officials

North Western State of Somalia, Somalia and the politics of the skies: Why a digital visa is touching a raw nerve Airspace rarely makes front-page news until it does. In the Horn of Africa, where borders are contested and history weighs heavy, the latest salvo isn’t happening on the ground but in the air—and online. North Western State of Somalia’s Minister of the Presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, has accused Somalia’s federal government of waging a “war” over air travel and airspace, claiming the aim is to pressure North…

Somalia airstrike controversy tests U.S. credibility — and a community’s trust On a baked stretch of road outside Ceel Buh, in Somalia’s Sanaag region, a car carrying a well-known clan elder was torn apart by an airstrike on a September afternoon. The U.S. military later said it had targeted an al-Shabab arms dealer in northern Somalia. Local authorities have a starkly different account: the man killed was a peacemaker, a bridge-builder, and their friend. In a place where the title “Caaqil” carries the weight of lineage…

The U.S. Takes a Stand Against Corruption in Nigeria In a bold move signaling its commitment to tackling global corruption, the U.S. mission in Nigeria recently announced that government officials found guilty of corruption will face a significant consequence: denial of U.S. visas. With a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the mission made clear that "fighting corruption knows no borders." This statement resonates deeply in a country where the scars of corruption run deep, casting a long shadow over…

Russia’s overnight drone and missile onslaught leaves civilians dead as war intensifies Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine using hundreds of drones and scores of missiles, Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday, killing at least three people, wounding dozens and damaging homes and infrastructure across the country as both sides step up long-range strikes. What officials say happened President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as “massive,” saying roughly 580 drones and about 40 missiles were…

Somalia’s New Electoral Agreement: A Crucial Step Toward Unity NAIROBI—In a nation often marred by instability and political discord, the recent landmark electoral agreement between Somalia’s federal government and the Somali Salvation Forum marks a pivotal stride toward national unity and democratic governance. The Agreement: A Pathway to Stability After two months of contentious negotiations, the agreement outlines a distinctive approach to conducting the next elections. Under the new framework, the Federal Parliament…

In a notable shift in policy, President Joe Biden’s administration has given Ukraine the green light to deploy American-made weaponry for targeted strikes deep within Russian territory. This information has surfaced through two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the decision, marking a significant pivot in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. According to these sources, Ukraine is gearing up to perform its inaugural long-range strikes in the very near future, although specific details remain undisclosed for security…

Snapshot of a Mystery: On a brisk October day in 2024, security cameras caught glimpses of Hashim Dagane Muhumed, already notorious in Nairobi circles, carting away two hefty bags from a Lavington apartment. The authorities suspect these bags held grim secrets—the dismembered pieces of Deka Abdinoor Gorone, the woman he was growing ever more notorious for allegedly killing. This chilling footage has added gasoline to the investigation and sparked a fierce debate around safety and justice in Nairobi. Source: DCI Kenya "In…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a bold move, the Somali National Army (SNA) on the frontlines took direct aim at a high-ranking assembly of Al-Shabaab insurgents this Tuesday, according to official sources. Senior military sources reported that the army attacked an Al-Shabaab gathering in Caad village, nestled within Mudug. This strike resulted in the immediate demise of three militants and inflicted severe wounds on two others. The agenda of this meeting remains a mystery. Such high-stakes meetings typically delve into the group’s…

In Istanbul on October 19, 2024, Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, delivered remarks at a press conference. (REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya/File Photo. Purchase Licensing Rights) Next week, the Turkish foreign minister is jetting off to Djibouti. The agenda? A pivotal Turkey-Africa ministerial shindig, aiming to bolster ties between Ankara and the African continent, according to ministry insiders. Over recent stretches, Turkey, a NATO ally, has ratcheted up its footprint and sway in Africa. It's been boosting trade nearly…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (left) accepts a ceremonial gift from Haluk Bayraktar (right), CEO of Baykar Technologies, in a Mogadishu meet aimed at enhancing Somalia-Turkey defence ties. Mogadishu (AX) — Over the weekend, Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of Turkey's defence behemoth Baykar and the brain behind the globally acclaimed Bayraktar TB2 drone, touched down in Mogadishu, flagging a renewed vigor in Somalia-Turkey relations. Welcomed by Somalia's Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Bayraktar then had…