Somalia

European naval forces shadow Somali pirates after string of attacks; no immediate threat to shipping, officials say NAIROBI — European Union naval forces and allied navies are keeping a close watch on a pirate group off Somalia’s coast after a spate of attacks in recent days, but they say commercial shipping faces no immediate danger thanks to an international security presence. In a brief posting on X on Wednesday, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta said the suspected pirates “remain in the area under surveillance,” urging…

Somalia Passes Revised Anti-Piracy Law as Attacks Resurface Off Its Coast Unanimous vote in Mogadishu Somalia’s Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a revised anti-piracy and anti-kidnapping law, a sweeping update to legislation first written in 1975, as authorities confront a worrying uptick in attacks along one of the world’s most strategic sea lanes. All 140 lawmakers present backed the bill, an unusual show of unity in a chamber more accustomed to hard bargaining over security and federal powers. “This is a…

A Gate Birth in Mogadishu Sparks a Bigger Question: Who Gets Care in Somalia? In a city that understands endurance, one image has shaken Mogadishu this week: a woman giving birth on the steps outside Banadir Maternity and Children’s Hospital after she was reportedly refused admission while in active labor. An elderly passerby helped bring the child into the world at the hospital gate, witnesses said. Both mother and newborn were later reported in critical condition. The incident, on October 26, triggered outrage far beyond…

Djibouti’s president vows to run again — and the world must weigh the price of stability When President Ismail Omar Guelleh accepted his party’s nomination this week to run for a sixth term in Djibouti’s 2026 election, he did more than announce another campaign. He formalized a trajectory that has steadily reworked the rules of governance in this tiny but strategically vital Horn of Africa nation: the removal of limits that once capped age and terms for the presidency, and the consolidation of a political order in which…

The Dire Toll: One in Five Children Living in War Zones In 2024, an unsettling reality enveloped the world: one in five children, roughly 520 million, lived amid active warfare. This figure represents a stark increase of 47 million from the previous year, marking the highest count since formal tracking began in 2005. The 2024 Save the Children report, published Tuesday, paints a grim picture of the ebbing tides of conflict sweeping across the globe. Global Surge in Conflict The report’s data, sourced from PRIO and the…

The Human Cost of Conflict: Thousands Flee El-Fasher Amid Sudan’s Unyielding Crisis As the sun rises over the arid landscapes of North Darfur, whispers of despair and resilience echo through the makeshift camps near Tawila. The dusty paths teem with weary families, their eyes reflecting stories of loss and survival. Approximately 3,240 families, or about 16,200 individuals, have recently fled the violence-ravaged city of El-Fasher, seeking refuge from the unrelenting chaos instigated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces…

A Nation in Tension: Tanzania Post-Election Challenges In the wake of a contentious and turbulent election, Tanzanians find themselves grappling with questions about their nation’s democratic future. The recent election saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan secure what official counts describe as a landslide victory, but the cloud of controversy and allegations of misconduct looms large over her administration. Triumph Amid Turmoil President Hassan, 65, was sworn in for her first elected term at a solemn ceremony in Dodoma,…

markdown El-Fasher Falls: A New Chapter of Turmoil in Sudan The historic city of El-Fasher, once a vibrant heart of cultural and economic life in Darfur, has succumbed to the forces of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after an 18-month siege that has left countless families devastated. This latest development casts a long shadow over Sudan's future, stirring memories of past atrocities and sparking fears of impending mass violence. A Siege’s Devastating End After months of enduring starvation and bombardment, El-Fasher has…

Analysis: Sudan's Crisis Deepens Amid International Condemnation As the conflict in Sudan escalates, marked by stark allegations of human rights abuses, global powers and regional players alike have turned their gaze toward the war-torn nation. Recent events in el-Fasher, a key city in the Sudanese landscape, have elicited widespread condemnation, especially targeting the actions of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group allegedly responsible for egregious violations. A Turbulent Legacy of Violence…

A Country at War with Itself: The Human Cost of Sudan’s Ongoing Conflict In recent days, the air over Sudan has been thick with urgency and despair as the world watches an escalating humanitarian crisis unfold. As the dust settles in the city of el-Fasher, the grim reality of a conflict years in the making comes to light—an echo of past horrors that many hoped had been left in history’s wake. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a poignant plea for peace amidst mounting reports of violence. The conflict,…