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Cameroon Residents Eagerly Anticipate Presidential Election Results

The Struggle of Democracy: Cameroon’s Presidential Election Under the Shadow of Paul Biya This past weekend, nearly eight million voters in Cameroon cast their ballots, illuminating both hope and despair as they participated in a presidential election that could define the nation's complex future. President Paul Biya, aged 92, is once again seeking to extend his unprecedented 43-year rule, a tenure characterized by a delicate balance of power, widespread criticisms, and questions about the viability of true democracy in the…

Cameroon Heads to Polls with 92-Year-Old Biya Eyeing Another Term

A Nation on the Edge: Cameroon's Pivotal Election In the heart of Central Africa, Cameroon stands at a crossroads. On Sunday, Cameroonians cast their votes in an election that could perpetuate the rule of the world's oldest leader, President Paul Biya, or pivot the country towards change. For nearly 41 years, Biya, now 92, has navigated the turbulent waters of leadership following his ascent in 1982. But with fractures appearing in his long-standing image, this election may signal a new dawn. Biya's Legacy and the Winds of…

ONLF alleges Ethiopia extracting Somali Region oil without community consent

Oil, identity and consent: Why Ethiopia’s Somali region is pushing back There are two ways oil can arrive in a place like Ethiopia’s Somali region: with community buy-in and a clear ledger of who benefits, or with suspicion trailing the first truck. This week, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told lawmakers his government is ready to begin using oil from new wells in the Somali Regional State for domestic markets, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) chose the latter framing—warning that a vital moment for Ethiopia’s…

Tomaino Njoya Challenges 43-Year Reign of Cameroon’s President

The Rise of a Trailblazer: Tomaino Hermine Patricia Ndam Njoya in Cameroon’s Presidential Race In a political landscape dominated by male figures, Tomaino Hermine Patricia Ndam Njoya stands out remarkably as the only female candidate in Cameroon’s upcoming presidential election on October 12. The mayor of Foumban and chairwoman of the Democratic Union for Cameroon (UDC) is not just making history; she is also challenging the established order represented by longtime president Paul Biya, who has held power for over four…

Somalia to roll out Swahili across national school and university curricula

Analysis: Somalia bets on Swahili to anchor its East African future In Mogadishu this week, amid tight security and a self-assured regional mood, Somalia’s president reached for a tool as old as nation-building itself: language. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said his government will speed up the introduction of Swahili into Somalia’s schools and universities, a decision aimed squarely at deepening the country’s new place inside the East African Community (EAC). “The Somali National University, along with all Somali…

Chad Legislators Advance Legislation Permitting Endless Presidential Terms

Chad's Constitutional Shift: A Step Toward Authoritarianism? In a move many are interpreting as a step away from democracy, lawmakers in Chad have swiftly approved a proposal enabling the president to serve indefinitely. The recent vote, which alters the country's constitution, extends the presidential term from five to seven years, with the possibility of unlimited renewals. Critics view this as a serious threat, echoing fears of increasing authoritarianism in a region already grappling with governance challenges. A…

African Union leader denounces al-Shabaab raid on Mogadishu’s Godka Jilacow prison

AU condemns Mogadishu prison assault as Somali forces end six-hour siege NAIROBI — The African Union on Sunday condemned a deadly assault on a high-security detention facility in Mogadishu, as Somali authorities said they had killed all seven attackers after a six-hour siege that rattled a capital trying to return to normal life. The attack targeted Godka Jilacow — a notorious detention site long linked to Somalia’s intelligence service and used to hold al-Shabaab suspects — on a morning when Mogadishu’s streets had been…

Report: Al‑Shabaab nets $200 million annually, financing Somalia’s insurgency

Al‑Shabaab’s War Chest: How a Militant Tax System Fuels a Comeback in Somalia A militant economy hiding in plain sight The hardest thing to see in Somalia’s long war is often the most obvious: the receipts. A new assessment by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point says al‑Shabaab, al‑Qaida’s Somali affiliate, is now the network’s financial powerhouse—pulling in an estimated $100 million to $200 million a year. That money isn’t just paying for bullets. It’s rebuilding a parallel state. The report, The Global State…

Somali forces and African Union troops seize strategic Awdheegle district from Al-Shabaab

Somali, Ugandan forces take Awdheegle in fresh push against al‑Shabaab Somali troops backed by Ugandan peacekeepers say they have seized control of Awdheegle, a strategic farming town on the Shabelle River about 80 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, in the latest phase of a stepped-up offensive against al‑Shabaab. The Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that the capture is a milestone in “Silent Storm,” a multi‑stage campaign to dismantle the militant group’s foothold across southern Somalia. In the hours after the…

Peace in DR Congo Remains Out of Reach Despite Documented Advances

The Elusive Quest for Peace in the Congo In the heart of Africa, as the world turns its gaze elsewhere, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains locked in a cycle of violence and despair. As Bintou Keita, head of the UN mission in the DRC, poignantly stated, peace is still "a promise." Despite attempts at diplomacy and international agreements, the reality for many Congolese citizens has not significantly improved. Promises of Peace vs. Harsh Realities In June, an agreement between Rwanda and the DRC was heralded as…

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