West Africa

Puntland State lawmakers demand answers over unpaid salaries despite $300M-plus 2026 budget GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland State state lawmakers on Friday pressed the government to explain why civil servants have received only three months of pay this year, even as parliament approved a 2026 budget topping $300 million. During a contentious session in Garowe, members of the Puntland State State of Somalia Parliament called it unacceptable that budgets are passed annually but not fully executed. Lawmakers demanded a transparent…

Nigeria Provides Emergency Protection for Guinea-Bissau Presidential Candidate Following Military Coup The Nigerian government has taken decisive action to ensure the safety of Guinea-Bissau presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa amid looming threats to his life. This security measure comes in the wake of a military coup that occurred just hours before the highly anticipated announcement of the 23 November 2025 election results. Dias, the principal opposition candidate challenging incumbent President Umaro Embaló,…

Nigeria's Senate Moves to Tackle Escalating Kidnapping Crisis The Nigerian Senate is taking a bold step toward combating the country's rampant kidnapping crisis. In a significant legislative push, Senators have advanced amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act that would extend the death penalty to all individuals involved in kidnapping. This includes not only the kidnappers themselves but also financiers, informants, and those providing logistical support. The proposed Bill seeks to reclassify…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development on Thursday convened a high-level session of the National Development Council (NDC), bringing together federal and state planning leaders to align priorities behind the country’s new National Transformation Plan (NTP 2025–2029). The Mogadishu meeting advanced a unified national planning agenda by focusing on accelerated NTP implementation, tighter federal–state coordination, strengthened drought-response mechanisms and the rollout of a single…

Historic Peace Deal: Congo and Rwanda Sign Agreement A peace agreement mediated by the U.S. aims to resolve the longstanding conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern region. This historic pact could have significant geopolitical and economic implications. The deal was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. It involves critical mineral access for the U.S. and American companies. Continued tensions highlight the fragile nature of the accord. Background of the Conflict The conflict in eastern…

US Government Unveils Visa Ban for Those Targeting Nigerian Christians The US government has introduced a new policy allowing it to impose visa bans on individuals allegedly responsible for attacks on Nigerian Christians. This significant decision reflects a growing urgency in addressing religious persecution globally. The US State Department's policy change enables the denial of visas to anyone who has directed, authorized, supported, participated in, or carried out abuses targeting individuals based on their faith. This…

In a historic move towards peace, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi signed a pivotal peace accord at the White House on Thursday. The ceremony, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, signals a significant step in addressing the long-standing conflict between the two neighboring countries. The peace accord underscores a commitment to ending hostilities and building a foundation for stability in the region. Both leaders, flanked by their foreign ministers, expressed optimism about the…

Somalia, Yemen hold high-level defense talks in Cairo to bolster Red Sea, Gulf of Aden security Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Minister of Defence Ahmed Moallim Fiqi met his Yemeni counterpart, Lieutenant General Mohsen Mohammed Ahmed Al-Daari, in Cairo on Thursday for high-level talks aimed at strengthening defense cooperation and tightening maritime security across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors. The talks, attended by the Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces, Major General…

Lawmakers Warn of Risks to Draft 2026 National Budget Targets Lawmakers are raising alarms about the ambitious US$1.2 billion target of the Draft 2026 National Budget, insisting that without key reforms, these goals remain at risk of being unmet. This budget, the largest proposed under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's administration, signifies a bold expansion in government spending. It emphasizes funding for social projects, civil service restructuring, infrastructure investment, and governance reforms. However, lawmakers…

Mogadishu — A rare cesarean section complication has been confirmed in Somalia after a 30-year-old woman developed scar endometriosis, a painful condition in which endometrial tissue grows in a surgical incision, according to a new case report by Dr. Abdirahman Omar Moallim of Kaafi Hospital and Dr. Mohamed Ali Kahiye of Sahan Diagnostic Center. The case underscores an emerging risk in Somalia’s maternal health system as cesarean deliveries rise, especially in urban centers. Scar endometriosis is often mistaken for a hernia…