Eye on Africa

Police headquarters in the lively Italian city of Crotone | Photo: ARCHIVE/ANSA/GIUSEPPE PIPITA Deep in the heart of southern Italy, the police in Crotone scored a significant victory, clamping down on a sinister underworld network. They nabbed the alleged kingpin of a notorious human trafficking syndicate, the footprint of which has left French authorities reeling. The story reads almost like a crime thriller. A 42-year-old Nigerian, cloaked in mystery and infamy, was brought in by the Italian police. Known by the…

The echoes of war between Ethiopia's government forces and Tigrayan fighters left devastating marks, costing hundreds of thousands their lives and displacing countless souls. With uneasy truce, many still find themselves wrestling with troubling social and economic hurdles.The displaced in Tigray are in limbo, wondering when, if ever, they might find their way back to their homes. Image: Million Haileselassie Brhane/DWAh, the heart had hopes when conflict seemingly vanished behind a curtain of peace. Pretoria, South Africa,…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a stern message that's as clear as a bell, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has sounded the clarion call, warning businesses, brokers, and drivers not to dance to the tune of extortion payments to Al-Shabaab. Think they're bluffing? Think again. NISA is ready to crack the whip of legal repercussions on those bankrolling this notorious militant outfit. The agency, with a vigilance sharp enough to cut diamonds, made this…

Mogadishu (AX) — Picture this: A sprawling, vibrant city buzzing with the latest political drama. Set the scene: the Union for Peace and Development (UPD) party, led by the charismatic and sometimes controversial Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is stepping boldly into the ring to back a fresh and promising registration process for new political organizations. Their endorsement comes quicker than a cat on a caffeine boost, sparking a heated debate and ruffling feathers, particularly in the rocky terrains of…

It’s hard to look away from the tumultuous scene unfolding in the aftermath of the October 2024 elections. Protests have erupted across the country; citizens, disillusioned with the electoral process and fed up with heavy-handed police tactics, are expressing their anger in the streets. However, as Borges Nhamirre eloquently argues for the Institute for Security Studies, these chaotic demonstrations and the police’s indiscriminate crackdowns aren’t the root of the issue—they’re merely the visible symptoms of a much deeper…

In an unexpected twist better fitted to the pages of a suspense novel, a suspect along with a vehicle harboring no less than 50 bags of illicit sugar was apprehended in the once quiet town of Garissa. The escapade unfolded like a classic cat-and-mouse chase, with the suspect initially outsmarting local authorities but eventually running out of luck. Rumors danced through the air long before law enforcement made their move. Whispers of contraband crept across the city—like shadows in the wind, elusive yet palpable. The…

The scene was thick with emotion as jubilant crowds gathered to greet a busload of Palestinians who had tasted freedom again, following their release from Israeli jails. This act was a poignant part of a complex and tenuous dance of ceasefire and prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel, all under the January sunshine of 2025. Imagine the hopeful yet weary faces outside the Israeli military prison, Ofer, nestled near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. They stood in anticipation, waiting for a reunion forged in the…

Mogadishu (AX) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia has once again taken center stage, highlighting its resolve for international diplomacy. At the helm of this diplomatic journey is Ahmed Moallim Fiqi Ahmed, who praised the newfound ceasefire orchestrated by an unlikely coalition—Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. During an impassioned speech given at UN Headquarters, there's more than just routine platitudes; there's a nation standing firm on its principles. At the Security Council’s 9841st…

The return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office has cast a long shadow of uncertainty over Africa. As the 47th President of the United States, Trump’s policies could either build bridges or deepen divides, and the continent is bracing for what lies ahead. On one hand, there’s a flicker of hope illuminating the darker corners of apprehension. Trump's meteoric rise back to power signals a potential shake-up of the status quo, not just domestically but internationally as well. As he gears up for the 2024 election, he touts a…

In a shocking development that has gripped the nation, police are on the hunt for a man dubbed the "kingpin" of illegal mining operations, who mysteriously vanished from custody following a harrowing ordeal that saw the recovery of 78 bodies from a clandestine mine. The unfolding drama presents a grim portrait of an underground world where danger is a daily companion and human life is often worth less than a sack of minerals. Meet James Neo Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national better known by his nickname "Tiger." This is not the…