Eye on Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (AX) — On the brisk morning of Friday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed unveiled a revamped cabinet lineup, entrusting Dr. Gedion Timothewos with steering the Foreign Ministry. His task: healing Ethiopia's battered global relations post a storm of internal upheaval and regional skirmishes. Transitioning from his prior roles as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Timothewos was a pivotal mediator during the Tigray fracas. Analysts speculate that his blueprint revolves around mending bridges with Western…

Mogadishu (AX) — On a sunny Wednesday, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) passed the baton of the Kuday Forward Operating Base (FOB) to Somali forces. It's a significant leap in the third phase of ATMIS's troop drawdown, highlighting Somalia’s budding prowess in managing its security landscape all by itself. Since 2015, this base, which sits snugly near the strategic port town of Kismayo, has been helmed by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) under ATMIS's wing. As an essential defensive anchor, it has…

FILE PHOTO Mogadishu (AX) — On Wednesday evening, a fierce skirmish erupted between the Somali military and al-Shabab insurgents near Lukugoraw, roughly 20 kilometers from Hudur in the Bakol region. Local folks shared insights, highlighting the clash erupted when al-Shabab launched a daring assault with car bombs on a military outpost, triggering relentless combat for about an hour. In a government broadcast, it was shared that their forces repelled the attack and obliterated a car bomb attempted by the rebels. “The…

**MOGADISHU (Xinhua)** -- In an update shared Thursday, a UN relief group noted a drop in humanitarian access issues, falling by 18.6% from the second to the third quarter, landing at 57 compared to the previous count of 70. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) added that three aid workers lost their lives during this timeframe. Interestingly, while these unfortunate deaths coincided with their humanitarian roles, they were not directly tied to their work but were rather outcomes of broader…

In a high-profile meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cemented plans to bolster their countries' trade and investment ties. They also issued a collective plea for peace, urging a halt to hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon.The Egyptian presidency revealed that the duo inked a pact designed to boost and safeguard shared investments. They also witnessed the creation of a supreme coordination council, aiming to tighten bonds between Riyadh and…

"The Egyptian Presidential Spokesman threw a post onto the official social media scene, sprinkling news hot off the press about the recent gabfest between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and PM, Mohammed bin Salman, and Egypt's big cheese." President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi played the welcoming committee at Cairo's bustling airport for the Crown Prince, treating him like royalty as he stepped onto familiar soil in Egypt. Taking the princely guest by the arm, El-Sisi led him over to the Ittihadiya Palace, where they rolled out the…

Rigathi Gachagua might become the first deputy president to face impeachment since Kenya revamped its Constitution in 2010 . The Kenyan Senate has embarked on impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following a court's confirmation of their legality. The National Assembly, representing the lower house of Parliament, recently voted in favor of impeaching Gachagua on 11 charges, which include corruption, undermining governmental authority, and inciting ethnic conflicts. The 59-year-old leader has…

In October 2024, Turkey's bigwig, Recep Erdogan, launched a seismic research vessel bound for Somalia, as captured by Turkish Presidency/Murat Kula/Handout/Anadolu through Getty Images. Turkey's been dialing up its connection with Somalia lately. They're backing Somalia in safeguarding its seas and have penned a pact to scout for oil and gas along the East African country's coast. Chatter has also surfaced about Turkey setting up a missile and rocket testing ground in Somalia. These moves highlight Turkey's bold dreams and…

Security camera footage from June 14, 2024, captures Michael Sam Teekaye Jr. at a shooting range in Severn, Maryland. He was honing his skills with a rifle, preparing to join ISIS-Somalia. Federal agents nabbed Teekaye in October 2024 as he tried to depart for Somalia to unite with the terror group. Washington, DC (AX) — A 21-year-old from Maryland finds himself in hot water, shackled by charges of trying to back ISIS-Somalia. The U.S. Attorney's Office from Maryland revealed the conclusion of a lengthy undercover probe.…

NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — A fresh initiative is underway with Kenya inaugurating a revamped pricing panel to tackle the plummeting cost of miraa, known as khat in Somalia. This vital cash crop supports thousands of farmers, with the strategy centered around boosting exports to Somalia, the predominant purchaser of Kenyan miraa. The panel's mission is clear: to stabilize miraa and muguka prices and enhance farmer revenues. The nine-strong committee, a brainchild of the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), boasts members from…