Puntland State lawmakers probe civil servants receiving only three months’ pay in 2025

Puntland State lawmakers demand answers over unpaid salaries despite $300M-plus 2026 budget GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland State state lawmakers on Friday pressed the government to explain why civil servants have received only three months of pay this year, even as parliament approved a 2026 budget topping $300 million. During a contentious session in Garowe, members of the Puntland State State of Somalia Parliament called it unacceptable that budgets are passed annually but not fully executed. Lawmakers demanded a transparent…

Nigeria Offers Refuge to Guinea-Bissau Presidential Aspirant

Nigeria Provides Emergency Protection for Guinea-Bissau Presidential Candidate Following Military Coup The Nigerian government has taken decisive action to ensure the safety of Guinea-Bissau presidential candidate Fernando Dias da Costa amid looming threats to his life. This security measure comes in the wake of a military coup that occurred just hours before the highly anticipated announcement of the 23 November 2025 election results. Dias, the principal opposition candidate challenging incumbent President Umaro Embaló,…

Sudan’s Conflict Pushes Kordofan Toward Imminent Crisis, Warns UN

Sudan Conflict Escalates as Kordofan Region Faces Humanitarian Collapse Sudan faces worsening chaos as fighting intensifies in the Kordofan region, reminiscent of previous atrocities in Darfur. The conflict could plunge millions into famine and complete societal breakdown. The UN warns of atrocities in Kordofan similar to Darfur. Fighting between Sudanese military and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues. Millions face famine, displacement, and humanitarian devastation. Conflict Intensification in Kordofan…

Putin pledges steady oil supplies to India during summit with Modi

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s pledge to maintain “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India crystallized the central dilemma at the heart of his state visit to New Delhi: energy security versus geopolitical cost. At a summit dominated by energy, defence and trade, President Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to translate decades-old ties into concrete guarantees even as the United States applies heavy pressure — including 50% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump — to penalize New Delhi for continued…

Minneapolis immigration raid detains multiple Somali nationals, officials say

Somalis among those arrested in Minneapolis immigration operation, DHS says MINNEAPOLIS — People of Somali origin are among those arrested in a Minneapolis immigration crackdown, federal officials said Thursday, days after President Donald Trump used derogatory language about Somali immigrants and said he wanted them sent “back to where they came from.” The Department of Homeland Security said the Minneapolis arrests began Monday, offering its first statement on the operation. Officials did not provide a total number of…

Sudan Conflict Intensifies: RSF Shifts Attention to Strategic Targets

Intensifying Conflict in Sudan's North Kordofan Fighting has escalated in Sudan's North Kordofan region, with key incidents marking ongoing hostilities between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army. The conflict reached a new height as a paramilitary drone reportedly targeted military headquarters in el-Obeid. El-Obeid, a strategic location with an airport and key supply routes, witnessed a paramilitary drone attack. The RSF has been battling the army since April 2023, capturing significant…

Somalia’s President Says Trump’s View of Somalia Is Outdated

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday implicitly rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Somalia “has no functioning government,” urging foreign partners to judge the country by its present progress rather than its past chaos. Speaking at the Leadership and Innovation Forum, Mohamud said many outside actors still default to a narrative of failure that no longer reflects Somalia’s current trajectory. “Many people still look down on us, judging Somalia only by what happened before and…

Somali Police Dervish Unit Graduates New Recruits in Djibouti Amid Security Push

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…

Nigerian Senate Advances Legislation for Death Penalty Against Kidnappers and Backers

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…

Putin Pledges to Capture Donbas Despite Fresh US-Ukraine Talks

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…