How civil war turned basketball stars into refugees

Axadle Editorial Desk
Somalia
"The pilot told us, ‘Don’t go back...either you will be raped or killed at the airport if you go back.’"Safia Omer, a former member of Somalia’s national women’s basketball team, vividly remembers the day she knew she couldn’t return home. In 1991, as civil war erupted in Somalia, Safia and her teammates were in Ethiopia for a tournament when they were warned that it was too dangerous to return. Stranded for 10 days at the airport, Safia eventually sought refuge in the United States, mirroring the fate of many Somalis…

Report Highlights Rising Risk of Dam Failures as a Result of Severe Weather Conditions

Newsroom
East Africa
A recent study conducted by the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education sounds the alarm on how climate change is intensifying both the frequency and severity of extreme weather phenomena. This escalation is placing the world’s aging network of dams—more than 70,000 in total—under increased threat, particularly in regions marred by conflict where some structures lie neglected and abandoned. Take, for instance, the catastrophic failure of the Arbaat Dam in Port Sudan last August. The region experienced an unprecedented…

Somalia Applauds Turkey for its Steadfast Support

Axadle Editorial Desk
Somalia
Turkish Ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktas Somalia, Thursday, lavished praise on Turkiye for its steadfast support and solid diplomatic ties. In an event held in Mogadishu, Somalia extended certificates of recognition to Alper Aktas and the Director of Turkish Red Crescent Somalia, Serif Simsek, in acknowledgment of their invaluable service. At the ceremony, Mohamud Moalim, the head honcho of the Somali National Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), echoed the nation’s appreciation of Turkiye and its citizens for their…

Advocacy Groups Assert Kenya’s Sh6 Billion Mpox Funding Falls Short

Axadle Editorial Desk
East Africa
Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni in Nairobi on September 18, 2024. Image: HANDOUT Kenya's proposed Sh6.7 billion Mpox response fund has been flagged as insufficient and misprioritized, according to various advocacy groups. Critics have pointed out a glaring omission: there's no budget allocation for vaccine procurement. Speaking in Nairobi, these groups urged the government to reallocate funds towards crucial areas like vaccine acquisition, advanced diagnostics, and community education. The…

Somali Envoy Submits Credentials to President Biden, Explores Ways to Enhance Bilateral Relations

Axadle Editorial Desk
West Africa
Washington, D.C. (AX) – U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the Somali Ambassador Dahir Hassan Arab at the White House, where the ambassador presented his diplomatic credentials. This ceremonial act symbolizes a step toward strengthening bonds between Somalia and the United States.In their dialogue, Ambassador Arab and President Biden explored ways to bolster bilateral ties, particularly zooming in on Somalia's developmental strides, as well as the Somali government's initiatives to uplift the quality of life for its…

Somali Authorities Confiscate Unlawful Weapons and Detain Arms Dealers in Mogadishu

Axadle Editorial Desk
West Africa
Mogadishu (AX) – On Thursday, Somali law enforcement nabbed four individuals involved in illegal arms trading while conducting a widespread security operation in multiple districts of the Banadir area. At the Banadir Regional Police HQ, authorities showed off the cache of weapons, which included 33 AK-47 rifles and four PKM machine guns, all seized during the crackdown. The commanding officer of Banadir regional police, Mahdi Omar Mumin, shared that those arrested will face trial soon. He urged the community to step up…

Barcelona Falls Short in Their Champions League Opener Against Monaco

Axadle Editorial Desk
Sports
Barcelona stumbles in their Champions League opener against Monaco. "Monaco took everyone by surprise," remarked Catalan supporter Pablo Res. Against all predictions, Monaco clinched a memorable victory over Barcelona. Seen as underdogs, the Monegasque squad defied expectations and took command of the stage. Ding-ding! From whistle to whistle, Monaco's craftiness proved overwhelming. Barça couldn’t find their groove, and the final score reflected their struggles. A surprise to many, thousands of Catalan fans left Camp…

Somali Forces Capture High-Ranking al-Shabaab Leader

Axadle Editorial Desk
West Africa
On Wednesday, Somalia proclaimed the capture of a top boss from the terrorist faction al-Shabaab in the central Galgadud region.Ali Geelle, a high-ranking leader linked to al-Qaeda's offshoot al-Shabaab, was nabbed by the Somali National Army (SNA) in a military operation in Galgadud, according to a terse Defense Ministry communique.“The operation in Galhareeri district, Galgaduud region, also saw the confiscation of a vehicle, a gun, and some ammo,” the ministry posted on X. They noted that Geelle had been involved in…

Oxfam Urges Overhaul of UNSC, Citing Its Ineffectiveness in Shielding Africa

Axadle Editorial Desk
Somalia
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is getting roasted in Oxfam's latest report for failing to shield African nations from rampant violence and chaos.Consequently, the continent is grappling with skyrocketing humanitarian needs that the current funding isn’t even close to meeting. If something doesn’t change soon, the “Permanent Five” might as well be both "judge and jury."Titled "Vetoing Humanity," the report delves into 23 of the world's most stubborn conflicts over the past decade, 14 of which are rooted in Africa.…

Yusuf Garaad Calls on Somali Government to Address Insensitive Remarks About Bakool Protesters

Axadle Editorial Desk
West Africa
Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali Foreign Minister Yusuf Garaad admonished the Somali government to step in regarding recent remarks made by Director of Transport and Aviation Bashir Moalim Ali. Ali sparked an uproar by casting aspersions on the people of South West State during a media engagement. Ali questioned the genuineness of the recent demonstrators in Bakool, alleging they weren't true Somalis but descendants of Ethiopians from the time of former President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. "Hearing Somali citizens labeled as…