East Africa

Gabon National Football Team Suspended Following Disappointing AFCON Exit Gabon's government has announced sweeping changes to its national football setup following the team's dismal performance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The measures include suspending the national team, dismissing head coach Thierry Mouyouma, and imposing a ban on star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The decision was conveyed by Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula after Gabon's early exit from the tournament, culminating in a 3-2 loss…

Somalia staged one of its largest nationwide demonstrations in years on Tuesday as tens of thousands rallied against Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, a move that Mogadishu and more than 20 other countries condemned as an assault on Somalia’s sovereignty. The protests came as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aimed at shoring up diplomatic support. Mass gatherings were reported in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Guriel, Dhusamareeb, Lasanod and Buhoodle,…

Somalia’s furious reaction to Israel’s stated recognition of North Western State of Somalia is understandable. It is also exactly the point. The gambit is not about law, where a single foreign announcement does not conjure a state into being. It is about misdirection—forcing Mogadishu into weeks of outrage and rebuttal while more consequential contests move to quieter arenas: Washington, European capitals, investor committees and newsrooms that define the frame others use. In geopolitics, the oldest trick isn’t surprise.…

Somalia to take Israel’s ‘North Western State of Somalia’ recognition to U.N., warns of Red Sea militarization MOGADISHU — Somalia will bring Israel’s announcement recognizing the self-declared “North Western State of Somalia” to the U.N. Security Council, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said, calling the move illegal and warning it could enable military basing, heighten Red Sea security risks and undermine Africa’s borders. In an interview with Egypt’s AlQahera News, Barre thanked Cairo for backing Somalia’s sovereignty and…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will travel to Ankara on Tuesday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a high-stakes visit that comes days after Israel said it would recognize North Western State of Somalia and as Turkey and Somalia weigh the next steps in offshore energy exploration. Two people familiar with the plans said Erdogan is expected to address Israel’s unilateral move during talks with Mohamud. The Somali leader also plans to brief Ankara on a seismic survey completed in October off Somalia’s…

Somalia’s president has condemned Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia as a “naked invasion,” warning that Mogadishu will not allow its territory to be used as a base for Israel to pursue regional conflicts. Addressing an emergency joint session of parliament on Sunday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing the “greatest abuse” of Somalia’s sovereignty in the nation’s history and referred to Israel as an “enemy.” Lawmakers…

Israel recognizes North Western State of Somalia, setting up diplomatic ties and testing Horn of Africa alignments Israel has become the first country to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, a diplomatic breakthrough that immediately raises questions about how the move will be implemented and how Somalia’s federal government will respond. The recognition was announced Friday after a videoconference between North Western State of Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi “Cirro” and Israeli…

U.N. experts warn that al-Shabab remains the most immediate threat to peace and stability in Somalia and the wider region, especially Kenya, even as the U.N. Security Council unanimously extended the African Union’s support-and-stabilization mission in the country through Dec. 31, 2026. Despite sustained operations by Somali and international forces, the al-Qaida-linked group’s capacity “to carry out complex, asymmetric attacks in Somalia remains undiminished,” according to the panel of experts report released Wednesday. The…

Tragic Helicopter Crash on Mount Kilimanjaro A helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro claimed the lives of five individuals during a medical evacuation mission. The accident highlights the perils of aviation activities even on well-traveled routes in Tanzania's popular tourist destination. The crash occurred on Wednesday between Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit. Five people, including two foreigners and a local doctor, were killed. The Kilimanjaro Aviation company owned the helicopter involved. Details and…

Somalia’s khat bill: How a daily airlift of mira to Mogadishu drains a fragile economy Somalia’s dependence on khat—known locally as qaad and as mira in Kenya—has evolved from a social habit into a structural economic liability. Official statements tabled in Kenya’s National Assembly on December 3, 2025, show just how lopsided the trade has become: Somalia is Kenya’s largest export destination for mira, accounting for more than 95 percent of Kenya’s total mira export volume. The crop supports an estimated 110,000 Kenyan…