Somalia Joins Global Satellite Group to Boost Maritime Safety and Security

MOGADISHU — Somalia has acceded to the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), a step the federal government says will upgrade the country’s maritime safety, search-and-rescue capacity and technological integration across its busy coastline. Ports and Marine Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nor deposited Somalia’s instrument of accession during a meeting with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez on the sidelines of the IMO Assembly’s 34th regular…

Tinubu Calls for Increased Efforts Following Release of Abducted Nigerian Schoolgirls

President Tinubu Commends Security Forces for Rescuing Abducted Schoolgirls In a recent statement, President Bola Tinubu praised Nigeria's security forces for their swift action in securing the release of dozens of schoolgirls abducted in the northwestern state of Kebbi on November 17. The president emphasized that while this operation was successful, continued efforts are necessary to bring home other victims who have been taken captive across the region. The kidnapping incident in Kebbi triggered a wave of concern,…

Two-time major golf champion Fuzzy Zoeller dies at 74

Fuzzy Zoeller, the two-time major champion and 10-time winner on the PGA Tour, has died, the United States Golf Association said Thursday. He was 74. The USGA did not provide a cause or say when he died. "Fuzzy was one of a kind," USGA CEO Mike Whan said in a statement. "We are grateful for all he gave to golf. I hope we can all remember his unmistakable joy. The USGA is sending our deepest condolences to his family and friends." PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan called Zoeller "a true original whose talent and charisma…

Court Upholds Kenyan Farmers’ Right to Share Indigenous Seeds

Kenya’s High Court on Thursday struck down parts of a decade-old seed law, clearing the way for small-scale farmers to save and share local seed varieties without fear of prosecution — a decision celebrated as a major victory for “food sovereignty” advocates and rural communities. In a ruling delivered in Machakos, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Nairobi, the court found provisions of the 2012 Seed and Plant Varieties Act unconstitutional. Those provisions had criminalized saving uncertified seeds and then…

Tinubu Issues Emergency Declaration Amid Rising Kidnappings

Nigeria's Push for Enhanced Security Measures Amid Rising Challenges Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has called for urgent reforms to bolster the nation's security capabilities as violence continues to threaten citizens across the country. Addressing lawmakers and security officials, Tinubu urged a comprehensive recruitment drive for the police and military, signaling a shift toward more localized and responsive security frameworks. The President's comments come in the wake of increasing incidents of banditry and…

AIF 2025: Leaders Advocate Private Investment and Regulatory Reforms

Africa Investment Forum Market Days opened Wednesday with government leaders and development experts urging expanded private‑sector participation, innovative financing solutions and accelerated policy reforms to unlock the continent’s economic potential. Speakers at the 2025 Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days emphasized that private capital, new financing instruments and faster regulatory change are central to closing investment gaps across energy, infrastructure, agribusiness and manufacturing. Delegates described…

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,…