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Analysis: Somalia’s Fractured Politics Meet Red Sea Power Plays On a humid September evening in Mogadishu, a handshake meant for the cameras never happened. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had hoped to sit down with Jubbaland leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam, better known as Ahmed Madobe, before flying to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Kenya, a frequent mediator in Somali politics, had quietly worked the phones to make it happen. But at the last moment, the meeting fell apart, after opposition figures urged…

The Dimensions of Power: Chad’s Constitutional Shifts and the Future of Democracy In an echo of a familiar refrain across many African nations, Chad’s National Assembly has recently voted with overwhelming support for constitutional amendments that extend the presidential term from five to seven years, with the possibility of renewals indefinitely. The decision is part of a broader narrative of governance in the Sahel, raising crucial questions about democracy, power, and the persistence of authoritarianism in regions…

Somalia welcomes Egypt’s security backing as new AU stabilization mission looms MOGADISHU — Somalia on Sunday publicly thanked Egypt for a message of solidarity that included promises of military equipment, training and an expected troop contribution to a forthcoming African Union stabilization mission as Mogadishu seeks to reassert control over territory long contested by insurgents. The gesture, framed by Somalia’s Foreign Ministry as evidence of “historic and deep-rooted ties,” arrives as African Union planners prepare…

Gaza City assault exposes the limits of force and the widening diplomatic rupture Israeli tanks and bulldozers have pushed deeper into Gaza City in recent days, flattening apartment blocks and killing dozens of civilians in strikes that have left families digging through rubble for shreds of their lives. Gazan health authorities say at least 31 people were killed when residential buildings were blasted; among them, medics reported, were a pregnant woman and two children. One man, his leg later amputated after he was rushed…

Reflections on Guinea's Constitutional Reform: A Prelude to Power? As the sun rose over Guinea on a recent morning, streets that typically buzz with vibrant life grappled with a quiet tension. The nation prepared to vote on a constitutional referendum that, if passed, could dramatically reshape its political landscape. The stakes, however, seem weighted against the spirit of democracy. A Shift in Governance Proposed changes to Guinea’s constitution would extend presidential terms from five to seven years and open the door…

Somali forces press offensive in central region, claim dozens of al-Shabaab fighters killed MOGADISHU — Somali National Army units, backed by international partners, said they killed a number of al-Shabaab militants over the weekend in a pitched battle in central Somalia’s Galgaduud region as government forces step up efforts to wrest control of towns and villages from the insurgents. Fighting in Nooleye In a statement, the Somali defence ministry said the operation in and around Nooleye village lasted several hours and…

A turning point in foreign policy or a symbolic gesture? Western recognition of a Palestinian state shifts the map of diplomacy When Portugal’s foreign minister stood in New York this week and announced Lisbon would recognise a Palestinian state, he framed the decision as the logical conclusion of a long-held policy. “Recognising the State of Palestine is therefore the fulfilment of a fundamental, consistent, and widely agreed policy,” Paulo Rangel told reporters on the eve of the UN General Assembly. But this is not just…

Kenya’s Somali Vote Emerges as 2027 Kingmaker — and a Test of the Country’s Coalitions On a blustery afternoon in Mandera, near the triple border where Kenya meets Ethiopia and Somalia, the political message was as direct as the dusty road to the venue: the Somali community will count, perhaps more than ever, in the 2027 election. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, a seasoned operative known for his sharp tongue and long-time loyalty to opposition leader Raila Odinga, stood alongside President William Ruto and said the quiet part…

When a president talks about yanking broadcasters' licences, what happens to free speech? When a U.S. president publicly urges regulators to punish television networks for negative coverage, it lands like a geological tremor for newsrooms accustomed to partisan heat but not regulatory menace. This week, President Donald Trump doubled down on his long-running assault on American journalism, calling the nation's TV networks "97% bad" and saying, bluntly, that their behaviour was "illegal" — comments that came as the Federal…

Somalia’s president heads to UN with security gains and a moral case on Gaza Mogadishu’s message to New York MOGADISHU — As world leaders converge on the United Nations General Assembly this week, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud departs for New York carrying two intertwined narratives: a plea for continued international backing for Somalia’s fragile state-building and a sharp moral rebuke over the war in Gaza that echoes across the Global South. For Mogadishu, the UNGA trip is part diplomacy, part scoreboard.…