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Trump says Israel has agreed to “initial withdrawal line”; ceasefire hinges on Hamas confirmation as strikes continue WASHINGTON — Former US President Donald Trump said on social media that Israel has accepted an “initial withdrawal line” for Gaza and that the details have been shared with Hamas, setting the stage for a tentative ceasefire and a prisoner swap — but only “when Hamas confirms.” The announcement came amid renewed Israeli bombardment that killed dozens on Saturday, underscoring how fragile any pause remains on…

Mogadishu detention centre attacked in bold Al-Shabaab raid, seven assailants killed MOGADISHU — In a striking breach of Somalia’s security heartland, Al-Shabaab fighters launched a brazen attack late Saturday on Godka Jilacow, a high-security detention facility run by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in central Mogadishu. The siege lasted through the night and into Sunday morning before security forces said they had neutralised the assailants. How the raid unfolded Residents and officials described a…

Ethiopia opens first phase of Ogaden LNG project, pivoting from exports to power its own growth CALUB, Somali Region — Under a rinsed-blue sky and a brisk Ogaden wind, Ethiopia on Thursday inaugurated the first phase of its long-delayed liquefied natural gas project, a move that signals a decisive turn inward: from chasing export windfalls to fueling its own power grid, factories, and farms. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stood before an array of valves and silvered pipes at the Calub gas field and called the Ogaden LNG project…

Japan’s choice of a conservative woman to lead the ruling party reframes familiar dilemmas The Liberal Democratic Party’s selection of Sanae Takaichi as its leader — a 64‑year‑old conservative who could become Japan’s first female prime minister — is less a break with the past than a new turn in an old playbook. Her victory, against younger and more moderate rivals, signals the LDP’s attempt to recapture voters unsettled by inflation, stagnating wages and a rising appetite for parties that promise real change on immigration…

Mohamud’s Visit to Kismayo: A Fragile Gesture Toward Reconciliation KISMAYO, Somalia — When Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud travels to Kismayo this weekend for talks with Jubaland’s leader Ahmed “Madobe” Mohamed, he will be stepping into a political landscape that has been scarred by years of public acrimony, private deals and military showdowns. The trip — brokered quietly by Nairobi and welcomed, cautiously, by regional capitals — is less a triumph than a test of whether local rivals can move from brinkmanship to…

Al‑Shabaab’s War Chest: How a Militant Tax System Fuels a Comeback in Somalia A militant economy hiding in plain sight The hardest thing to see in Somalia’s long war is often the most obvious: the receipts. A new assessment by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point says al‑Shabaab, al‑Qaida’s Somali affiliate, is now the network’s financial powerhouse—pulling in an estimated $100 million to $200 million a year. That money isn’t just paying for bullets. It’s rebuilding a parallel state. The report, The Global State…

UK–Somalia trade has jumped. Now comes the hard part: turning a one-way surge into a two-way partnership It’s not often that trade data between two countries separated by nearly 7,000 kilometers makes you sit up. But the United Kingdom’s latest figures with Somalia do just that. In the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025, total trade in goods and services reached £72 million—up 75.6% from a year earlier, according to a UK Department for Business and Trade factsheet released on September 19, 2025. On the face of it, that’s a…

The Resilient Struggle Against Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) once again finds itself in the throes of a battle against the dreaded Ebola virus. As the central Kasai province witnesses a resurgence, the realities of managing this crisis echo through the halls of health authorities, communities, and international organizations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 42 lives have already been claimed out of 64 confirmed cases, underscoring the urgency of the…

Moroccan Protests Highlight Global Youth Dissatisfaction In a dramatic turn of events, Morocco finds itself at the center of a youth-led protest wave that has captivated the nation. According to state media, security forces have been involved in a deadly confrontation that resulted in the deaths of two individuals in the southwestern city of Leqliaa. The protesters, part of a burgeoning movement known as GenZ 212, have taken to the streets demanding systemic changes, shaking the foundations of a government preparing to…

Tragedy Strikes During Festival: Deadly Scaffolding Collapse in Ethiopia In a devastating turn of events, a makeshift scaffolding collapsed at a church in the town of Arerti, Ethiopia, leading to the death of at least 36 people and injuring more than 200 others. This tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday morning, during a gathering for the annual Virgin Mary festival, a significant event marked by devotion and festivity in this predominantly Christian nation. The Heart of the Incident The disaster occurred around 7:45…