Belgian

Mogadishu (AX) - Making headlines once more, entrepreneur Mohamed Abdi Afweyne, known for his infamous involvement in piracy, has finally returned to Mogadishu. After enduring over ten years behind bars in Belgium, following piracy-related charges brought by Belgium's government, his homecoming was monumental. Described as the 'mastermind' behind Somali piracy, Afweyne was caught up in a high-profile arrest in 2013. Belgian authorities orchestrated a cunning sting operation, enticing him under the guise of a documentary…

Mogadishu (AX) — Sarah Mohamed Khalif, a Belgian with Somali roots, has once again secured a spot on Leuven's city council. Her election marks a continued path-breaking journey in the European political scene. Notably, she remains the first Somali, Muslim, and immigrant woman to achieve this milestone, winning a second term after a tenacious campaign. During her inaugural term, Sarah allied with the Vooruit party, aiming to cultivate a more inclusive Leuven. Her focus centered on enhancing social services for the…

In a troubling turn of events, two Belgian reporters found themselves injured in Lebanon amidst ongoing military exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah. Their employer, VTM, confirmed the incident as violence erupted in Beirut due to airstrikes during the night. The VTM correspondent, Robin Ramaekers, sustained facial injuries, while his colleague, cameraman Stijn De Smet, required medical attention for a gunshot wound to his leg, as outlined in a statement from DPG Media, the broadcast network’s parent company. “Just…

Academic and African media specialist Marie-Soleil Frère died on the night of 18 to 19 March. Research director, she taught journalism at the Free University of Brussels, as she did at the University of Ouagadougou. Author of several books, she focused in particular on the role of the media in the political development of French-speaking Africa.…