Eye on Africa

On October 24, 2024, the Somali Health Minister, Dr. Ali Haji Adam, took the stage during a gathering in Mogadishu to commemorate World Polio Day. This occasion underscored Somalia's fresh determination to stamp out polio and ramp up vaccination campaigns in alliance with WHO and UNICEF. CREDIT: Ministry of Health - Somalia/ X (Twitter) Mogadishu (AX) — On World Polio Day, Somalia, hand in hand with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, reaffirmed its pledge to eliminate polio, urging heightened actions to shield…

Mogadishu (AX) — Canada has revealed a substantial rollback in its immigration strategy, scaling down the influx of newcomers amid escalating challenges in housing and social services. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the revamped plan, adjusting Canada’s permanent residency target for 2025 from a half-million to 395,000. That’s slicing it down by a hefty 21%. Trudeau confessed that his team “misjudged the balance” between filling job vacancies and managing immigration levels.Public mood is swaying these days. Recent…

 Mogadishu (AX) — The Turkish research ship, Oruc Reis, has anchored off the coast of Somalia, kicking off a seven-month exploration to hunt for oil and gas possibilities within licensed Somali seas. "The ship's arrival signifies Türkiye's deepening energy alliances with East Africa," remarked Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar on Friday.Enveloped in cutting-edge technology for complex three-dimensional seismic research, the vessel will sweep across three selected offshore zones, each stretching around 5,000 square…

President Bola Tinubu has undertaken a significant reshuffle of his 45-member cabinet, introducing seven fresh faces, dismissing five officials, and assigning new roles to another ten. This strategic move is intended to bolster the effectiveness of his administration as it strives to fulfill its commitments to the Nigerian populace. The shake-up saw the departure of key figures including the ministers of education, tourism, women's affairs, and youth development. Additionally, the junior minister responsible for housing was…

At a groundbreaking ceremony for a new liquid oxygen facility on the Coast, key figures including Hiroshi Ogihara from the Japanese embassy, Paras Pandya, MD of Synergy Gases, Governor Gideon Mung'aro, and Unitaid's Robert Matiru came together. Unitaid, backed by UK funds, declared a hefty Sh2.8 billion investment aimed at aiding three oxygen manufacturers in Kenya and Tanzania. This significant boost is set to usher in Africa's maiden regional production of liquid oxygen. Aiming to enhance the availability of medical…

FILE - On the date of April 8, 2023, Ethiopian Minister Abiy Ahmed was present at the graduation event for recruits at the Ethiopian military school. Mogadishu (AX) — Ethiopia's hustle for a grip on the Red Sea is heating things up in the Horn of Africa. This tug-of-war among Ethiopia, Djibouti, Egypt, and Somalia might just change the political scene there. At the heart of it all is the fierce scramble for control over the vital Red Sea route. A big piece of the puzzle is Ethiopia’s port deal with North Western State of…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a move hailed as a remarkable humanitarian achievement, Somalia has brought back home 164 of its citizens from Libya, who arrived in Mogadishu on Thursday.The returnees were greeted by government dignitaries, among them Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Abdirizak Mohamed and Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Fartaag.Orchestrated by Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, this homecoming required a joint effort with the European Union (EU), the International Organization for Migration…

About 13,000 Ethiopian and allied troops will exit Somalia by year's end, making way for a revamped mission anticipated to commence the following year. “Ethiopia’s recent solo actions, like signing an illegitimate pact with Somalia's northern area, breach our sovereign rights and damage the trust needed for peacekeeping,” declared Somalia’s Foreign Ministry in a Wednesday pronouncement. Regional diplomats fret over escalating tensions related to troop involvement in the upcoming peacekeeping force, fearing it might…

FILE - Stacks of Khat, a plant sought for its stimulating effects in areas like East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Due to its status as an illegal substance in numerous nations, authorities are rigorously trying to stop its unlawful importation. JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AX) — At the break of dawn on Monday, police in Johannesburg nabbed a Somali man following the confiscation of 100 kilograms of Khat, valued around $19,750, during a precise drug bust. The individual arrested, a 39-year-old named Mohamed Deeq Abdulahi…

Mohamed Omar makes history as the first Somali-American to head up the Board at Hennepin Healthcare — Minnesota’s leading safety-net hospital. CREDIT / Washburn MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (AX) — Stepping into uncharted waters, Mohamed Omar has achieved a groundbreaking moment by becoming the inaugural Somali-American Chair of Hennepin Healthcare, marking a turning point for Minnesota's preeminent public hospital. Omar’s new position follows three years of dedication on the board at Hennepin Healthcare, focusing his expertise on…