Global

In Durban, Africa's public health debate turns from aid to agency Durban — Delegates in brightly patterned shirts and surgical scrubs threaded their way through the humid corridors of the conference centre here, trading phone numbers, business cards and the kind of blunt, practical advice that follows crises. This was not a glossy health summit but a working room: ministers, nurses, start‑up founders, community health workers and WHO officials convened for the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA)…

Climate alarms are sounding — but the world is not answering fast enough When António Guterres warned delegates in Geneva this week that the planet is being pushed “to the brink,” he was not only recounting a litany of scientific milestones — every one of the last ten years the hottest on record, ocean heat breaking records, and ecosystems collapsing — he was issuing a practical plea: invest in the systems that give people time to get out of harm’s way. The United Nations secretary-general framed an urgent, solvable part…

Global Gateway in Somalia: Investment with a Human Face — and Hard Questions MOGADISHU — When the European Union rolled out its Global Gateway initiative in Brussels this month, the message was simple: funnel European capital into connectivity projects across Africa, Asia and beyond, and build ties that can withstand geopolitical shocks. For Somalia, a country still rebuilding after decades of conflict, the program promises not just roads and ports but jobs and a stake in the global economy. The EU delegation in Mogadishu…

Somalia’s new passport push is about far more than a booklet Somalia’s decision to tender a “third-generation” e-passport sounds technocratic on the surface — a procurement notice, new materials, a better chip. But in a country where mobility is survival, identity is politics, and trust has been fragile for decades, the stakes are far higher than a redesign. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) has put out a global call for bids to produce a polycarbonate, biometric passport aligned with International Civil Aviation…

Somali president welcomes boxer Ramla Ali, casting sports as a bridge to a hopeful future MOGADISHU — In a carefully staged encounter that mixed ceremony with symbolism, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday welcomed Ramla Ali — the Somali-born, UK-raised boxer who made history as the first Somali to compete in the Olympics — to the presidential palace in Mogadishu. The meeting was brief but pointed: Ali received a certificate of honor from the presidency and words of praise that turned an individual sporting…

Africa’s quiet emergency: rising suicide rates meet a shrinking safety net When Namibia’s Vice President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah told Parliament this year that 542 people had died by suicide between 2023 and 2024, she broke a painful public silence. Her warning — that Namibia now has the highest suicide rate in Africa — landed alongside a stark global tally from the World Health Organization: more than 720,000 people die by suicide each year, and suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for 15- to 29‑year‑olds, most…

The Heartbeat of Education: Navigating the Global Teacher Crisis Santiago, Chile—As the sun rose over the bustling streets of this vibrant city, the shadows of an impending crisis loomed large over the UNESCO World Summit on Teachers. Amina Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, painted a stark picture of the global teaching landscape, calling it “a slow-burning emergency” that is threatening educational advancement and, by extension, the very fabric of society. With her words resonating through the conference hall,…

Unlocking East Africa’s Halal Potential: A Global Economic Journey In the bustling heart of Nairobi, a unique confluence of minds marked the beginning of a new chapter for East Africa. It was an event that could redefine the region’s engagement with the global economy, estimated to grow into a colossal $5.91 trillion industry by 2033—the halal economy. The Workshop That Could Hosted at Nairobi’s landmark Jamia Mosque, the Halal Business Development and Export Readiness Workshop unfolded under the emblematic theme of…

Somalia's New Political Consensus: A Step Toward Stability? In a remarkable turn of events, a coalition of opposition leaders in Somalia has forged a new political framework with the federal government, setting the stage for a potential transformation in the Horn of Africa. This development, which emerged from the Somali Salvation Forum, is more than a diplomatic victory—it's a critical attempt to stabilize the nation through consensus and collaboration. A New Electoral Framework On Monday, the coalition reached an…

Mogadishu (AX) — The international community is raising a red flag over the growing friction between Somalia's Federal Government and Jubaland State, urging a chill-out period and talks that bring something constructive to the table. This spat heated up post-Jubaland's no-show at the recent National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting, a forum meant to iron out issues crucial for Somalia’s ongoing state-building efforts. Not too long ago, in early October, Jubaland’s President Ahmed Madobe stepped away from an NCC talk,…