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Somalia graduates 23rd Darwish police cohort in Djibouti as security build-up accelerates ahead of 2026 vote MOGADISHU — Somali Police Commissioner Brig. Gen. Asad Osman Abdullahi on Thursday attended a graduation ceremony in Djibouti marking the completion of training for the 23rd batch of the Somali Police Darwish forces, underscoring a push to professionalize Somalia’s security services as the country prepares for a landmark one-person, one-vote election in 2026. The Darwish cohort completed rigorous training in Djibouti…

Nigeria's Senate Moves to Tackle Escalating Kidnapping Crisis The Nigerian Senate is taking a bold step toward combating the country's rampant kidnapping crisis. In a significant legislative push, Senators have advanced amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act that would extend the death penalty to all individuals involved in kidnapping. This includes not only the kidnappers themselves but also financiers, informants, and those providing logistical support. The proposed Bill seeks to reclassify…

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview that Moscow will seize full control of Ukraine's Donbas by force unless Ukrainian troops withdraw — a demand Kyiv has flatly rejected as unacceptable. The comments underscore the widening gap between battlefield realities and diplomatic efforts to end nearly four years of war. "Either we liberate these territories by force of arms, or Ukrainian troops leave these territories," Putin told India Today in remarks broadcast on Russian state television ahead of a visit to New…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development on Thursday convened a high-level session of the National Development Council (NDC), bringing together federal and state planning leaders to align priorities behind the country’s new National Transformation Plan (NTP 2025–2029). The Mogadishu meeting advanced a unified national planning agenda by focusing on accelerated NTP implementation, tighter federal–state coordination, strengthened drought-response mechanisms and the rollout of a single…

Historic Peace Deal: Congo and Rwanda Sign Agreement A peace agreement mediated by the U.S. aims to resolve the longstanding conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern region. This historic pact could have significant geopolitical and economic implications. The deal was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. It involves critical mineral access for the U.S. and American companies. Continued tensions highlight the fragile nature of the accord. Background of the Conflict The conflict in eastern…

US Government Unveils Visa Ban for Those Targeting Nigerian Christians The US government has introduced a new policy allowing it to impose visa bans on individuals allegedly responsible for attacks on Nigerian Christians. This significant decision reflects a growing urgency in addressing religious persecution globally. The US State Department's policy change enables the denial of visas to anyone who has directed, authorized, supported, participated in, or carried out abuses targeting individuals based on their faith. This…

In a historic move towards peace, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi signed a pivotal peace accord at the White House on Thursday. The ceremony, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, signals a significant step in addressing the long-standing conflict between the two neighboring countries. The peace accord underscores a commitment to ending hostilities and building a foundation for stability in the region. Both leaders, flanked by their foreign ministers, expressed optimism about the…

President Donald Trump on Monday granted a full and unconditional pardon to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who had been facing federal charges in a bribery and conspiracy case, saying on his Truth Social platform that the justice system had been "weaponised" by his predecessor. "I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar ... I don't know you, but you can sleep well tonight - Your nightmare is finally over!" Trump wrote. The move ends a high-profile prosecution in which…

Outrage in North Western State of Somalia after ex-president Muse Bihi barred at Hargeisa airport; protests erupt, rebel group announced HARGEISA, Somalia — Outrage swept through North Western State of Somalia after former leader Muse Bihi Abdi was blocked from accessing Hargeisa’s main airport in an incident supporters and analysts described as a deliberate humiliation under the administration of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro. Bihi, who was scheduled to fly to the United Arab Emirates, was prevented…

Somalia, Yemen hold high-level defense talks in Cairo to bolster Red Sea, Gulf of Aden security Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Minister of Defence Ahmed Moallim Fiqi met his Yemeni counterpart, Lieutenant General Mohsen Mohammed Ahmed Al-Daari, in Cairo on Thursday for high-level talks aimed at strengthening defense cooperation and tightening maritime security across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors. The talks, attended by the Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces, Major General…