Eye on Africa

Somalia moves to prosecute alleged child abuse filmed for social media; court orders detention Somalia’s top prosecutor has referred a high-profile child abuse case to a Mogadishu court after a video circulated online allegedly showing a man burying a young child alive. The Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday the Banadir Regional Court has reviewed preliminary evidence and ordered the defendant, identified as Ali Abdi Sheikh Khadar — known locally by the nickname “Dhegadiish” — into temporary detention while…

As AGOA Faces Expiration, What Lies Ahead for U.S.-Africa Trade Relations? The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a landmark piece of legislation designed to bolster trade between the United States and sub-Saharan African countries, is at a crossroads. Enacted in 2000 under President Bill Clinton, AGOA has been a beacon for economic development and trade for nearly 23 years. However, as its expiration looms, the ramifications are profound, extending beyond mere policy discussions into the realms of economic…

NoViolet Bulawayo honoured with “Best of Caine” as prize marks 25 years of spotlighting African voices NoViolet Bulawayo has been named the recipient of the Caine Prize’s special Best of Caine award, an honorary prize created to mark the 25th anniversary of the prize that has long served as a launchpad for African short fiction. The recognition revives attention on the short story that first brought her wide notice — the six-children caper that captivated judges with its language and daring narrative — and, more broadly, on…

Somalia deploys newly trained Custodial Corps to front lines as fight with al‑Shabab intensifies MOGADISHU — Somalia has rushed newly trained members of its Custodial Corps to embattled front lines, a sign of how the government is widening its war effort as clashes with al‑Shabab escalate across the country’s south and center. Maj. Gen. Mahad Abdirahman Aden, who commands the corps, said Tuesday the fresh contingent will reinforce units already engaged in the field and help “hold the line” in contested areas. “The new…

Johannesburg to Host Gathering Aimed at Recasting Africa’s Role on World Stage When the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) and partners open the doors of the University of the Witwatersrand in late November 2025, they will do more than convene academics and diplomats. They will stage a weeklong exercise in reimagining how African countries engage with the rest of the world — from Beijing and Brussels to Brasília and the Gulf. “This conference is about agency,” said a senior organizer involved in…

Mogadishu arrests seven youths after knife stunts go viral, exposing a volatile mix of bravado and boredom On a recent evening in Mogadishu, a string of shaky smartphone videos began ricocheting across social media: young men flashing knives inside public stadiums, daring friends and onlookers to watch, filming each other in tight circles that felt equal parts bravado and boredom. By night’s end, Somali Police announced they had arrested seven youths in the capital’s Warta-Nabadda district, a neighborhood that includes the…

Turnabout in U.S. Visa Policy: A New Chapter for Ghana In a significant diplomatic shift, the Ghanaian government joyously announced the reversal of U.S. visa restrictions, a decision hailed as a triumph for relations between the two nations. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) during the bustling backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly, marking a pivotal moment in Ghana's international standing. A Step Toward Enhanced Mobility "Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year…

Somalia Courts German Investment as Mogadishu Seeks to Turn Stability Gains into Jobs On a sweltering Monday in Mogadishu, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre sat down with Germany’s ambassador, Sebastian Groth, for a conversation that was part pitch, part signal. Somalia, he said, has “vast investment potential” in fisheries, industry and livestock. Germany, Groth responded, is preparing to send senior officials to explore those opportunities on the ground. It wasn’t a flashy announcement—no ribbon cuttings, no signed…

Namibia sends troops and helicopters as fire devours a third of Etosha National Park Wind-driven flames have ripped through roughly one-third of Etosha National Park, one of southern Africa’s most important wildlife reserves, prompting Namibia to deploy helicopters and hundreds of additional troops to bolster firefighting efforts. The blaze — believed to have started at a charcoal production site outside the park — has killed wildlife, shredded grazing and breeding ground, and prompted sharp criticism of the government’s…

Puntland State says it killed ISIS cell blamed for landmine that slain senior commander GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland State’s regional forces say they killed seven Islamic State fighters and captured one more in a mountain sweep on Sunday, striking a cell accused of planting the landmine that killed Brig. Gen. Qalyare, one of the region’s most senior officers, last week. The operation unfolded in the Dhasan area of the Cal Miskaad range, a jagged spine of rock and scrubland along Somalia’s northeast. In a brief statement,…