North Africa

“A handshake in Istanbul colored the air with new possibilities,” noticed observers as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan last September . The meeting seemed to signal a thaw in icy relations and was a precursor to subsequent talks between Turkey and Egypt, centering on Africa and Libya. On a lively Monday, officials from both countries gathered to address mutual concerns. On the table were discussions about the Horn of Africa and simmering tensions in the Red Sea, alongside the…

Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, gathered with Germany's Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in Berlin from November 5-6, 2024. The photo credits: Hannes P. Albert / picture alliance. Recently, Germany and Somalia unveiled a new agreement, sparking varied reactions and opinions. Historically, similar attempts to repatriate migrants have often faced challenges and shown limited success, as noted by several experts. On November 6, after their meeting in Berlin, Scholz and Mohamud declared their intention to return more…

"As a voter gaze at a ballot in hand, poised to make a mark, he gets ready to participate in a pivotal moment for North Western State of Somalia," reports Luis Tato from AFP.The presidential election is afoot in Somalia's aspirant state of North Western State of Somalia, attracting a wave of civic energy and political ambition.Anticipating a turnout of over a million, voters will flock to upwards of 2,000 polling stations on this significant Wednesday.Candidates carry hopes of navigating North Western State of Somalia to…

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Following Donald Trump's election, African leaders expressed enthusiasm about forging stronger partnerships with the United States. However, many remain skeptical that his presidency will significantly impact the continent's 1.4 billion-strong population. After Trump clinched victory, Kenya's William Ruto affirmed readiness to enhance relations with Washington, while Nigeria's Bola Tinubu looked forward to "earnest and mutually rewarding" collaborations. Despite these greetings, whispers abound that…

Sure, here's a revised version of your text with varied sentence lengths, conversational tone, and additional background and context where applicable: --- On a bustling Monday, the stage was set for some serious talks. Badr Abdel Aty, Egypt's bigwig in foreign affairs and immigration, had a pow-wow with Ahmed Moalem Feki, Somalia’s Foreign Minister. They were hashing out the progress on agreements from two crucial summits— one bilateral, another bringing Eritrea into the mix— held back in the scenic Asmara on October 10.…

North Western State of Somalia's President, Muse Bihi Abdi, recently touched down in Addis Ababa for a pivotal moment—the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Ethiopia. This agreement potentially unlocks access to a North Western State of Somalia port for Ethiopia. REUTERS/Tiksa Neger/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights On Wednesday, the voters of North Western State of Somalia were out in full force, participating actively in a presidential election. This political event carries significant weight as the…

Somalia's Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, addressed the nation from Mogadishu on December 21, 2022, amid the arrival of Somali soldiers who had been training in Eritrea. This event sparked significant discussions concerning the future of peacekeeping in Somalia. On a recent Saturday, a high-ranking official from Somalia made a firm statement: Ethiopia is not welcome in the upcoming African Union peacekeeping operation starting January. The roots of this tension trace back to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)…

In the heart of Mogadishu, a hotspot of brewing strategies, the Somali Council of Ministers recently convened in a swift and decisive meeting held on Sunday night, a meeting that led to reshuffling some top military brass. Their resolution? Welcome back General Odowa Yusuf Raage as the head honcho of the Somali Armed Forces, sending General Ibrahim Muhyiddin to the sidelines. Straight from the chambers of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre's office came the announcement, stamping the ministry's approval for General Raage'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…