Eye on Africa

In Kigali, a quiet pledge between Somalia and Nigeria hints at a broader shift in Africa’s fight against extremism On a mild Saturday in Kigali, two senior soldiers from different ends of the continent sat down and agreed to swap hard-won lessons from the battlefield. Somalia’s Land Forces Commander, Major General Sahal Abdullahi Omar—widely known as General Khalid—met Nigeria’s Infantry Commander, Major General Usman Abdulmumin Yusuf, to map out deeper military cooperation. The plan: share combat experience, expand joint…

When a partisan writer sits before the Senate: what a contested ambassadorial pick says about U.S.–South Africa ties Leo Brent Bozell III told senators this week he was "coming before you at a challenging moment for U.S.–South Africa relations." What followed in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was less a routine credentialing than a snapshot of how American domestic politics are reshaping diplomacy. The nominee — a conservative writer and activist with no previous diplomatic experience — found a largely friendly…

North Western State of Somalia, Somalia and the politics of the skies: Why a digital visa is touching a raw nerve Airspace rarely makes front-page news until it does. In the Horn of Africa, where borders are contested and history weighs heavy, the latest salvo isn’t happening on the ground but in the air—and online. North Western State of Somalia’s Minister of the Presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, has accused Somalia’s federal government of waging a “war” over air travel and airspace, claiming the aim is to pressure North…

Somalia’s Youth Are Tired of Waiting — and They’re Redefining Power In Mogadishu’s bustling Bakara Market, where new smartphones and secondhand books share the same tarp, you meet a generation raised online but boxed in offline. They scroll through global ideas and opportunities on cracked screens, yet face a political landscape at home that feels both fixed and far away. This is the quiet paradox of Somalia today: a young, connected society living under an older, disconnected politics. More than any single headline, the…

Dozens killed in catastrophic multi-vehicle crash on Kampala highway; authorities urge caution Dozens of people were killed and many more likely injured after a multi-vehicle collision on a major highway leading out of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on Wednesday — an incident officials described as one of the country’s worst recent road disasters. Police and other stakeholders were swift to appeal for calm and for motorists to drive with caution after the crash, which triggered a chain reaction involving buses, trucks and…

A Somali audio startup turns listening into a bridge for a scattered nation On a humid morning in Mogadishu’s Hamar Weyne market, the bustle runs on engine oil and conversation. A tea vendor pours spiced shaah with one hand and, with the other, taps play on his phone. In his ear, a familiar voice narrates the ideas of Marcus Aurelius—in Somali. Five thousand miles away, a nurse on a night shift in Jigjiga cues up a 20-minute deep dive on genetics. In Minneapolis, a rideshare driver squeezes in a lesson on economics between…

A Nation in Mourning: Reflecting on the Legacy of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings In a somber announcement that has reverberated across Ghana and beyond, President John Mahama has declared three days of national mourning following the death of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. The flag will fly at half-mast on public buildings, diplomatic missions, and government facilities, marking a period of reflection for a beloved figure who significantly impacted Ghanaian society. A Legacy of Empowerment Known for her…

Turkey’s Residency Freeze Meets Somali Realities: What a Quiet Diplomatic Meeting Reveals In Ankara this week, a low-key meeting between Somali Ambassador Fathudiin Ali Mohamed Ospite and Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya put a human face on a policy that has reshaped daily life for foreigners across Turkey: the suspension of most new residency permits. The conversation was practical—how to help Somali citizens renew and obtain legal stay when the rules have tightened—but the implications are wider. As countries from…

Hope and Frustration: Youth Perspectives in Côte d'Ivoire's Presidential Elections As Côte d'Ivoire prepares to head to the polls on October 25 for a pivotal presidential election, a palpable wave of anticipation mingles with frustration among its most vital demographic: its youth. With around 75% of the country’s 38 million citizens under the age of 35, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Many of these young people find themselves grappling with limited job opportunities and a sense of disillusionment stemming from the current…

Raid on Northern Mozambican Mine Leaves Police Missing, Operations Halted An attack on a mining site in Mozambique’s volatile Cabo Delgado province has forced miners to flee, left equipment ablaze and an unspecified number of police officers missing, authorities and local sources said Friday. The assault — blamed on Islamist militants — interrupted operations at the site and prompted fear among communities already traumatised by years of violence. What happened Raiders struck the extraction site in the north of the…