escalating

In the bustling streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, an African Union peacekeeper strolls by a line of armored vehicles. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, better known as ATMIS, is grappling with the possibility of stumbling blocks in its concluding phase. Why? The culprits are inadequate funding and heightened regional unease, particularly with neighbor Ethiopia in the mix. Mogadishu (AX) — The African Union's mission in Somalia is hitting snags as it edges nearer to its finale. The root of the hiccups?…

Iran downplayed the recent air assault by Israel on its military assets, asserting that the damage inflicted was minimal. This comes as U.S. President Joe Biden urged for a cessation of hostilities that have escalated tensions in the Middle East into potentially dangerous territory. In the early hours of yesterday, a multitude of Israeli fighter jets executed three separate waves of strikes targeting missile production facilities and other significant sites in the vicinity of Tehran and throughout western Iran, according to…

In a notable breach of security, Israeli officials disclosed that a drone launched from Lebanon targeted the residence of Netanyahu in Caesarea, north of Tel Aviv. Fortunately, neither Netanyahu nor his family were at home during the attack, and there were no reported injuries, per Israeli sources. Reacting swiftly, the Israeli military upped the ante with intensified air raids on Gaza, zooming in on areas like hospitals and refugee camps in the north. As Gaza's health officials disclosed, at least 44 Palestinians met their…

In East Africa, the moment is now for proactive peace efforts. Recently, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud approached a Turkish Navy vessel at Mogadishu's port following the inked defense and economic deal with Turkey. This event took place in Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 23, 2024. Photo by Feisal Omar/REUTERS. Last time America stood on the brink of election frenzy, Ethiopia was stirring with potential conflict. The central government’s friction with the Tigray province erupted in tandem with the U.S. election day in…

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…

In Kismayo, United Nations envoy James Swan and Jubbaland's head honcho, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), shook hands and dove into Somalia's political big picture. They chewed over state-building, the quagmire with Al-Shabaab, and the prep work for the upcoming National Consultative Council (NCC) hoo-ha.Mogadishu (AX) — On a Sunday powwow, James Swan, the UN's point person, nudged Jubbaland's President Ahmed Madobe back into Somalia's National Consultative Council. They focused their chat on building an effective state and…

In a grand setting, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stepped up to address the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on a bustling Tuesday, September 24, 2024. (AP Photo by Richard Drew) - AP Photo/Richard DrewWith considerable spotlight, President Erdogan participated in the send-off ceremony for Turkey’s energy research vessel, Oruc Reis. This month, the ship departed towards the Somali waters, bolstered by two Turkish naval ships.Somali Energy AccordThe Oruc Reis deployment emerges from an energy…

In Somalia's Bay Territory, Hunger Sparks New Disputes A Somali woman traverses the parched and barren lands of Bay, where ongoing strife alongside climatic shifts have crippled farming activities, leaving communities with little choice but to lean on humanitarian relief. (Credit: Islamic Relief/SIDA) Mogadishu (AX) — According to a detailed examination by Islamic Relief Somalia, the scarcity of food is exacerbating unrest in the Bay region. Various calamities, including prolonged dry spells, deluges, alongside relentless…

Abiy believes gifting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea would be the crowning jewel of his legacy. In Mogadishu, Somali military officers stepped in sync during a splendid parade. Feisal Omar/Reuters ADDIS ABABA – There's a tense atmosphere brewing in the Horn of Africa. Somalia is insisting that Ethiopia should pull the plug on its contentious port agreement with North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared independent region, or yank its forces out of Somalia. Somalia's displeasure with the Ethiopian pact was loud and…

Mogadishu (AX) — As Israel's airstrikes rage across Lebanon, countless Somali students find themselves ensnared in Beirut, caught in the turmoil. The bombings, honing in on Hezbollah's lairs, have laid waste to Lebanon's capital, claimed thousands of lives, and shattered vital infrastructure. The plight of Somali students, alongside other foreigners, grows grimmer as flights remain halted and escape routes choked. An enormous Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon, close to Syria's border, blasted a 12-foot-wide crater,…