West Africa

Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria Recalled Amid Electoral Malpractice Allegations In a decisive move, President John Mahama has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recall Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria. This action comes in response to serious allegations accusing Ahmed of electoral malpractice during recent National Democratic Congress (NDC) party primaries in Ghana. Reports have surfaced outlining claims of voter inducement and vote buying associated with Ahmed's candidacy in…

Monday February 9, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Saudi Arabia and Somalia have signed a new military cooperation agreement to strengthen defense ties, expanding counterterrorism efforts and enhancing maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, officials from both countries said. The memorandum of understanding was announced by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, marking a significant step in deepening the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Mogadishu. Under…

Somali Parliament wraps Chapter Four debate, opens divisive Chapter Five in constitutional review Monday, February 9, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal parliament on Monday closed debate on Chapter Four of the Provisional Constitution and formally opened deliberations on Chapter Five, pressing ahead with a high-stakes constitutional review that has laid bare deep political rifts between federal leaders, opposition lawmakers and member states. Lawmakers concluded discussions on Articles 49, 50 and 54, which define…

North Western State of Somalia’s recognition push meets a hard constraint: sovereignty in the Horn of Africa is earned through internal consent and constitutional process, not external signals. Reports that Hargeisa has welcomed potential recognition from Israel sharpen that tension, highlighting how external ambition collides with Somalia’s federal order and the political diversity within the territories North Western State of Somalia claims. For three decades, North Western State of Somalia has projected an image of…

Human Rights Watch Urges Investigation into Deadly Drone Attack in Niger Human Rights Watch (HRW) is pressing Nigerien authorities to undertake an independent investigation into a drone strike conducted by the army in January, which the organization claims resulted in the deaths of approximately 17 civilians, including four children. In a recent statement, HRW emphasized that, while the attack may have also claimed the lives of several militants, it breaches international law. The incident occurred on January 6, when…

Mogadishu’s first modern bowling alley rolls a fragile normal into Somalia’s capital On a recent evening in Mogadishu, the sharp crack of falling pins echoed under neon lights as a circle of friends filmed each other’s turns and burst into laughter. They were young, many born or raised abroad, taking in a scene that was once unimaginable in a city long defined by checkpoints and curfews: carefree recreation in public. The Feynuus Bowling Center, which opened last year, has become a symbol of Mogadishu’s cautious revival — a…

Monday, February 9, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somalia’s parliamentary leadership suspended six more lawmakers from the House of the People on Monday, accusing them of disrupting proceedings during a contentious joint sitting as a high-stakes fight over proposed constitutional amendments widens and deepens political rifts in Mogadishu. The decision, issued by Acting Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, cites violations of the House’s Rules of Procedure under Articles 14, 16 and 28. The leadership said the…

King Charles III Invites Nigerian President to Historic State Visit In a significant diplomatic gesture, King Charles III and Queen Camilla have invited Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for a state visit, marking the first of its kind by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years. The last state visit from Nigeria occurred in 1989, when then-President Gen Ibrahim Babangida met with Queen Elizabeth II. Unlike routine official trips, state visits follow a formal royal protocol and are designed to enhance diplomatic…

Somalia unveils revised labour code to strengthen worker protections, modernize employment rules MOGADISHU — Somalia on Sunday launched a revised Somali Labour Code (Law No. 36), a sweeping update that officials say will reshape employment relations, reinforce protections for workers and help underpin long-term economic development. Unveiled at a national ceremony in Mogadishu, the reform was presented as a cornerstone of efforts to modernize the country’s labour system and align it with international standards and…

Egypt, Somalia condemn Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, vow tighter security ties in Cairo Presidents el-Sissi and Hassan Sheikh reaffirm Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, explore African Union mission support CAIRO — Egypt and Somalia on Sunday reaffirmed their partnership on security and regional stability, condemning Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia and pledging deeper cooperation after talks in Cairo between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Somali…