West Africa

Former Ghana Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta Detained in U.S. Amid Corruption Allegations U.S. immigration authorities have detained Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana's former Finance Minister, who is currently wanted in his home country on corruption allegations. According to his legal team, the former official has been in the United States since January 2024 to receive treatment for prostate cancer. Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities shortly before being formally charged in November 2025. In December,…

U.S. halts some Somalia aid after WFP warehouse demolished; Mogadishu disputes theft as 75 tons recovered MOGADISHU/WASHINGTON — The United States said it is pausing further assistance that benefits Somalia’s federal government after a dispute over the demolition of a World Food Programme warehouse at Mogadishu Port, escalating tensions with a key partner battling hunger and insecurity. The State Department’s top foreign assistance official said on X that Somali government officials destroyed a U.S.-funded WFP facility and…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government on Thursday denied a U.S. allegation that authorities in Mogadishu destroyed an American-funded World Food Program warehouse and seized food aid, as Washington suspended assistance to the federal government over concerns about possible diversion of relief supplies. The State Department said Wednesday it had halted all U.S. assistance to Somalia’s federal government, citing “a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft and diversion of life-saving assistance.” The move immediately…

More than 20 countries condemn Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urge reversal Friday, January 9, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — More than 20 countries on Friday jointly condemned Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to the region, calling the move a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and urging Israel to immediately revoke its decision. In a coordinated statement, the signatories rejected Israel’s designation of North Western State of Somalia as an…

Mogadishu — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday night forcefully rejected Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, warning the move threatens Somalia’s unity and regional stability and renewing his call for direct dialogue with leaders in Hargeisa to resolve decades-old grievances. In a nationally broadcast address, Hassan Sheikh said Somalia would not accept any attempt to divide the country through unilateral foreign action. “The Federal Republic of Somalia is one country, free and…

Somali president rejects Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urges dialogue to protect unity MOGADISHU — Somalia’s president on Thursday night forcefully rejected Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, calling the move a threat to Somalia’s unity and regional stability while renewing a call for direct talks with North Western State of Somalia’s leaders to resolve decades-old grievances. In a nationally broadcast address, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia would not accept any…

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has opened an urgent investigation into allegations that its airspace and airports were used without authorization to move Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the UAE-backed leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, amid rising regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency said Thursday it is examining claims that al-Zubaidi transited through Somali territory after skipping planned peace talks in…

Somalia’s e-visa data breach has spiraled from a technical failure into a national test of digital governance, exposing at least 35,000 applicant records and prompting warnings from the United Kingdom and the United States. Launched Sept. 1, 2025, as a flagship Digital Public Good meant to secure borders and modernize services, the platform instead revealed how fragile the country’s digital public infrastructure remains without guardrails, oversight and trust. At stake is more than cybersecurity. The incident has triggered…

MOGADISHU — Somali religious scholars led thousands of demonstrators in Mogadishu on Wednesday to protest Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, denouncing the move as foreign interference that threatens Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and religious identity. The demonstration, staged at Daljirka Dahson in the heart of the capital, drew clerics, traditional elders, intellectuals and residents from across Mogadishu. Protesters carried banners and chanted that North Western State of Somalia — the northwestern…

U.S. suspends assistance to Somali government, alleging destruction of WFP warehouse and seizure of 76 metric tons of food aid WASHINGTON — The United States has suspended all assistance to Somalia’s federal government, alleging Somali officials destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of food aid meant for vulnerable people, according to a State Department announcement Wednesday. The State Department cited the destruction of a WFP warehouse and seizure of aid as the…