Somalia

Hamas's top negotiator urged the US to put real pressure on Israel for a Gaza ceasefire deal, as he accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of turning away from a ceasefire in the blockaded Palestinian enclave, while hostage families called on Washington to bypass Israel and deal directly with Hamas. "If the US administration and its president (Joe) Biden really want to reach a ceasefire and complete a prisoner exchange agreement, they must abandon their blind bias against the Zionist occupation…

Africa’s sporting elite put their prowess on display at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. But sport is about more than just performance and can have a huge social impact. For the first Across Africa after the summer break, Georja Calvin-Smith speaks to Remy Rioux, CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), about how major league investment in sport can help accelerate Africa’s transformation.

Thursday's China-Africa forum produced a myriad of agreements between China and more than 50 African countries in areas ranging from industry and agriculture to natural resources and investment, including a pledge by Chinese leader Xi Jinping that the economic powerhouse would allocate $50 billion to the continent over the next three years.

Bike-riding Boko Haram terrorists opened fire on a village in northeastern Nigeria last week, killing at least 100 people, locals said Wednesday. More than 50 terrorists on motorcycles entered the Tarmuwa area of ​​Yobe state on Sunday night and started shooting before setting fire to buildings, according to Yobe police spokesperson Dungus Abdulkarim. Police blamed the attack on Boko Haram, which has been waging an insurgency in the region since 2009. Boko Haram has since splintered into various…

At least one person died and 22 others were reported missing after a boat carrying irregular migrants trying to reach Europe capsized off the Libyan coast on Tuesday, Libyan authorities said. The coast guard in the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk said the boat was carrying 32 migrants and that nine had been rescued. Survivors are taken to a port in Tobruk, the coast guard says. In recent years, the North African nation has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in…

At least 129 people were killed during an attempted prison break at the central Makala prison in the Congolese capital Kinshasa late Sunday. The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo said the situation was now under control. In a statement published on X early Tuesday, Interior Minister Shabani Lukoo said a fire had also broken out in the prison's administrative building, its food depots and a hospital. About 59 people were injured, he added. "The mass escape attempt at Makala Central…

Kenya's Partnership with Adani Group: A Double-Edged Sword? NAIROBI, Kenya – In a surprising twist, Adani Group, notorious for its polarizing global reputation, has received the green light for a substantial energy transmission initiative through its offshoot, Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL). This $900 million project is framed within the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) model, stirring anxieties that Kenya might be inviting not just foreign capital but potential complications. The sanctioning of this power…

Unveiling the Shadows: Human Trafficking in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Somalia (AXADLE) – Recent revelations from a confidential police report have exposed an intricate human trafficking ring functioning out of Mogadishu. This underground network employs counterfeit Ethiopian and British passports alongside fake Spanish visas to illicitly transport individuals beyond Somalia's borders. Utilizing weaknesses in operations at the Aden Adde International Airport, traffickers conduct their dubious affairs without notable…

Shifting Alliances: Somali President Turns to Clan Support Amid Political Turmoil MOGADISHU, Somalia (AXADLE) - With a surge in political dissent and fragmentation, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sought refuge in traditional clan alliances for much-needed support. On Monday at Villa Somalia, the presidential palace, insiders revealed that President Mohamud convened an important huddle with notable figures from the Marehan clan, including two officials from regional administrations and several lawmakers.…

End Workplace Discrimination Against Somali Women MOGADISHU (PRESS RELEASE) - The Somali Congress of Trade Unions (SOCOTU) expresses grave concern regarding the pervasive and harmful treatment of Somali women, especially those seeking employment or currently holding jobs, within both governmental and private sectors. A worrisome pattern of workplace harassment, encompassing sexual misconduct and gender-based bias, violates fundamental human rights and serves as a formidable obstacle to women's economic independence and full…