, mentioned the crew’s visit is a springboard for yakking about and kicking off big infrastructure ventures. They’re especially keen on eyeing the nation’s ports for investments. Minister…

Yet again, Nigeria's national electricity grid has taken a nosedive, leaving citizens in the dark just a day after power was reinstated. Numerous distribution companies, such as the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, have alerted their customers about the latest outage. Although these power firms are reportedly scrambling to restore electricity, the exasperation among the populace and local businesses is palpable, stemming from a…

FARGO — First-time voters need to catch on to the basics, but picking up scoops on candidates seems daunting when English ain't your native lingo. It's like deciphering a secret code buried in the news or on the web. Tackling these language barriers, the League of Women Voters in Red River Valley joined forces with local champs, rolling out digital voting tools in English, Somali, and Arabic. These resources center on North Dakota's House and Senate hopefuls. "Folks will be stunned by our community's linguistic diversity,"…

Hargeisa (AX) — In a surprising twist, the North Western State of Somalia Electoral Commission has slapped a hefty penalty of 10 million North Western State of Somalia Shillings on both the Kulmiye and Waddani parties. Their crime? Jumping the gun on electioneering before the green light lit up. Tuesday brought forth revelations from the Commission's Ethics Committee, highlighting a breach of the sacred electoral code. The Ethics head honcho declared, “Both Wadani and Kulmiye felt the wrath of a 10 million fine each,…

Mogadishu, Somalia (AX) — With precision and grit, Somalia's elite forces stamped out a cadre of Al-Shabaab extremists near Qey'ad, nestled within southern Mudug. The Ministry of Defense trumpeted this success on Tuesday. Rallying from the front lines, military brass confirmed that at least 10 individuals suspected to be Al-Shabaab fighters met their end in this daring blitz. This mission isn't a standalone affair. It's a slice of a massive campaign to dismantle the militant web and forge a safer crease for Somali folks.…

Community elders and religious leaders in Guriel are raising awareness about the hazards of drug abuse. (Photo by Abdirisak Hajirow/Ergo)(ERGO) – In Somalia's Galgadud region, rural pastoralists face a worrying surge in Tramadol misuse, prompting concern among community leaders.The concerning rise in drug abuse, impacting crime and societal stability, is particularly alarming even among traditional communities, say authorities.Radio Ergo caught up with Abdinasir Ali Abdulle from Guriel, who's seen his world unravel due to…

Egyptian military advisors, instructors, and commandos are assisting Somali forces in battling Al Shabab militants.From left, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. Photo: AFPEgypt is amplifying its military presence in Somalia ahead of Ethiopia's December 31 deadline to withdraw, concurrently training and aiding Somali forces against Al Qaeda-affiliated militants, sources revealed to The National on Tuesday.Both Egypt and Somalia, belonging to…

President Bola Tinubu has joyfully received the national soccer team's, the Super Eagles, safe return to Nigeria after they endured a distressing situation at a Libyan airport. The team was poised to compete in another qualifying match against Libya, vying for a spot in the upcoming African Cup of Nations. Upon arrival, the Super Eagles found themselves allegedly "abandoned" at the airport. They faced a dire situation lacking basic necessities such as food, water, and even phone service following an unexpected diversion of…