Eye on Africa

At Galkayo Hospital's stabilization center in Somalia, a kid battling malnutrition receives care from an International Medical Corps doctor and nurse. Ever since the civil war, Somalia’s been chasing progress in many sectors, yet its healthcare system lags critically. For a nation teeming with over 15 million souls, providing decent medical services is a Herculean task, rife with obstacles but peppered with potential for a brighter future. Challenges in the Healthcare System Much of Somalia stumbles with a severe lack of…

The White House has recently disclosed that President Joe Biden is set to embark on a journey to Angola this October, fulfilling a commitment he made to African leaders during the U.S.-Africa summit in 2022. This highly anticipated visit, slated for October 13th to 15th, will provide a platform for dialogue between the U.S. President and Angolan President João Lourenço, focusing on mutual interests and objectives. "We'll be aiming to strengthen our economic partnerships," stated White House Press Secretary Karine…

He declared that the nation is set on establishing a resilient telecom infrastructure to enable the same goals. "Telecom is essential for emergency response and disaster management. Today's assembly shows our collective resolve to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the Somali populace," he articulated. “We are determined to build a strong and durable telecom infrastructure capable of efficiently handling emergencies. This infrastructure will bolster our national capabilities in disaster management, early warning…

Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, voiced apprehension over the meddling of "external forces" potentially destabilizing an already tenuous security scenario, and feared that weapons could land in the hands of terrorists. Ali Omar, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, took to X to express surprise at Ethiopia's reservations regarding Somalia's procurement of arms for defending sovereignty and combatting terror. Amid a protracted clash with Ethiopia over a significant dam project on the Blue…

Nairobi (AX) – The Italian government has urgently put a halt to processing Schengen visas for applications made through its embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia. The news broke on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, through a statement from the Italian Embassy in Nairobi. The embassy revealed, "We wish to inform you that the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi has immediately ceased the issuance of entry Schengen visas for all applications processed by the Embassy of Italy in Mogadishu. For more details, please get…

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani had a rendezvous with Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, on a Tuesday. Their tête-à-tête took place during the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

New York (AX) – Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, had a pivotal conversation with U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Catherine Molly Phee, during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday.During their discussion, Minister Taye underscored Ethiopia's unwavering devotion to fostering lasting peace and security, spotlighting the nation's significant efforts in battling terrorism, particularly within Somalia.The Minister indicated the necessity for thorough…

MANDERA, Kenya (AX) — Prominent elders from Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia are making an earnest appeal for unity among Northern Kenya's communities, in the wake of deadly upheavals in Banessa. Authorities caution that the infiltration of illegal arms from neighboring territories exacerbates the region's turmoil. During the assembly, leaders called on Northern Kenya inhabitants to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to tackle the smuggling of small arms — a significant contributor to the area’s escalating insecurity.…

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Auditor General Ahmed Issa Gutale has rallied substantial global support, particularly from Norway and leading audit institutions worldwide, to enhance the country's financial scrutiny. The 'Peer Support Project,' a collaborative initiative involving Somalia and global audit powerhouses like INTOSAI and AFROSAI-E, targets the enhancement of the country's financial oversight. Running through 2024, this project is geared towards solidifying governance through more robust audits and heightened…

The North African state didn't detail their aid, but it's geared towards bolstering the Somali army, honoring Egypt's commitments under a military collaboration agreement from August. That deal surfaced after Ethiopia, a landlocked country, planned to officially acknowledge North Western State of Somalia's independence from Somalia, declared 30 years ago, in exchange for port access and a military base on the Gulf of Aden. Somalia, viewing North Western State of Somalia as its own, rejected the offer. Last month, Egypt…