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African Union, Somalia condemn deadly Zamfara attack in Nigeria; demand release of abducted women, children The African Union and Somalia on Monday condemned a deadly attack in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state that left at least 50 civilians dead and women and children abducted, urging the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all captives. AU expresses full solidarity with Nigeria, calls attacks grave human rights violations Somalia backs Nigeria’s efforts to pursue perpetrators and free abductees Assailants on…

JOHANNESBURG — The acting head of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Thursday urged residents to report suspicious behaviour in their communities — singling out neighbours who suddenly drive “flashy cars” — as the unit released findings from a probe into corruption at the Department of Home Affairs. Leonard Lekgetho said the SIU’s investigation, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024 after a whistleblower complaint, uncovered syndicates operating inside the visa and permit system. Evidence indicates…

Rob Jetten was sworn in Monday as the Netherlands’ youngest-ever prime minister and the first openly gay leader to hold the office, capping a snap election season that reordered Dutch politics and sidelined far-right firebrand Geert Wilders. The 38-year-old centrist and his cabinet took the oath before King Willem-Alexander at Huis Ten Bosch in The Hague, ushering in a new government formed by Jetten’s D66 with the center-right CDA and liberal VVD. The coalition holds 66 seats—nine short of a majority—forcing Jetten to seek…

Somalia vows to stick to one-person, one-vote plan amid stalled talks MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government reaffirmed its push for a one-person, one-vote election after negotiations with the opposition-aligned Future Council ended without a deal, keeping uncertainty over the country’s electoral calendar. State Minister at the Foreign Ministry Ali Balcad said the government remains open to dialogue, technical compromises on how to conduct the vote, and broad national consultations. But he emphasized that the direction…

MOGADISHU — The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) and other international partners met Monday with senior representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia and the opposition-aligned Somali Future Council, hours after high-level political talks collapsed without agreement as constitutional deadlines approach. In a statement posted on social media, UNTMIS said it was disappointed the two sides had not reached a deal in the discussions held so far. “Along with other partners, UNTMIS…

Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid a Metropolitan Police investigation into whether sensitive government information was passed to Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement issued just after 2 a.m., the Metropolitan Police said a 72-year-old man “arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation.” The force said the man was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, Feb. 23, and taken to a London police…

France Returns Djidji Ayokwe Drum to Côte d'Ivoire: A Step Toward Reconciliation In a significant move toward addressing historical injustices, France has officially returned the Djidji Ayokwe "talking drum" to Côte d'Ivoire. This drum, looted during a colonial military campaign in 1916, symbolizes not only the cultural heritage of the Ebrie tribe but also the broader reconciliation process between France and its former colonies. The three-meter-long drum served as a crucial means of communication for the Ebrie people,…

Somalia’s Yeheb tree is vanishing. Turning Cordeauxia edulis into a domesticated crop could secure food, fodder and fragile drylands. In the sun-scored rangelands of Hiiraan, Galmudug, Mudug and the Somali-Ethiopian borderlands, a native lifeline grows almost nowhere else on Earth: the Yeheb tree (Cordeauxia edulis), known locally as Jicib. Long relied upon for its edible nuts, livestock fodder and soil-restoring roots, this wild leguminous shrub is quietly slipping away—its populations down as much as 70% under pressure…

El Mencho killed; cartel reprisals leave at least 26 dead across Mexico as U.S., Canada issue travel warnings At least 25 members of Mexico’s National Guard and one security guard have been killed in cartel attacks following the capture and death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the infamous Jalisco New Generation Cartel boss known as “El Mencho,” Mexico’s security authorities said Monday. Oseguera, long considered Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader, died in custody after being wounded during a Mexican special forces operation…

MOGADISHU — European Union Ambassador to Somalia Francesca Di Mauro hosted a Ramadan iftar at the EU diplomatic compound in Mogadishu on Monday evening, using the gathering to urge Somali leaders to revive dialogue and forge consensus as political tensions mount over elections and constitutional change. The invitation-only event drew a broad cross-section of stakeholders: senior federal government officials, political leaders, diplomats, civil society representatives and members of the media. Organizers cast the iftar as a…