Energy, the Critical Gap Stalling Somalia’s Economic Growth

Somalia’s growth is hitting an avoidable ceiling: the price and reliability of electricity. The country’s telecom sector—quietly swapping diesel generators for sunlight—offers a clear, local blueprint for how to lower costs, cut emissions and power a modern economy. If energy is the missing link, renewables are the bridge.New research presented at the Somali Success Stories Forum in Mogadishu by The Seven Institute puts hard numbers to a daily reality. Somali families and businesses pay around 41 cents per kilowatt

Sudanese Leader Asks Trump for Assistance in Resolving Crisis

Sudan’s Leader Seeks U.S. Mediation in Ongoing Conflict Sudan's army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has called for U.S. intervention to mediate peace in the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In a recent op-ed, Burhan emphasized the need for decisive action to end the devastating war. Conflict began in April 2023, involving Sudan's army and RSF. Previous peace negotiations have failed despite international efforts. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and massive…

What investigators have revealed about the National Guard shooting suspect

An Afghan national who worked alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan is the man suspected of shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House, U.S. officials said, in an attack Washington has labeled an "act of terror." The two soldiers were critically injured and transported to surgery; authorities said the suspect will face assault charges and could be charged with murder if either dies. Officials identified the suspect as Mr. Lakanwal and said he arrived in the United States under the large-scale resettlement…

NISA detains suspected al‑Shabaab militants over alleged attack plots in Mogadishu, other regions

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has arrested 11 people accused of plotting terrorist attacks and conducting espionage against the government and civilians, the agency said Thursday, describing a covert cell disrupted in Mogadishu and across parts of Lower and Middle Shabelle. In a statement, NISA said the suspects were allegedly in the advanced stages of planning violence and gathering intelligence to enable attacks. The arrests followed what the agency called a sophisticated,…

Liberian Speaker Issues Apology Following Journalist Jail Threat

PUL Rebukes House Speaker Over Threats to Journalists The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has issued a strongly worded rebuke of House Speaker Richard Nage Koon, who recently threatened to "jail" journalists recording proceedings prior to reaching a quorum in the legislative body. Such remarks have raised significant concerns over the treatment of press freedom in Liberia, with the PUL stating the Speaker's comments exhibit a "dangerous" mindset among some public officials and an attempt to "weaponize state power." The union…

Ramaphosa Replies Directly to Trump’s Miami G20 Remarks

South Africa on Monday accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of repeating "misinformation and distortions" after a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform that accused the government of "horrific Human Rights Abuses" against white farmers — charges the African nation says it and Afrikaner leaders have long rejected. The South African Presidency said the allegations are being used to justify what it called punitive measures that undermine efforts to reset the bilateral relationship. "It is regrettable that despite the…

94 dead in Hong Kong blaze as police accuse construction firm of gross negligence

HONG KONG — The death toll from a massive blaze at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex has risen to at least 94, authorities said Tuesday, as firefighters and rescue teams scoured burned high-rises for scores of people still listed as missing in the city’s worst fire in nearly 80 years. The fire, which broke out more than 24 hours earlier in the eight-building Tai Po estate, was largely brought under control but not completely extinguished, with occasional sparks and thick smoke still emerging from the charred blocks. Fire…

General Takes Oath as Guinea-Bissau President Following Elections

Guinea-Bissau's Transitional Leadership Guinea-Bissau witnessed a significant change in leadership as Gen. Horta Nta Na Man was sworn in as the transitional president. This follows a military-led coup that ousted the nation's elected leader, creating yet another chapter in the country's political unrest. The military, calling itself "The High Military Command for the Restoration of Order," announced the coup. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo was deposed, causing political disruption. The coup unfolded just before…

Somali Forces Strengthen Control Over Al-Shabaab Areas

Major Offensive Against Al-Shabaab in Lower Jubba Region This section details the ongoing military operations by Somali federal forces and Jubbaland troops in their efforts to regain control of Jamaame district from Al-Shabaab militants. Joint forces are advancing toward strategic locations in Lower Jubba. The offensive aims to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s control over key areas. Operations have intensified over the past two weeks. Advances Toward Jamaame Somali federal forces, supported by troops from the Jubbaland…

Banadir Police Chief Orders Crackdown as Mogadishu Phone Robberies Surge

MOGADISHU — The commander of the Banadir Regional Police Force, Mahdi Omar Mumin, on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to tighten security across Mogadishu as residents report a surge in mobile phone robberies and attacks by armed bandits, authorities said. Senior police officers briefed Mumin on recent security incidents reported in multiple districts and outlined both ongoing and planned operations aimed at curbing robberies — with an emphasis on mobile phone thefts carried out by armed groups. The session assessed…