Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is bracing for what the World Health Organization (WHO) calls a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict," as a rapidly advancing Ebola outbreak outstrips efforts to contain it in a region already scarred by armed groups, displacement and severe hunger. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Ebola Bundibugyo virus outbreak in Ituri province is unfolding in conditions that undermine basic public health measures, with insecurity, assaults on clinics and…

In a troubling revelation, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has reported that around 30,000 armed Fulani militants are currently active in Nigeria, exacerbating issues of insecurity and threatening religious freedoms throughout the nation. The USCIRF's latest report, titled "Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants," characterizes these armed groups as among the most lethal non-state actors engaging in violent activities, particularly in the Middle Belt and…

Malawi’s power crunch is deepening, electricity officials have warned Parliament, as the national grid struggles to keep pace with soaring demand while being hobbled by frequent equipment failures, fuel shortfalls, and aging infrastructure. Representatives of the nation’s electricity company told lawmakers that Malawi is generating far less power than it requires, describing a system under strain from breakdowns and obsolete equipment even as consumption continues to climb.

MOGADISHU, May 18, 2026 – Somalia’s long-running electoral dispute took on fresh urgency on Monday as international partners opened virtual crisis talks with the opposition alliance and influential regional leaders, diplomatic sources said, in a bid to pull the country back from a deepening political impasse. The online session brought foreign diplomats face to face with the Future Council, a major coalition of opposition-aligned political figures, as well as Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni and Jubbaland…

By Dr. Ali Said FaqiSunday May 17, 2026 Somalia is edging into a precarious political chapter, one that may prove among the most volatile in recent years. The constitutional amendments passed in March 2026 have ignited a fierce dispute over legitimacy, governance, and the country’s political future. That tension sharpened after the presidential term expired on May 15, 2026, and the parliamentary mandate ended on April 14, 2026, leaving the nation in a sensitive constitutional and political void. To many in the public and on…

MOGADISHU, May 16 - Somalia’s economy is expanding at only about 3%, a marked slowdown highlighted in a recent World Bank report cited by Al Jazeera and raising alarm among officials and ordinary Somalis alike. Economists say the downturn is closely tied to escalating political uncertainty in the Horn of Africa country, where tensions among leading political actors have deepened into a damaging stalemate. That prolonged impasse has shaken investor confidence and delayed key international development initiatives, according to…

Collapse of Halane Talks Deepens Somalia’s Election Standoff Three days of high-stakes political talks in Mogadishu have ended in failure, sending Somalia deeper into uncertainty as a bitter dispute over elections and the legitimacy of the federal leadership intensifies. The negotiations brought together the opposition coalition known as the Future Forum, represented by former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni. Representing the government were outgoing Somali President…

Bureaucracy is choking access to safe drinking water nationwide, lawmakers warned, taking aim at the government’s current water-supply budget. Several MPs pressed ministers to declare water provision a national emergency, arguing that the allocated funds fall far short of what is needed to deliver additional tanks and bolster infrastructure in many regions. "In most rural areas, there is only one tap serving an entire community. Water tankers do not reach all settlements, and sometimes there is no money for fuel," one MP…

Somalia’s governance system is under strain, with political disputes at the federal level, tensions between Mogadishu and regional states, and a persistent security threat from militant groups. The result has been a cycle of delayed reforms, contested authority, and fragile decision-making—especially as the country tries to stabilize after years of conflict. Below is a clear breakdown of the main factors driving political instability in Somalia and why they matter for governance, elections, and public trust. What…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s widening political crisis came under intense scrutiny on Thursday, when international partners gathered at a heavily secured Western embassy inside the Halane compound to assess what comes next for the country’s embattled federal government. According to diplomatic sources, much of the conversation centered on how the international community should deal with Somali authorities after May 15. One of the most disputed issues was whether the World Bank’s Operational Policy 7.30 (OP 7.30) could be…