Eye on Africa

This image, courtesy of the Defense Department, features Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers on the left, and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram on the right. Image is credited to Department of Defense/AP. Tragically, the investigation into the drowning of two Navy SEALs off Somalia's coast reveals these incidents were preventable. They found a deficit in adequate training and vague instructions on flotation practices at fault. As night fell, the mission was to intercept…

"FILE - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi makes a gesture during a press briefing in Cairo, Egypt, on October 25, 2023." (AP Photo, Christophe Ena, Pool, File) Somalia has announced that Egypt has proposed sending peacekeeping troops to its territory, offering support as the mandate of the existing African Union peacekeepers is winding down. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was present at a summit in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, where he, alongside Somalia and Eritrea's leaders, vowed to enhance cooperation for…

In the heart of Nairobi, Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua spoke to lawmakers before they voted on his impeachment at the Parliament buildings on October 8, 2024. Photo by REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File. On Friday, Kenya's high court decided that the impeachment case against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should go to the Chief Justice for further examination. The vote came in on Tuesday, with parliament deciding to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges. These included accusations of personal enrichment and inciting…

Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille has jetted off to Kenya, engaging in discussions with President William Ruto. Kenya has urgently sought global financial backing to keep their police forces active in Haiti, an operation extended by another year. Since its launch in June, this international security mission aims to curb the violent grip gangs have on Port-au-Prince and its outskirts. The UN reports over 3,600 fatalities in Haiti this year alone, with more than 100 being children, and half a million individuals have…

In Mogadishu, Saturday saw a noteworthy tête-à-tête at Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi welcomed Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu. They focused on nurturing the diplomatic bonds between their two nations. Ambassador Wang Yu launched into a round of applause for Minister Fiqi's stalwart defense of Somali sovereignty. He pledged China's unwavering backing for Somalia's independence and unity. The ambassador also spotlighted the decade-long presence of China's embassy in Somalia,…

 Mogadishu (AX) — In a startling revelation from the Habitable Project, it's been disclosed that the specter of climate change looms large over Somalia, posing a burgeoning threat of displacement through intensified flooding. Released in July 2024, this report spells out a worrying future where flood-induced displacements could swell, moving tens of thousands from their abodes yearly. Climate change, it says, will likely ramp up flood hazards, potentially multiplying the number of displaced Somalis ninefold under bleak…

Hargeisa (AX) — In a bold move towards fostering international relationships, Taiwan has pledged a whopping $22 million to revamp Hargeisa General Hospital. Additionally, they've thrown in $2 million to aid North Western State of Somalia’s imminent elections, weaving tighter bonds between these two diplomatically unrecognized territories as they ambitiously stride towards global acknowledgment.A landmark pact was inked on Friday, uniting North Western State of Somalia's Health Minister and a Taiwanese envoy in shared…

NAIROBI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — On Friday, Kenya Airways announced that starting Oct. 15, they will suspend their flights to and from Mogadishu, the heart of Somalia. This decision comes as the airline grapples with operational hurdles while tweaking its flight network. In a statement made public in Nairobi, Kenya's bustling capital, the airline explained that this action would help them concentrate on boosting their route management and enhancing the overall mojo of their operations. "Kenya Airways is firmly devoted to…

Nestled just beyond the bustling edges of Somalia's capital city, the Darus Salam Zoo provides locals with a rare opportunity to witness the wonders of the wild right in their backyard. "We began with a single croc, but now we've got over a century's worth of diverse critters," remarked Muhammad Abd Rahman, the zoo's custodian. "From majestic lions to cunning foxes, prickly porcupines to quick-footed hares—our zoo is a jungle in its own right, albeit sans leopards and cheetahs." Rahman, who nurtures many animals from birth,…

John Burugu, holding the ship’s wheel as Kenya’s Refugee Affairs Commissioner, recently faced the media. He laid down a fresh mandate for refugees, a summons demanding they relinquish their passports, pointing to jitters over travel document fiddling while spotlighting the need to toe the line on international laws.