politicians

China has agreed to lift sanctions on five British lawmakers and two members of the House of Lords, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said during a visit to the country, marking a thaw in a three-year dispute that began over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Starmer said he raised the issue directly with Chinese leaders and was told the restrictions “no longer apply,” adding that President Xi said “all parliamentarians are welcome.” The seven U.K. parliamentarians were sanctioned in 2021, barred from entering China and from…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali politicians seen as close to Qatar on Friday welcomed a federal decision to downgrade Somalia’s ties with the United Arab Emirates, applauding a move they framed as a defense of the country’s sovereignty and political independence. Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who has lived in Turkey and Qatar since leaving office, backed the decision by the Federal Government’s Council of Ministers in a statement posted on Facebook. “I welcome the decisions issued today by the Federal Government…

MOGADISHU — North Western State of Somalia-born politicians based in Mogadishu urged Somalia’s federal authorities on Thursday to avoid punitive steps that could damage the economy, restrict movement or undermine security for people living in North Western State of Somalia, warning that coercion would deepen, not heal, divisions. In a joint statement, the group — which includes current lawmakers and ministers — said forceful measures “will never bring unity” and called for a return to dialogue to resolve disputes between…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A group of North Western State of Somalia-born politicians based in Mogadishu urged the Federal Government of Somalia on Thursday to avoid punitive steps that could harm the economy, restrict movement, or undermine the security of people living in North Western State of Somalia, calling instead for de-escalation and renewed dialogue as tensions rise over Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia. The politicians warned that coercive or punitive measures would not advance Somali unity. They…

Somalia’s politics is trapped in a loop. A generation of leaders has cycled through the same tactics, the same alliances and the same evasions, leaving the public unconvinced that there is any meaningful difference between those in office and those seeking it. That exhaustion is no longer just a mood; it is a structural risk to the state. When voters see no program, no transparency and no red lines on sovereignty, trust collapses. And when trust collapses, predatory actors — foreign and domestic — move in. Across the last…

Bombing at Opposition Politician’s Home in Zimbabwe Raises Questions About Safety, Impunity Attack and immediate response The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) on Wednesday condemned what it called a “barbaric act of violence” after a bomb exploded at the home of opposition politician Job Sikhala on August 30, an attack that left family members shaken and raised fresh questions about political safety and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. The device detonated while Sikhala was in South Africa—where he had been publicly…

Facebook Crackdown in Somalia Draws Heat Amid Political Friction MOGADISHU, Somalia — In an eyebrow-raising move, Somalia's political air gets thicker as Facebook suspends accounts of local political mavens and vocal scribes who've been blowing raspberries at the Federal Government. This social media surge coincides with simmering political strains in the country. Word on the street, delivered by Axadle, points to a curious exemption: supporters of the Federal Government, including those yapping for Villa Somalia, didn't…

In a bold statement, Vice President Teodoro Obiang Mangue made it clear that any government official found engaging in sexual activities on the job will face suspension, labeling such behavior as a "blatant breach of conduct guidelines." He promised that those involved would encounter "serious repercussions." This pronouncement comes in the wake of shocking revelations involving Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a senior civil servant. Allegations allege that Engonga was involved in sexual liaisons with multiple women right in his…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The National Intelligence and Security Agency , police and immigration were put together by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, following a litany of complaints involving them in a series of incidents targeting politicians across the country. The spy agency , has often been criticized for targeting opposition politicians in a crackdown reportedly sanctioned by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who has had problems with a number of his critics. More often than not, opposition leaders have…

The summit at an extraordinary summit on the situation in Mali on Sunday suspended ECOWAS 'heads of state Mali from the sub-regional organization and demanded the appointment of a civilian prime minister and the formation of an inclusive government to continue the reforms. . while avoiding other sanctions. In Bamako, politicians note these decisions.…