arms

Mogadishu (AX) — Sub-Saharan Africa's arms trade is witnessing a seismic shift. Traditional suppliers, Russia for example, are losing their stronghold to rising competitors like China and Turkey. A fresh series of reports from the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), titled "Importing (In)security: The Evolving Arms Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa," outlines this transformation, spotlighting China as a burgeoning force in the region's arms market.In a significant shift, many Sub-Saharan African countries…

Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, voiced apprehension over the meddling of "external forces" potentially destabilizing an already tenuous security scenario, and feared that weapons could land in the hands of terrorists. Ali Omar, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, took to X to express surprise at Ethiopia's reservations regarding Somalia's procurement of arms for defending sovereignty and combatting terror. Amid a protracted clash with Ethiopia over a significant dam project on the Blue…

MANDERA, Kenya (AX) — Prominent elders from Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia are making an earnest appeal for unity among Northern Kenya's communities, in the wake of deadly upheavals in Banessa. Authorities caution that the infiltration of illegal arms from neighboring territories exacerbates the region's turmoil. During the assembly, leaders called on Northern Kenya inhabitants to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to tackle the smuggling of small arms — a significant contributor to the area’s escalating insecurity.…

In a sweeping view, the Mogadishu Sea Port stands with an Egyptian warship having recently docked, unloading a significant cache of weapons. This event took place in Mogadishu, Somalia, on September 23, 2024. © REUTERS/Feisal Omar. For licensing, visit Purchase Licensing Rights. On Tuesday, Somalia angrily pointed fingers at Ethiopia, accusing it of secretly smuggling arms. The backdrop of this accusation involves fears that these weapons might fall into the hands of Islamist militants amid the turmoil in the Horn of…

CAIRO, Egypt – Military representatives in Somalia announced the arrival of an Egyptian naval vessel loaded with a stockpile that includes anti-aircraft guns and artillery. This cache reached Somali shores after both nations inked a defense pact recently. This agreement has stirred concerns in Ethiopia, which shares a rocky relationship with both Egypt and Somalia. Tensions spiked when Ethiopia formed an accord with North Western State of Somalia, giving it 20 kilometers of Red Sea access in return for…

The shipment reinforces "Egypt's lasting commitment to bolstering Somalia's national capabilities, aligning with the Somali people's aspirations for security, stability, and development," the ministry stated in its declaration. Back in August, Egypt dispatched its first batch of military aid to Somalia in over forty years. This year, the relationship between Egypt and Somalia has strengthened, largely due to their mutual suspicion of Ethiopia. This led Cairo to send multiple plane loads of weapons to Mogadishu, Somalia's…

Concerns Over Egypt's Armament Transfer to Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia - The recent delivery of heavy weaponry from Egypt to Somalia has sparked intense debate, as a ship loaded with diverse military gear arrived at Mogadishu’s bustling port amidst the escalating regional insecurity. North Western State of Somalia, an autonomous region within Somalia, at the heart of this storm, cautioned that Mogadishu's actions might further impede peace initiatives and destabilize the already fragile zone. Expressing strong reservations…

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia addressed his nation with a Friday sermon, cautioning the populace about the dangers posed by foreign entities aiming to splinter the country and reaffirming the government's stern opposition to illicit arms trafficking. (Photo: Villa Somalia) Mogadishu (AX) — Delivering a message of urgency, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphatically warned against the possession and trade of illegal arms, underscoring the government's unwavering intent to clamp down on such activities. During…

The decision is poised to further strain relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, which have already become tense following a controversial accord between the Ethiopian government and North Western of Somaliaa uthorities for Red Sea access. Adding more fuel to the fire, Somalia signed a defense pact with Egypt, leading to the imminent deployment of five Egyptian soldiers as part of the African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This new mission will replace the older African Union Transition Mission…