West Africa

Guinea's Presidential Election: A Troubling Path Ahead As Guinea approaches its presidential election, the atmosphere is charged with uncertainty and concern. Incumbent military leader General Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in 2021, is poised to retain his position in what many observers believe will be a contested and potentially flawed electoral process. Former President Alpha Conde, once a fixture in Guinean politics, and long-time opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo remain in exile, having faced…

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…

U.S. Airstrikes Target Islamic State-Aligned Camp in Nigeria On Christmas Day, U.S. airstrikes launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones targeted camps linked to Islamic State-aligned militants in Sokoto state, northwestern Nigeria. While the operation has drawn attention, details remain scant. No civilian casualties have been reported. U.S. Africa Command (Africom) announced on December 26 that "multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in the ISIS camps." However, the lack of transparent information has raised concerns among human…

Somalia’s unity finds fresh backing — and an opening — after an external push to recognize a breakaway entity stirred a swift international backlash this week. The flurry of statements, arriving around Dec. 26, rallied behind Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, offering Mogadishu and the Waqooyi-beri (northeastern) administration a rare moment to convert diplomatic momentum into concrete political, security and governance gains. The reaction followed what Somali commentators describe as an Israeli initiative,…

MOGADISHU — The European Union on Saturday said respecting Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity is “key to the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa,” after Israel recognized the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state a day earlier. In a statement, the EU said it “reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” in line with Somalia’s Constitution and the charters of the African Union…

Israel becomes first country to recognize North Western State of Somalia, pledges full diplomatic ties Move marks first formal recognition of the breakaway republic since 1991; embassies and ambassadors planned under joint declaration. HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognize the Republic of North Western State of Somalia as an independent, sovereign state, a landmark decision that establishes full diplomatic relations more than three decades after North…

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…

Israel on Friday formally recognized North Western State of Somalia as an independent and sovereign state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, in a move that could reshape diplomacy and security dynamics in the Horn of Africa. Netanyahu said Israel and North Western State of Somalia signed a joint declaration formalizing the recognition. “Together with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and the President of the Republic of North Western State of Somalia, we signed a joint and mutual declaration,” he said in a statement.…

Somalia begins counting votes after Mogadishu’s landmark one-person, one-vote poll Mogadishu — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Thursday night said ballot counting is underway after polls closed across the capital for the Banadir Regional Council elections, the city’s first one-person, one-vote ballot in more than five decades. Commission Chairperson Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan told national media that voting ran from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time and proceeded calmly and in an orderly manner…

MOGADISHU — The Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, has welcomed the direct elections for the Banadir Regional Council, calling the vote a historic milestone and the first of its kind in Somalia since 1969. In a statement issued Thursday, Al-Yamahi said the Mogadishu ballot represents a significant step in Somalia’s state-building process, strengthening democratic governance and citizenship while widening public participation in decision-making. He said the direct elections are expected to deliver…