West Africa

A New Chapter in Somalia’s Electoral Landscape: Progress or Peril? In a significant political shift, a faction of Somalia's opposition alliance has reached an electoral agreement with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This pact could alter the country’s democratic trajectory, signaling both hope and uncertainty. As the global audience absorbs this development, one must consider its ramifications within Somalia and the broader Horn of Africa. A Historic Breakaway The Sehmiye faction, composed of influential figures like…

Sowing Seeds of Change: Senegal and France Redefine Their Relationship On a crisp autumn afternoon, the stately halls of the Élysée Palace echoed with the voices of two leaders navigating a complex web of history, diplomacy, and shared aspirations. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and French President Emmanuel Macron sat down for a meeting that was expected to redefine the longstanding relationship between their nations. With the backdrop of France's recent military withdrawal from Senegal, ending over six decades…

Kenya Steps In: A Fresh Bid to Broker Peace in Somalia By Ali Musa Axadle Times international–Monitoring. The winds of political change in Somalia are stirring tensions once again. As clashes between federal and Jubbaland forces threaten to escalate, neighboring Kenya has quietly stepped into the fray, offering to mediate talks between Somalia's federal government and the semi-autonomous Jubbaland administration. The unfolding situation marks yet another pivotal moment in the Horn of Africa, where decades-long instability…

Tragedy in Ghana: Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Key Ministers In a devastating incident that has sent shockwaves across Ghana and its neighboring countries, the nation's defense and environment ministers perished in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. The tragic event unfolded as the nation grappled with rising regional security concerns and a reshaped political landscape. A Sudden Loss The helicopter, carrying eight individuals, including Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala…

Inside Somalia’s Judiciary Financial Quagmire Mogadishu, long viewed as the beating heart of Somalia’s hopeful resurgence, now finds itself at a crucial juncture. Somalia’s Auditor General, Ahmed Issa Gutale, has thrust the nation’s judiciary into the spotlight by accusing its top courts of obstructing essential financial audits. This revelation, leading to the disappearance of over $1 million, raises profound questions about transparency and governance in the country. A Call for Transparency, Met with Silence During a…

Mourning and Mystery: The Death of Alino Faso in Ivory Coast In the heart of West Africa, tensions flare and unanswered questions linger following the death of Alain Christophe Traore, more widely recognized as Alino Faso, a prominent pro-junta influencer from Burkina Faso. Chaotic yet poignant, the march that took place on a recent Wednesday in Ouagadougou was not just a call for justice but a reflection of a deeper regional wound. A Sudden Loss Alino Faso, age 44, found himself embroiled in a political labyrinth after…

Unlocking East Africa’s Halal Potential: A Global Economic Journey In the bustling heart of Nairobi, a unique confluence of minds marked the beginning of a new chapter for East Africa. It was an event that could redefine the region’s engagement with the global economy, estimated to grow into a colossal $5.91 trillion industry by 2033—the halal economy. The Workshop That Could Hosted at Nairobi’s landmark Jamia Mosque, the Halal Business Development and Export Readiness Workshop unfolded under the emblematic theme of…

Graves in the Path of Progress: A Tale of Loss and Resilience in Mogadishu On the outskirts of Mogadishu, the bulldozers of development are closing in on the past. This relentless push for progress has driven a Somali family to make a heart-wrenching decision—to exhume the remains of their parents from Moalim Nur cemetery and transport them to the distant soil of Guriel in the Galgaduud region. The memory of last year's destruction of the Policia (Bulusia) cemetery looms large, casting a shadow of anxiety over burial…

Escalating Tensions in Somalia: Ethiopian Troops Hit by Remote-Controlled Landmine In the isolated Waajid district of Somalia, a remote-controlled landmine attack marked another grim chapter in the ongoing struggle against insurgent violence. On Tuesday, a convoy of Ethiopian troops, part of the African Union peacekeeping mission, was struck, resulting in casualties, though the exact number remains undisclosed. This incident underscores the growing instability in the region, where hopes for peace are continuously thwarted…

Mobilizing for Health: Africa’s Fight Against Mpox One Year Later In a world where every second counts, the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) is racing against the clock. One year since declaring mpox a public health emergency, the organization is ramping up its efforts to combat the spread of the disease and save lives across the continent. With the shadow of a global health financing crisis looming, the urgency for international collaboration has never been greater. The Context of a Crisis Mpox, a viral…