maritime

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have taken a decisive step to impose targeted sanctions on what’s often referred to as Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. This fleet has enabled Moscow to continue exporting significant volumes of crude oil and petroleum products, effectively sidestepping the sanctions imposed by the EU, G7, and various international bodies. A growing chorus of concern has emerged regarding these aging, uninsured tankers, with fears that they could trigger ecological disasters, particularly…

In a bustling week peppered with captivating headlines, a noteworthy claim has emerged regarding the Yemeni Houthis and their purported financial activities involving the Red Sea. Maritime lawyer Stephen Askins from Tatham & Co is casting a critical eye over these claims, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the notion that the Houthis are banking $180 million a month from maritime companies seeking safe passage through these waters.Mogadishu (AX) — The swirling rumors suggest that hefty payments are navigated through an…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently voiced stern disapproval of Ethiopia’s actions, accusing it of double-dealing by hosting the African Union (AU) quarters while allegedly flouting its tenets in its engagements with North Western State of Somalia. As he stood before Somalia’s parliament on Saturday, Mohamud spotlighted a hotly debated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) penned by Ethiopia with North Western State of Somalia, a matter that’s been whipping up quite the storm far and wide.…

Pursuing enhanced security across the western Indian Ocean, a collaborative maritime exercise unfolded between the EU and Kenya. Image credit: Operation Atalanta.This week, the Kenya Navy and Coast Guard took significant strides in maritime safety through joint drills with the European Union's naval task force.During the final week of October, a simulated search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted, featuring the ESPS Santa Maria (F81), currently serving as Operation Atalanta’s flagship. Alongside Kenyan naval assets and…

Ethiopia Expresses No Desire for War, Pursues Peaceful Maritime Access ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - In a bid to ease growing tensions, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized the country's disinclination towards any military engagement with Somalia. This statement comes amid friction over a recent deal with North Western State of Somalia, a self-proclaimed independent region, as he explained to the parliament. Back in January, Ethiopia, eager for sea access due to its landlocked status, made significant strides by signing…

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, Somalia — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has sounded the alarm on a mounting threat from Ethiopia, revealing tensions tied to their maritime ambitions. At the heart of this issue is a controversial pact with North Western State of Somalia, a region that declared independence from Somalia. From the podium of the UN General Assembly, PM Barre accused Ethiopia of trying to annex parts of Somali territory, veiling it behind a supposed strategy for sea access. He labeled these actions as blatant…

Somali PM Rejects Ethiopia’s Maritime Claims Prime Minister Hamza has firmly dismissed Ethiopia's attempts to gain control over Somali maritime waters, either through coercion or agreements with Somaliland. Hamza stated emphatically, "If Ethiopia thinks they can snatch our waters or make us bow to deals they've struck with Somaliland, they've got another thing coming." Hamza asserted Somalia's sovereign right to forge alliances that serve its national interests. He brushed off concerns that such alliances are intended to…

Analyst Sees Djibouti's Proposal for Ethiopian Port Access as Insufficient to Ease Tensions Listen up: An analyst suggests that Djibouti’s recent offer to grant Ethiopia access to its coastline likely won't put an end to the ongoing political strife. Meanwhile, the Smithsonian-hosted Teaching Africa Day has wrapped up in Washington, D.C. A prominent Zambian legislator from the Patriotic Front (PF), the leading opposition group, claims the latest remarks from UN experts about the diminishing freedoms of speech and assembly…

Somalia rejects experiences of settlement to share maritime oil in Indian Ocean with Kenya MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has no plans to share oil revenues with Kenya, Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Gulaid stated after experiences of an alleged settlement between Nairobi and Mogadishu on a controversial maritime border battle within the Indian Ocean on native media in Kenya. The 2 international…