Eye on Africa

Somalia to Honor Soldier Who Blocked Al‑Shabaab Advance on Villa Somalia After Jilicow Prison Assault What happened Somalia’s federal government says it will formally honor a soldier credited with stopping Al‑Shabaab militants from advancing toward the presidential palace during a brazen raid on the Jilicow detention center in Mogadishu on Saturday. The attack, claimed by the al‑Qaida‑linked group, triggered hours of gunfire as security forces fought to regain control of the fortified National Intelligence and Security…

Negotiations on the Brink: Nigeria's Academic Crisis Deepens In the heart of Nigeria, a looming confrontation between the government and its academic staff is stirring discontent. As tensions rise over the impending strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the government has escalated its rhetoric, asserting a stringent 'No Work, No Pay' policy. This warning, directed at faculty members set to initiate protests on October 13, highlights a complicated saga of negotiation, trust, and the future of…

The Human Cost of Sudan's Dual Catastrophes: War and Flooding In the heart of Sudan, where the majestic Nile River weaves its way through the land, both a lifeline and, at times, a source of despair, a relentless crisis is unfolding. More than 1,200 families in Bahri city, Khartoum state, have found themselves displaced, as a sudden deluge inundates their homes. This devastating event, reported by the UN's International Organization for Migration, underscores a painful reality for the Sudanese people already caught in the…

A Long-Awaited Justice: ICC's Landmark Conviction in Darfur Conflicts The International Criminal Court in The Hague delivered a momentous verdict on Monday, finding former Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This marks the tribunal's first conviction linked to the Darfur crisis, shedding light on one of the darkest chapters in Sudan's history. A Decades-Long Pursuit for Accountability The Darfur conflict, which erupted over…

El-Fasher: A Humanitarian Crisis Amid Conflict In recent days, the war-ravaged city of el-Fasher has witnessed yet another heartbreaking tragedy. At least eight lives, including vulnerable mothers and newborns, were extinguished when a drone strike by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted a maternity ward. The harrowing attack, emanating from a brutal assault on el-Fasher by RSF, underscores a wider conflict that has already cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions since it erupted in April…

A Nation on the Edge: Cameroon's Pivotal Election In the heart of Central Africa, Cameroon stands at a crossroads. On Sunday, Cameroonians cast their votes in an election that could perpetuate the rule of the world's oldest leader, President Paul Biya, or pivot the country towards change. For nearly 41 years, Biya, now 92, has navigated the turbulent waters of leadership following his ascent in 1982. But with fractures appearing in his long-standing image, this election may signal a new dawn. Biya's Legacy and the Winds of…

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds in El-Fasher Amid Sudan's Ongoing Conflict In the troubled heart of Sudan, a tragic scene unfolded this past week as at least 30 lives were lost in the city of El-Fasher. A drone operated by the Sudanese paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck a displacement camp, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis already gripping the region. The Dar al-Arqam camp, situated on the grounds of a local university, became the unexpected epicenter of this tragedy. According to the…

Madagascar at a Crossroads: Youth-Led Protests and Military Tensions The vibrant streets of Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, have been humming with the sounds of discontent and aspirations for change. The nation finds itself at a critical juncture as an “attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power” unfolds, casting a stark spotlight on the delicate dance between democracy and authority. Echoes of History: The Power of Protest The genesis of this unrest dates back to September 25, when a youth-led protest movement…

Somalia and Ethiopia test a fragile thaw in Addis Ababa — and the Horn of Africa is watching On a quiet Sunday in Addis Ababa, far from the sirens that so often announce news in this region, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stepped off a plane at Bole International Airport and into a delicate diplomatic dance. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed greeted him before the two moved quickly behind the National Palace’s tall gates. The choreography was deliberate: a handshake, a short walk, a private conversation. The…

Somalia’s new passport push is about far more than a booklet Somalia’s decision to tender a “third-generation” e-passport sounds technocratic on the surface — a procurement notice, new materials, a better chip. But in a country where mobility is survival, identity is politics, and trust has been fragile for decades, the stakes are far higher than a redesign. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) has put out a global call for bids to produce a polycarbonate, biometric passport aligned with International Civil Aviation…