conflict

FILE - On the date of April 8, 2023, Ethiopian Minister Abiy Ahmed was present at the graduation event for recruits at the Ethiopian military school. Mogadishu (AX) — Ethiopia's hustle for a grip on the Red Sea is heating things up in the Horn of Africa. This tug-of-war among Ethiopia, Djibouti, Egypt, and Somalia might just change the political scene there. At the heart of it all is the fierce scramble for control over the vital Red Sea route. A big piece of the puzzle is Ethiopia’s port deal with North Western State of…

Gabon is gearing up for a significant referendum on November 16, where citizens will cast their votes concerning a newly proposed constitution. This impending decision has ignited a spectrum of reactions across the political landscape. One noteworthy aspect of the proposed constitution is that it would enable military leader General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to mount a campaign for the presidency. This particular element has raised eyebrows and prompted intense backlash from various opposition factions. The draft…

Venâncio Mondlane, an independent candidate vying for the presidency in Mozambique, has issued a powerful call for a nationwide strike to protest widespread electoral malpractice. According to a civil society group known as Mais Integridade, the fraudulent activities were so flagrant that they unfolded right under the noses of various observers. "It’s hard to believe what we've witnessed," one member of the group noted, reflecting the disillusionment felt by many. Tragically, the political climate has grown increasingly…

Mogadishu (AX) — For many years, Somalia has been caught in a storm of turmoil, poverty, and uprooting that's left the nation's mental health in shambles. This dire situation has largely been ignored, as highlighted by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). "Women and kids are really taking the hardest hit," they noted in a recent report, pointing to the intensifying mental stress blanketing these already strained communities. From the start of 2024 to September, MSF's dedicated mental health squads have…

Mogadishu (AX) — Hamas has revealed the downfall of Yahya Sinwar, captain of its political bureau, during a skirmish with Israeli forces in Gaza. Leading the group since 2017, Sinwar fell amidst bouts in the southern Gaza arena, grappling against Israeli soldiers. Hamas expressed a staunch vow that Sinwar's demise wouldn't deter their pursuit of Palestinian emancipation, pressing on with their defiance against Israeli military maneuvers. Confirming his death, Hamas proclaimed Yahya Sinwar was slain while fiercely engaged in…

The Prime Minister of Israel has proclaimed that the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar marks the "beginning of the end" for the conflict in Gaza. In a video message released by his office, Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "Yahya Sinwar is no longer among the living. Our heroic soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces successfully eliminated him in Rafah." He further emphasized, "Though this isn’t the conclusion of the war in Gaza, it signifies the commencement of the end." This announcement followed reports stating…

As tensions escalate in Lebanon, the Irish peacekeepers find themselves ensnared between two opposing factions. While clashes erupt on the ground, an intense battle for narrative and public sentiment unfolds online, compounded by widespread anxieties regarding the reliability of information circulating in the digital realm. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has raised alarms about the proliferation of false narratives, emphasizing the tangible repercussions such misinformation can impose on peacekeeping…

Somalia Extends a Helping Hand with Scholarships for Sudanese Students MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a bid to transform lives, the Ministry of Education in Somalia has rolled out a scholarship initiative aimed at welcoming a number of students from Sudan. These students, having been caught in the turmoil of ongoing strife back home, now have a golden ticket to continue their education in Somalia. The main beneficiaries are individuals affected by the ferocious conflict that has swallowed much of Sudan, causing…

NAIROBI, Kenya - Egypt and Sudan have firmly squashed a fresh accord about the Nile’s waters ratified under the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). This has charged up a simmering rift in the Horn of Africa. With six upstream nations giving the nod to the pact this week, tensions among Nile-dependent countries are now bubbling over. The majestic Nile traces its beginnings to both Lake Victoria and the Ethiopian Highlands. Historically heavyweight players, Cairo and Khartoum stressed that the new deal…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a surprising twist, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, the arbiter of the Somali Upper House, rescinded his prior decision to oust Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama from the senate. The initial axe was swung over Jama’s head due to his alleged truancy from several parliamentary gatherings. On Monday, a communique from Hashi revealed that Jama's senatorial service would resume unabated, after the two rival parties reached an accord through wide-ranging discussions. Deputy Prime Minister Jama echoed this…