regional

  Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud touched down in Bujumbura, the heart of Burundi, for a diplomatic shuffle around the neighborhood, aiming to bolster ties and teamwork on security issues. Cozying up at the Presidential Palace, President Hassan Sheikh and President Évariste Ndayishimiye swapped thoughts on safeguarding their nations and boosting economic bonds. While there, Hassan Sheikh tipped his hat to Burundi for stepping up in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). President…

The saga surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is tangled with Ethiopia’s Red Sea ambitions, lighting up disputes along multiple fronts. Embarking on the intricate mission of fair Nile River usage, the freshly minted Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC) faces a rocky road. Conflicts simmering in the Horn of Africa add fuel to the fire. October 13 marked a turning point as the Cooperative Framework Agreement on the Nile sprang to life, transitioning us from the old Nile Basin Initiative to something fresh. The…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a bold move, the Banadir regional administration gave the boot to Ali Fahle, the commissioner of Hodan district, and a bunch of his team for a solid 45-day timeout due to allegedly slacking off.This shake-up came hot on the heels of an evaluation ride along, helmed by Mohamed Ahmed Diriye (known as Yabooh), the deputy commissioner for security and politics in the Banadir Region, who took a gander at how things were ticking over in the Hodan, Wabari, Howlwadag, and Hamar-Jajab districts in Mogadishu.Yabooh…

NAIROBI, Kenya - A recent summit with Eritrea, Egypt, and Somalia in attendance has birthed a coalition nicknamed the 'axis against Ethiopia,' marking an intense regional shift that edges Ethiopia into unfamiliar territory. Over the past few years, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia has been wrestling with internal and external upheavals. Domestically, his administration faces significant headwinds due to regional unrest, notably the Tigray conflict, which upends his governance. On the international front,…

The defense deal between Egypt and Somalia has stirred up worries about Cairo's clout in the Horn of Africa. Recently, Egypt and Somalia have been engaging in high-level security discussions. These talks focus on the stationing of Egyptian forces as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This move has sparked regional apprehensions regarding Egypt's growing strategic and military sway in the Horn of Africa. According to a senior Egyptian security official, "A significant meeting took place in Mogadishu…

Mogadishu (AX) — The Egyptian leader, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, is gearing up for a visit to Asmara, Eritrea, come Thursday, where he's scheduled for a three-party pow-wow with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This top-tier sit-down aims to bolster security partnerships and tackle mutual hurdles in the Horn of Africa and the bustling Red Sea zone. A big-ticket item on the agenda is the creation of a tri-nation coalition to navigate common challenges, with a spotlight on Ethiopia's…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — In the face of regional discord, Somalia stands by its robust defense agreement with Egypt, harmonizing with its foreign policy to enhance its security framework, though ruffling feathers, particularly in Ethiopia. The pact, reminiscent of Somalia’s strategic alliances with the U.S., EU, Turkey, and nations in the Gulf, drew skepticism from Ethiopia. Concerns revolve around potential military intensification, fueled by maritime disputes and Egypt’s longstanding Nile River tensions. Hussein Sheikh Ali,…

Turning up in Mogadishu, Somalia's Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi gets a warm welcome after returning from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Mogadishu (AX) — Just back from the international spotlight, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Somalia's Foreign Minister, recently chewed the fat with Egyptian and Eritrean counterparts, focusing on what Somalia says are ongoing invasions by Ethiopia into its turf. Both Egypt and Eritrea threw their weight behind Somalia, lambasting Ethiopia for actions that jeopardize Somalia's…

The Horn of Africa continues to grapple with aftershocks from Ethiopia’s agreement with North Western State of Somalia in January. This pact, which bestowed Ethiopian naval units access to North Western State of Somalia’s coastline, has sparked strife and intrigue across the region. In a twist, Hargeisa claims Ethiopia is mulling over acknowledging North Western State of Somalia’s boundaries, stirring the pot further. Fast forward nine months, and tensions escalate with new forces entering the fray, like Egypt making chummy…

Beledweyne (AX) – In a significant community triumph, Ugas Yusuf Ugas Hassan Ugas Khalif, the esteemed leader of the Hawadle tribe, has navigated the successful dismantling of numerous rogue checkpoints along the stretch between Beledweyne and El-gal in the Hiiraan territory.Flanked by Hiiraan's regional chief, Muse Salad Wehliye, and a cohort of respected elders, the leader embarked on a mission to clear the main artery linking Mataban and Beledweyne. These makeshift barricades had been a notorious thorn in the side of…