Eye on Africa

OSLO, Norway (AX) — two sisters, originally from Somalia, now facing the music in the land of fjords and trolls. Nearly a decade ago, these young women vanished into the shadows, embarking on a dangerous voyage to Syria at an age when most teenagers are just learning to drive. Their destination? The notorious ranks of the Islamic State, where their future was anything but a fairy tale. Their journey reached a pivotal juncture last Friday, January 24, when the Oslo District Court unrolled its verdict: guilty of membership in…

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AX) — In a turn of events that left many shaking their heads in disbelief, a resident of Savage, Minnesota, confessed on Friday to participating in a swindle of grandiose proportions. This scam siphoned $250 million from a federally funded initiative meant to nourish less fortunate children during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oh, the irony of it all – a saga wrought with intrigue and greed! The protagonist of this sordid tale is Ayan Farah Abukar, a 43-year-old who founded the…

Having spent the larger part of her existence within the confines of an Ethiopian refugee camp, Fardowsa Abdi Aden found herself stepping onto Minnesota soil last Friday, her heart brimming with anticipation. The long-awaited family reunion with her sister and mother was finally within arm's reach. Meanwhile, Neima Mohamed Yusuf, just 2 years old and with a flair for melodrama, burst into tears as her aunt Shun Adan drenched her with affectionate kisses. Her arrival in Minnesota on January 17, 2025, was just the beginning…

FILE - Crowds flowed continuously into a displacement camp on the barren outskirts of Dollow, Somalia, on a blistering day in September 2022. The searing drought that seemed to endlessly grip the region was palpable, hitting everyone hard and leaving the land as cracked and dry as an old shoe in the corner of a forgotten closet. WASHINGTON — A chilling revelation recently came to light: since the relentless drought saddled parts of Somalia beginning in 2022, it has claimed the lives of a devastating 71,000 souls, over and…

A new era is dawning in the realm of U.S.-Africa relations, and one can almost hear the gears of change grinding into motion. Yet, before we pop the confetti, it's important to note that the current administration’s policies are still taking shape, and this process won’t yield fruit overnight. Still, the impact of several Executive Orders that Donald Trump signed in the nascent days of his presidency might just reverberate across the African continent like a thunderclap in a hot, muggy summer. During his Senate confirmation…

When two leaders put pen to parchment in the vibrant heart of Cauri on a sunny Thursday, it was more than mere ink gracing paper; it was the birth of a potent promise. Egypt and Somalia ushered in a new era of camaraderie with a vibrant joint political declaration, underscoring their alliance with fervent assurances of military support as part of a pact born from their covenant sealed in mid-August 2024. Who would have thought yesterday’s rivals would become tomorrow’s allies?In this bold scheme, Egypt pledges its formidable…

They say truth is stranger than fiction and, in this case, Bosaso's Friday night escapades would make a compelling plot twist in any thriller novel. Picture this: a bustling coastal town, where a seemingly benign tradesman has his true colors revealed under the glaring headlights of a police patrol. In a dramatic turn, security forces in Bosaso were led on a proverbial wild goose chase by a suspected foreign ISIS operative trying his luck with landmines late on what…

**Mogadishu - Twists and turns abounded in the bustling town of Masagawa, a setting that feels as timeless as the undulating sands of the Galgaduud region. Early Saturday morning, a melodrama of conflict unfolded, colored by the tense rhythms of Somali government forces and local militias as they squared off against the al-Shabaab militants. Picture it: A tranquil morning shattered by an insidious bang, as a vehicle-borne explosive device made its spectacularly destructive debut. This was no mere tremor, but the dramatic…

Hargeisa (AX) – In an audacious appeal, North Western State of Somalia’s Minister of Information, Ahmed Yasin Ali Ayale, has made a heartfelt plea to the President of the United States, the inimitable Donald J. Trump, to acknowledge North Western State of Somalia as a fully independent nation. And you know Trump doesn't shy away from bold moves! "Donald Trump, a man celebrated for his forthrightness and strong-willed governance, now leads the United States. We urge him to recognize North Western State of Somalia to foster…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a city rich with history and the reverberations of eras long past, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud engaged in a significant tête-à-tête with Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, the esteemed Speaker of the Arab Parliament, against the backdrop of bustling Cairo on a sunny Egyptian Friday.Amidst the ancient pyramids and the bustling souks, the discourse unfolded like a captivating narrative, weaving threads of diplomacy and camaraderie. Their discussions circled the pivotal role of the Arab Parliament in…