West Africa

Jigjiga (AX) – In an event bubbling with vibrant cultural hues, a Somali government delegation graced Dire Dawa in Ethiopia's Somali Regional State on a crisp Saturday morning to honor a monumental recognition. The gathering was an eclectic mix of cultural exuberance and official prestige, marking UNESCO's acknowledgment of Xeer Ciise as earmarked for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The lemonade was particularly tangy that day, with the theme "The Xeer Ciise is the Foundation of Equality, Justice, and Unity"…

Bosaso (AX) — As doom would have it, Abdifatah Nur Mataan, second in command on matters of politics and safeguarding in Beled-Hawo, was swept away after grappling with grievous injuries from a landmine explosion. The town's officious adventurers confirmed his departure. “We were cruising back from Beled-Hawo’s landing strip, minding our own business,” recalled an official who wished to remain nameless, similar to a garden gnome caught in unwarranted chaos. A dire fate unfolded as Mataan's convoy, fresh from airport…

Each year, a spiritual journey beckons millions, calling on the faithful like a siren with promises of divine grace and fulfillment. The pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj, isn’t merely a travel undertaking; for Muslims, it stands as a sacred duty among the five pillars of Islam. This year, the journey comes with an unexpected twist that’s left pockets lighter and hearts heavier in Somalia's Somali Regional State. "Having to foot the bill in foreign currency really doesn't help anyone sleep soundly," chuckled Mohamed…

Mogadishu (AFP) – A scene straight out of a Western flick unfolds on the bustling streets of Mogadishu. Among the chorus of honking tuk-tuks and revved-up motorbikes, emerges an enigmatic figure. Clad entirely in ebony, with a cowboy hat perched confidently atop her head, a horseman—nay, a horsewoman—rides with intention.The kicker? The mysterious equestrian, challenging cultural norms with each hoofbeat, is none other than a woman parading through conservative Somali society.Shukri Osman Muse, lighting up like a kid on Eid…

OSLO, Norway (AX) — two sisters, originally from Somalia, now facing the music in the land of fjords and trolls. Nearly a decade ago, these young women vanished into the shadows, embarking on a dangerous voyage to Syria at an age when most teenagers are just learning to drive. Their destination? The notorious ranks of the Islamic State, where their future was anything but a fairy tale. Their journey reached a pivotal juncture last Friday, January 24, when the Oslo District Court unrolled its verdict: guilty of membership in…

Having spent the larger part of her existence within the confines of an Ethiopian refugee camp, Fardowsa Abdi Aden found herself stepping onto Minnesota soil last Friday, her heart brimming with anticipation. The long-awaited family reunion with her sister and mother was finally within arm's reach. Meanwhile, Neima Mohamed Yusuf, just 2 years old and with a flair for melodrama, burst into tears as her aunt Shun Adan drenched her with affectionate kisses. Her arrival in Minnesota on January 17, 2025, was just the beginning…

FILE - Crowds flowed continuously into a displacement camp on the barren outskirts of Dollow, Somalia, on a blistering day in September 2022. The searing drought that seemed to endlessly grip the region was palpable, hitting everyone hard and leaving the land as cracked and dry as an old shoe in the corner of a forgotten closet. WASHINGTON — A chilling revelation recently came to light: since the relentless drought saddled parts of Somalia beginning in 2022, it has claimed the lives of a devastating 71,000 souls, over and…

A new era is dawning in the realm of U.S.-Africa relations, and one can almost hear the gears of change grinding into motion. Yet, before we pop the confetti, it's important to note that the current administration’s policies are still taking shape, and this process won’t yield fruit overnight. Still, the impact of several Executive Orders that Donald Trump signed in the nascent days of his presidency might just reverberate across the African continent like a thunderclap in a hot, muggy summer. During his Senate confirmation…

When two leaders put pen to parchment in the vibrant heart of Cauri on a sunny Thursday, it was more than mere ink gracing paper; it was the birth of a potent promise. Egypt and Somalia ushered in a new era of camaraderie with a vibrant joint political declaration, underscoring their alliance with fervent assurances of military support as part of a pact born from their covenant sealed in mid-August 2024. Who would have thought yesterday’s rivals would become tomorrow’s allies?In this bold scheme, Egypt pledges its formidable…

They say truth is stranger than fiction and, in this case, Bosaso's Friday night escapades would make a compelling plot twist in any thriller novel. Picture this: a bustling coastal town, where a seemingly benign tradesman has his true colors revealed under the glaring headlights of a police patrol. In a dramatic turn, security forces in Bosaso were led on a proverbial wild goose chase by a suspected foreign ISIS operative trying his luck with landmines late on what…