Somali Prime Minister Heads to Morocco for MEDays Forum amid Shifting Geopolitics

Somali prime minister heads to Morocco for Medays International Forum MOGADISHU — Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre departed Tuesday morning for Morocco to attend the 17th Medays International Forum, where he is expected to outline Somalia’s priorities and the government’s agenda on security and governance as the annual gathering convenes leaders and experts from more than 120 countries. Hosted under the patronage of the King of Morocco, Medays will run Nov. 26–29 under the theme “Fractures and Polarization: Reinventing…

MDC2025 Conference Kicks Off in Abuja Focused on Media and Development

West Africa Media and Development Conference Kicks Off in Abuja The third edition of the West Africa Media and Development Conference (MDC 3.0) is underway in Abuja, bringing together approximately 300 journalists, policymakers, researchers, diplomats, and technology leaders from across more than a dozen African countries. In his opening remarks at the conference on Monday, Dapo Olorunyomi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and Publisher of PREMIUM TIMES,…

Merz Backs Proposal for Two Permanent African Seats on UN Security Council

Germany Backs Permanent African Seats on U.N. Security Council In a significant move towards greater representation for Africa, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced his support for two permanent African seats on the U.N. Security Council. This declaration was made during the EU-African Union summit in Luanda, signaling a shift towards a more inclusive international framework. Chancellor Merz emphasizes the need for African representation in discussions on Africa-related issues. Europe and Africa combined…

ISIS militants trapped in Puntland State as security operation reaches final phase

BOSASO, Somalia — At least five Islamic State militants were killed in U.S.-supported airstrikes in northern Somalia’s Puntland State region, local military officials said, as counterterrorism operations intensify in the Cal-Miskaad mountains and move into what authorities describe as their final phase. The strikes hit targets Saturday in the Barakalah area of Baallade Valley, a rugged corridor in the Cal-Miskaad range where Puntland State security forces have been battling ISIS cells for months. The fatalities were…

Sudan: RSF Declares Three-Month Ceasefire Independently

Sudan's RSF Declares Unilateral Cease-fire Amid Ongoing Conflict In response to international appeals, Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced a unilateral three-month humanitarian cease-fire. This move aims to facilitate humanitarian aid and reduce violence in the ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army. RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced a cease-fire to halt hostilities. Aim to secure aid movement and protect humanitarian operations. Creation of field monitoring and additional oversight…

Namibia Confirms Deadly Congo Fever Outbreak; Health Officials Warn

Windhoek — Namibian health authorities have confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after a patient admitted to a Windhoek health facility tested positive, officials said Friday. The viral disease, also known as Congo Fever, can be severe and is tracked closely because of its high fatality risk and potential for human-to-human transmission. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said the single confirmed case required "urgent intervention" given the disease’s severity and capacity to spread. Officials did not…

Russian drone strike on Kyiv kills two; blasts kill three in Russia

Russian forces attacked Ukraine's capital Kyiv early Wednesday, striking multiple residential buildings, triggering fires and killing two people, city officials said. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration, said in a Telegram post that the strikes began after 1 a.m. local time (11 p.m. Irish time). He said two people were killed and six were injured, and that air-defence units were engaged as both drones and missiles were used in the assault. Emergency services published images showing firefighters on…

Minnesota leaders dispute Trump claim ending Somali Temporary Protected Status as community seeks clarity

MINNEAPOLIS (AX) — Minnesota officials, immigration attorneys and Somali American leaders urged calm Monday and denounced “dangerous misinformation” after former President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post that he had immediately terminated Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals — a move legal experts said he cannot make and that has not occurred. TPS for Somalia remains in effect through March 17, 2026, under a Department of Homeland Security designation that shields eligible Somali nationals from…

Rwanda Dismisses Macron’s Position on Goma Airport’s Reopening

Rwanda Rebuts Macron's Claims on Goma Airport's Reopening The Rwandan government has publicly challenged French President Emmanuel Macron's recent remarks concerning the resumption of flights at Goma Airport. Macron suggested that both the M23 rebel group and those controlling the airport had not made sufficient efforts to allow flights to resume while asserting that "all the administrative conditions have nevertheless been met by DR Congo." In a pointed response, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe criticized…

Puntland State Court Issues Death Sentence to Woman for Killing 14-Year-Old Sabiriin Saylaan

GALKAYO, Somalia — A Puntland State court on Monday sentenced Hodan Mohamud Diiriye to death for the murder of 14-year-old Sabiriin Saylaan, a case that gripped Somalia’s central city of Galkayo after an hours-long hearing was streamed live on social media and drew widespread public attention. The First Instance Court of Mudug Region found Diiriye directly responsible for the girl’s death, concluding proceedings that had been closely followed both online and in the streets amid mounting public anger. The court also sentenced…