Eye on Africa

Mogadishu (AX) — In the bustling city of Mogadishu, the interim committee established by the Somali parliament to formulate electoral laws and draft the framework for upcoming elections has taken a significant step. The committee has chosen Mahdi Guled, a former Deputy Prime Minister and seasoned MP, to be its chairman. Senator Iftin Hassan Iman Baasto stands by his side as the newly elected deputy chairman. On a bustling Saturday, this selection process unfolded within the walls of Villa Hargeisa. The meeting had the…

“Catch a glimpse of the gathering in Nairobi as Eric Rutto, President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presided over a crucial meeting at Ecobank’s CEOs Forum on November 8.”In the hustle and bustle of Kenya's capital, top executives gathered to brainstorm fresh strategies for taking Kenyan businesses to new heights. Imagine expanding not just within the region, but globally! This conversation aligns closely with the ambitious African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). With the AfCFTA on the…

The "Joint Border Administrators and Commissioners Meeting," marking the 28th round of collaboration between Ethiopia and Djibouti, unfolded in the town of Debre Zeit (also known as Bishoftu), just 44 kilometers southeast of bustling Addis Ababa. This significant gathering was highlighted in a recent announcement by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, putting a spotlight on a partnership crucial to both nations.In the leading roles of this diplomatic assembly were Selamawit Dawit, Director General of Ethiopia’s…

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bids Welcome to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Doha(Source: AFP) Qatar is under a bit of pressure from Uncle Sam, who wants the country to evict Hamas's political bigwigs by the end of the next month. This inside scoop comes from two insiders who spilled the beans to The National over the weekend. Qatar has acted as a cozy haven for these Palestinian leaders since 2012 after Khaled Meshaal moved there from Syria. Meshaal had been the head honcho of Hamas for over 20 years until 2017. It's…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a significant move, the Somali government recently declared that Ethiopian forces would be sidelined from the forthcoming African Union mission, which is set to replace the existing African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, ATIMS, by January 2025.Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama shared this pivotal decision during a chat with Somali National Television, highlighting Ethiopia's purported breach of Somalia’s sovereignty as a key reason for their exclusion."Ethiopian forces have been…

On October 18, 2024, Amun Abdullahi, a remarkable journalist aged 49, lost her life in Afgoye, Somalia, under tragic circumstances. The International Press Institute (IPI) vocally denounces the brutal murder of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed, a distinguished Somali-Swedish journalist gunned down by a duo allegedly linked to the insurgent outfit Al-Shabab. Her death marks the second journalist murder in Somalia this year, following Abdikarin Ahmed Bulhan from Somali National Television, who was tragically killed on March 13 by a…

The surge in monkeypox cases across Africa has led to a significant response involving the distribution of vaccine doses, with Kenya standing amongst the nine nations in the continent receiving these crucial supplies. The Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) has earmarked an initial batch of 899,000 vaccine doses for these nine African countries, aimed at tackling the monkeypox outbreak. This decision, articulated through a press release from the World Health Organization (WHO), underscores collaboration with the countries…

Kismayo (AX) — A cohort of more than 30 Somali lawmakers recently convened in Kismayo for a pivotal meeting orchestrated by Jubbaland's head honcho, Ahmed Madobe. The agenda? To chew over the fascinating nuances of Somalia's political landscape and its various storms. Originally penciled in for Friday, the shindig got rescheduled. Why the delay, you ask? They needed some extra MPs, who were currently chilling outside Somalia, to join the discussions. Clock's ticking, but better late than never, right?In a show of strong…

The bustling city of Mogadishu recently witnessed a significant diplomatic rendezvous at its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Thursday, Somali Foreign Minister Ambassador Ahmed Moalim Fiqi sat down with his Egyptian counterpart, Ambassador Mohamed El-Baz, to explore opportunities to enhance the bonds between their nations. This gathering wasn't just a run-of-the-mill diplomatic meeting, but rather, a crucial dialogue to fortify the ties that have such rich, historical roots. Within the hushed conference room, shaded by the…

Commitment to Education by Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir In a pivotal move, Somalia's Education Minister, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, is spearheading efforts to uplift the education standards across the nation, promising that every learner will have access to high-quality education. After the Somali Parliament gave a thumbs-up to the National Higher Education Bill, Minister Abdulkadir expressed his genuine gratitude to the MPs for their overwhelming backing. Overflowing with excitement, he emphasized the positive impact this…