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Britain has recently declared it will relinquish its claim over the Chagos Islands, transferring sovereignty to Mauritius. However, as described by US President Joe Biden as a "historic agreement," the UK will maintain its military foothold in the Indian Ocean through a significant partnership with the United States. The British administration has faced enduring calls to return the islands to Mauritius for decades. Yet, it has clung to control primarily due to the strategic importance of the Diego Garcia base for American…

Mogadishu (AX) – Djibouti's intriguing suggestion as a potential remedy for the ongoing diplomatic rift between Somalia and Ethiopia remains unanswered by Ethiopia, Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf disclosed. In a tête-à-tête with VOA, Youssouf shared that the ball is still in Ethiopia’s court regarding the management and use of the Tojorah port, nestled in Djibouti's northern expanse. This port has been proposed by Djibouti as an alternate maritime gateway for landlocked Ethiopia, heavily dependent on…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently issued a stark warning to Iran, asserting that there is nowhere in the Middle East that Israel cannot reach, especially in light of a series of air strikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. In a video message delivered in English, Netanyahu directly addressed the Iranian populace, cautioning them that their government is steering them "closer to the abyss." He emphasized, "There is no corner in the Middle East Israel cannot access," further stressing that the Iranian…

Aida Diarra, the bigwig behind Visa’s Sub-Saharan Africa division, couldn’t contain her excitement about the business tie-up. “Teaming up with UNDP Somalia lights us up as we aim to bring the digital age and financial services to every nook and cranny of the region. With our smarts in digital payments, we want to give Somali small business folks and underserved communities a real shot at economic strength and sustainable living," Diarra shared with palpable enthusiasm. Lionel Laurens, the go-to persona at UNDP Somalia, shed…

But for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressing both the local and international audience, has led him to firmly articulate Ethiopia’s aspirations for sea access, insist on cultivating regional peace, and navigate the tricky waters of having an adversary-turned-friend in Somalia. This week, Ethiopia celebrated its New Year and National Sovereignty Day. In a televised speech, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared that any nation contemplating an invasion should think not once, but ten times. Although he refrained from naming…

Somaliland's Determined Pursuit of Red Sea Access Amid Neighborly Strains HARGEISA, Somalia - Somaliland, the self-declared independent region, has reiterated that their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia regarding access to the Red Sea is nearly finalized. Only the legal formalities await completion now. Essa Kayd, the Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister, shared this update with diplomats in Hargeisa. He deemed the advancement as 'momentous and imminent.' Months back, Kayd indicated the…

Analyst Sees Djibouti's Proposal for Ethiopian Port Access as Insufficient to Ease Tensions Listen up: An analyst suggests that Djibouti’s recent offer to grant Ethiopia access to its coastline likely won't put an end to the ongoing political strife. Meanwhile, the Smithsonian-hosted Teaching Africa Day has wrapped up in Washington, D.C. A prominent Zambian legislator from the Patriotic Front (PF), the leading opposition group, claims the latest remarks from UN experts about the diminishing freedoms of speech and assembly…

In Côte d'Ivoire, the first edition of the Festival of Consent, FestiCo, closed on Saturday 12 March. On the occasion of International Women's Day, the event was held at the University of Cocody and aimed to increase students' awareness of the concept of…

In the Central African Republic, the Oubangui editions are organizing a literary fair in the capital on March 7-14 with young Central Africans. The challenge is to get young people interested in reading, but also in writing. Ben Wilson Ngassan is the author and promoter of this show. He is a guest of Rolf Steve Domia Leu Bohoula

The Togolese state will cover tuition fees for all students in public colleges and high schools for the academic year 2021-22. A measure announced this weekend by the government that surprised parents of students ahead of the evening of the school year, which was planned for September. A decision is welcomed in different ways. .