Eye on Africa

Mogadishu (AX) – It was an ordinary morning in Garowe when the news broke. The atmosphere, typically buzzing with the cadence of daily life, took on an air of urgency. This change emanated from a single pronouncement by Northeastern State’s regional President, Said Abdullahi Deni. Why now, and what prompted this decisive action, you might ask? In response to unsettling reports of foreign nationals finding their way into ISIS-Somalia, Deni decreed a stringent crackdown on illegal immigration. The influx, he warned, could no…

Mogadishu (AX) – In a city where the past often seems to echo into the present, security and peace hang by fragile threads. This reality endures in Mogadishu, where the pursuit of one man's shadow characterizes the urgency of an unending struggle. The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has set its sights on Abdullahi Hassan Abdi, a man alleged to have exploited fear and suffering to line his pockets. For the residents of the Banadir region, life takes on a particular rhythm. One part hope, one part…

Libya, a nation once brimming with promise, now finds itself teetering on the edge of instability. During a recent session of the UN Security Council, UN Political Affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo painted a stark picture of a country burdened by deep-rooted political fractures, widespread economic mismanagement, and alarming human rights abuses. “Libya’s unity is imperiled,” DiCarlo stated, capturing the essence of a nation grappling with its own factions. Political divisions have become so pronounced that they threaten the…

Is it truly possible to capture the depth of destruction in mere numbers and figures? A comprehensive report co-authored by the World Bank, United Nations, and European Union posits the financial burden of rebuilding the Gaza Strip is staggering — a colossal $53.2 billion over the upcoming decade. While numbers carry their own weight, they barely scratch the surface of the economic devastation wrought by the recent conflict. The aptly titled 'Gaza and West Bank Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA)' provides a…

Mogadishu (AX) – Under the sweltering rays of the Mogadishu sun, a group of anguished families protested on Wednesday. Their loved ones—Somali citizens—face death sentences in Saudi Arabia. With pleas that tug at the heart, these families called upon the Somali government to intercede on behalf of their imprisoned kin. The protesters, a tapestry of pain and resolve, claimed that 45 Somali nationals languish on death row in Saudi prisons. Their cry is simple yet profound: they demand negotiations with Saudi authorities to…

The strife engulfing eastern DRC is casting a long shadow over South Kivu. The notorious M23 rebel group has gained considerable ground, snatching up vital towns such as Kalehe and Kavumu, and has recently breached the gates of Bukavu, the provincial capital. This relentless advance creates a scene reminiscent of a disheartening tableau, where hope is suffocated under the weight of conflict. Marcus Bachmann, who heads the programs for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the region, painted a bleak picture of the situation:…

Mogadishu (AX) – The brisk air of anticipation electrified Mogadishu on Wednesday as the Somali government embarked on an ambitious journey to battle the increasing cancer burden gripping the nation. Cancer, an insidious foe, has steadily made its presence felt across the country, impacting lives and challenging the healthcare system. But is it not time we drew a line in the sand?At the heart of this significant initiative was an inaugural event, a gathering of minds and spirits, held in the bustling capital city. It drew a…

Amidst a backdrop of contentious geopolitics, Egypt is forging a path that defies conventional solutions. Unlike former U.S. President Donald Trump’s audacious proposition to depopulate the Gaza Strip for American takeover, Egypt's strategy has a touch of humanity: rebuilding Gaza without expelling its people. As reported by Egypt's state-affiliated Al-Ahram newspaper, the Egyptian initiative envisions creating "secure areas" in Gaza. This would enable Palestinians to stay while construction entities, Egyptian and…

Mogadishu (AX) — On a seemingly tranquil February day off Somalia's economically ragged coast, under the shadow of the region's turbulent maritime history, another chapter unfolded. The circumstances forebode a familiar narrative, one that's as unsettling as the early-morning chill on Garmaal's coastline: a Yemeni-flagged fishing boat suspected of romantic yet perilous piracy. The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation ATALANTA, engaged tirelessly in the complex chess game of maritime security, recorded this…

“As long as this system remains unchanged, our expectations from the federal government remain nonexistent. We do not recognize it as a true national administration serving Somalia's collective interests,” Madobe emphatically declared. Intriguingly, he likened it to "an enterprise operating in Mogadishu." His words were neither mere rhetoric nor isolated discontent; they reverberated the escalating discord between Somalia’s regional states and the central government. Consider Jubaland—a region…