West Africa

Prolonged bouts of torrential rain in Monrovia have led to devastating floods throughout the city, forcing tens of thousands from their homes, as reported by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). Monrovia's vulnerability to flooding stems from several issues, including dense population, an inadequate sewage system, and a lack of stringent construction regulations. According to Ansu Dulleh, the Executive Director of the NDMA, the extent of the flooding is "something we have never seen before." This calamity has…

September Marks Numerous Unresolved Journalist Killings Ahmed Mohamed Shakur, an SNTV journalist and cameraman, lost his life in a bomb explosion on September 30, 2022, in Basra town near Mogadishu. | PHOTO/ Courtesy/SJS. The International Press Institute (IPI) persistently demands Somali authorities step up against impunity for crimes against journalists. The state of press freedom in Somalia is distressingly precarious, with scribes being subjects of both harassment and threats from the government and the militant group…

Hargeisa (AX) – North Western State of Somalia’s Internal Affairs Minister, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, sounded the alarm on the budding rapport between al-Shabaab and Houthi militants in Yemen. In a chat with Al Arabiya TV, Ahmed illuminated the potential havoc this alliance could wreak on regional stability. He urged the Somali administration to take swift measures. "The bond between the Houthis and al-Shabaab is a palpable threat to the region's peace. It’s imperative for the Somali government to step in and halt their…

The director of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Kenya EPZ Ltd, Dr. Iruki Kailemia, announced the company's inaugural export, highlighting that it will bolster trust among doctors and pharmacists in the quality of locally-produced pharmaceuticals. "Today, we mark a significant achievement with this flag-off ceremony, commemorating the pioneering export from our manufacturing facility in Athi River, EPZ, Kenya," said Kailemia. Dr. Kailemia shared these thoughts during the event held at the company’s factory within the Export…

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (AX) — In Stearns County, language barriers continue to thwart Somali-speaking residents from exercising their voting rights, despite Minnesota's efforts to promote accessible voting. With no legal stipulations for Somali interpreters at polling stations, many potential voters struggle with English proficiency, hindering their ability to cast votes. Minnesota legislation mandates voting materials in Somali, Spanish, and Hmong to reflect prevalent non-English languages in the state. However, these…

Mogadishu (AX) — Egypt has sounded the alarm, urging its citizens in North Western State of Somalia to pack up and skedaddle due to the deteriorating security climate. On Sunday, Egyptian media outlets disseminated a declaration advising Egyptians in North Western State of Somalia to promptly catch a flight out from Hargeisa International Airport."We strongly advise all Egyptian nationals against traveling to the North Western State of Somalia region, given the precarious security conditions there," read a statement from the…

This year's UN General Assembly (UNGA) carries the theme, “Leaving No One Behind.” The event unfolds as the world contends with diverse and daunting challenges—from geopolitical rifts to pressing climate crises. Prime Minister Barre will have a posse of key officials by his side. Among them are Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moallin Fiqi, Environment and Climate Change Minister Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, and State Minister Hirsi Jama Ganni. Additionally, Abukar Osman Baale, Somalia's Permanent Representative to the…

Mogadishu (AX) – Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), declared that Somalia has zero interest in picking sides between Ethiopia and Egypt in their heated clash over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).During a recent IGAD delegation's visit to Mogadishu, Ware underscored that the rift between Ethiopia and Egypt spells looming danger for the Horn of Africa’s stability and threatens the very survival of the Somali government."Ethiopia and Egypt aren't…

Uganda People’s Defence Force spokesperson, Felix Kulayigye KAMPALA, Uganda | Xinhua | On Friday, the Ugandan military announced that they are delving into the circumstances leading to a military helicopter crash in Somalia. Remarkably, all four peacekeepers aboard emerged unscathed. The details were shared by Felix Kulayigye, the military's spokesperson. In a phone conversation with Xinhua, Kulayigye mentioned that the investigation aims to uncover what caused the Ugandan military transport helicopter to crash shortly…