North Africa

The accord inked in August between the Somali and Egyptian governments, involving the deployment of ten Egyptian soldiers to Mogadishu, is coming to fruition. Half of these forces will be integrated into joint defense strategies, while the remaining troops will join the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), set to succeed the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) by January 31, 2025. According to the Somali Guardian, Egyptian military advisors have already landed in Somalia to assist…

In the current geopolitical landscape, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, who spearheads Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are the key figures amidst escalating tensions. Hemetti recently accused Egypt of arming Sudanese Armed Forces, an allegation that Cairo has staunchly repudiated. CAIRO, Egypt (AX) — In a firm rebuttal, Egypt dismissed accusations by Sudan's RSF that Cairo is supplying military aid to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), amidst Sudan's intensifying internal…

In a high-profile meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cemented plans to bolster their countries' trade and investment ties. They also issued a collective plea for peace, urging a halt to hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon.The Egyptian presidency revealed that the duo inked a pact designed to boost and safeguard shared investments. They also witnessed the creation of a supreme coordination council, aiming to tighten bonds between Riyadh and…

"The Egyptian Presidential Spokesman threw a post onto the official social media scene, sprinkling news hot off the press about the recent gabfest between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and PM, Mohammed bin Salman, and Egypt's big cheese." President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi played the welcoming committee at Cairo's bustling airport for the Crown Prince, treating him like royalty as he stepped onto familiar soil in Egypt. Taking the princely guest by the arm, El-Sisi led him over to the Ittihadiya Palace, where they rolled out the…

Mogadishu (AX) — Picture this: A nightmare that hundreds of Somali migrants face while stranded in Libya. Dreaming of thriving in Europe, they flee home to escape conflict and poverty, yet find themselves ensnared in a grim landscape coated with violence and scarcity instead.Entrapped in Tripoli, these wayfarers have fallen into the hands of infamous human traffickers known as the "Magafe." These unscrupulous smugglers make life surreal with daily nightmares—extortion, torture, and the gnawing presence of starvation. As…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a significant leap towards energy autonomy, Djibouti and Egypt have inked a pivotal agreement to establish a 276.5-kilowatt solar powerhouse in Djibouti. This pact, forged in a virtual meet-and-greet, is set to elevate Djibouti’s quest for energy independence while also mending the ties between these two nations.On a day abuzz with ceremony, the Egyptian honcho of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Essmat, along with Djibouti’s power maestro, Yonis Ali Guled, put pen to paper in Egypt on Wednesday,…

Mogadishu (AX) — Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir, and a posse of Egyptian business folks are gearing up for a jaunt to Somalia soon. Their mission? To suss out promising chances for investment. Mahmoud Abdirahman Farah Benebene, the big cheese over at Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, Investment, and Economic Development, mentioned the crew’s visit is a springboard for yakking about and kicking off big infrastructure ventures. They’re especially keen on eyeing the nation’s ports for investments. Minister…

Egyptian military advisors, instructors, and commandos are assisting Somali forces in battling Al Shabab militants.From left, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. Photo: AFPEgypt is amplifying its military presence in Somalia ahead of Ethiopia's December 31 deadline to withdraw, concurrently training and aiding Somali forces against Al Qaeda-affiliated militants, sources revealed to The National on Tuesday.Both Egypt and Somalia, belonging to…

President Bola Tinubu has joyfully received the national soccer team's, the Super Eagles, safe return to Nigeria after they endured a distressing situation at a Libyan airport. The team was poised to compete in another qualifying match against Libya, vying for a spot in the upcoming African Cup of Nations. Upon arrival, the Super Eagles found themselves allegedly "abandoned" at the airport. They faced a dire situation lacking basic necessities such as food, water, and even phone service following an unexpected diversion of…

Some conspiracy enthusiasts posit that mpox was engineered by a shadowy elite aiming to reduce populations and reap profits for "big pharma." According to these theories, individuals who get vaccinated against mpox are doomed to suffer from heart attacks and a host of other grave illnesses. As highlighted by Helen McCarthy in The Conversation Africa, these conspiracies often focus on the LGBTQ+ community, casting suspicion and fear upon them. Misinformation about mpox is blooming, reminiscent of the early stages of the…