Al-Shabab in Somalia: Firepower Alone Can’t Erase Beliefs
The Somali government's efforts to push back against al-Shabab are hitting snags due to the group's cunning and divisive strategies.
Hezbollah Launches Attack on Israel Marking the Gaza War Anniversary
On the first anniversary of the Gaza conflict that has reverberated across the Middle East, rockets fired by Hezbollah struck Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city. Local police reported that ten individuals suffered injuries in the northern region, while Israeli media provided details of the attack. Hezbollah, allied with Hamas—Palestinian militants engaged in ongoing skirmishes with Israel—claimed they targeted a military installation situated south of Haifa, launching a volley of "Fadi 1" missiles. Reports indicated that…
Somali Opposition Advises President Hassan Sheikh Against Prolonging His Term
From left to right: Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, once-Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and Opposition Leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame have formed a united front against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. They're strongly opposing what they claim are his actions to prolong his presidency—a move they argue would breach the constitution and jeopardize the nation's political steadiness. Mogadishu (AX) — Three prominent Somali opposition leaders are ringing alarm bells against President Hassan Sheikh…
Oruc Reis from Turkey Embarks on Voyage to Discover Somalia’s Hidden Oil Riches
Mogadishu (AX) — The Turkish research vessel, Oruc Reis, is embarking on a groundbreaking voyage to explore oil off Somalia's coast. This mission heralds a significant step forward in Somalia's quest for economic revolution. This expedition follows deals inked earlier this year, handing Turkish Petroleum the keys to explore three vast offshore blocks. Stretching across roughly 5,000 square kilometers each, this endeavor ranks as one of the most massive energy explorations in the area.The Oruc Reis is poised to reach Somali…
How Africa Forfeits More Than $300 Billion Each Year Due to Unlawful Financial Outflows
"The definition requires broadening because businesses are indulging in activities that, while not criminal, significantly impact domestic resource mobilization." The world lacks a clear, universally agreed-upon explanation of illegal financial flows (IFFs), resulting in a myriad of interpretations. Illicit financial flows encompass unauthorized or unethical financial exchanges across borders, including money laundering, tax dodging, and the financing of terrorism. These flows seriously threaten, particularly impacting…
Two-Year-Old Somali Child Among Four Fatalities in English Channel Voyage
Mogadishu (AX) — Tragedy struck as a two-year-old Somali boy was counted among four migrants who perished while daring to traverse the English Channel from France to the UK last Saturday, reported French officials. The overcrowded boat, jam-packed with nearly 90 souls, became a suffocating trap for the little boy, underscoring the perilous nature of human smuggling in these waterways. The boat, carrying the young child, experienced engine trouble, sparking chaos aboard. French rescue teams acted swiftly, responding to the…
Over 100 al-Shabaab Militants Fatally Targeted in Somali Military Campaigns
Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur announced during a press gathering in Mogadishu that ongoing military efforts are utilizing both ground forces and air strikes to dismantle the infrastructure of the militant group. “On a national scale, the Somali National Army is executing strategic operations aiming to further undermine Al-Shabaab's positions and leadership,” he stated. Regarding the African Union mission in Somalia, he revealed that next year a revamped initiative "will kick off to succeed ATMIS, with Ethiopian…
‘Trapped with Nowhere to Turn: African Migrants in Lebanon Feel Forsaken Amid Israeli Airstrikes’
Soreti is one of the large crowd estimated at between 175,000 and 200,000 foreign domestic workers residing in Lebanon, predominantly women. A 2019 report by Amnesty International, referencing the Ministry of Labour, highlighted that Ethiopian women made up at least 75% of this group. Their journey to Lebanon began in the 1980s and gained momentum after the civil war ended, with a surge in migration during the 1990s and 2000s. Most are employed in low-paying jobs as live-in caregivers, sending financial aid back home to…
Efforts Intensify to Locate Those Missing Amidst Catastrophic Floods in Bosnia
Rescue crews tirelessly sifted through the debris in the village of Donja Jablanica, desperately searching for individuals lost amid Bosnia's most devastating floods in years, which struck the Balkan nation just yesterday. According to N1 TV, the catastrophe has claimed 21 lives, with many more individuals still unaccounted for in the Jablanica region, situated approximately 70 kilometers southwest of Sarajevo. "Several villages remain inaccessible at this point, and the uncertainty of what awaits us there is concerning,"…
Turkish Energy Minister Announces the Dawn of a New Chapter in Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration
Türkiye's research vessel Oruç Reis navigates the Bosporus in Istanbul, Türkiye, on October 5, 2024. (AA Photo) Embarking on a new chapter in maritime oil and gas exploration, the Oruç Reis seismic research ship sets sail for Somalia, marking a significant move celebrated by Türkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, on Saturday. Somali officials acknowledge Türkiye's unwavering assistance in enhancing their energy sector.Joining the send-off ceremony alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,…