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France and Africa: A Visa Connection In an interesting pivot towards enhanced international mobility, France has witnessed an unprecedented surge in visa applications from Africa, with over 1.36 million applications submitted in 2024 alone. This figure stands in sharp contrast to a global total of around 3 million applications, demonstrating a solid 17% increase compared to the previous year. The numbers alone tell a compelling story; they are an indication of France's deep-rooted…

Mogadishu (AX) — The corridors of Somali politics have always been a tapestry of complex narratives and diverse voices. Against this backdrop, former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has raised a clarion call for justice. He passionately appeals for a transparent exploration into the untimely demise of Sheegow Ahmed Ali, a former military stalwart who sadly passed on Monday while in government detention. As the night cloaked the city in solemn silence, Farmaajo’s declaration echoed across Mogadishu. "It's…

Poland's government has announced a suspension of the right to seek asylum, a decision confirmed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk amid ongoing irregular migrant arrivals from neighboring Belarus. The situation has escalated, with Poland and other EU countries along the eastern border accusing Russia and Belarus of orchestrating a deliberate campaign to push thousands of migrants across their borders in recent years. As Tusk noted, "This evening the government will adopt a decree suspending the right to apply for asylum. Just…

KISMAYO, Somalia - In a surprising twist, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, has seemingly balked at the Somalian federal government's request to take over Kismayo airport's operations. The situation stems from Mogadishu's desire to disrupt upcoming elections in Jubaland following a fallout with the region's leader, Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, insiders report. ATMIS, a key player in maintaining security across various areas of Somalia, asserted that they won’t step into the management shoes of…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives are reaching out to the public for assistance in apprehending the main suspect in the tragic slaying of three women in Eastleigh.DCI reports reveal that surveillance footage captured Hashim Muhumed's car picking up the victims from their Eastleigh residence last week. The car was later linked to the crime scene. Hours after the abduction, the unfortunate victims were discovered lifeless at different spots. "The vehicle was located abandoned near the ENA Coach stage…

Swan praised Turkey for its role in easing tensions over the Red Sea access agreement, a pact causing friction between Somalia and Ethiopia with North Western State of Somalia in the mix. "I appreciate Turkey's mediation efforts, particularly the dialogues hosted in Ankara during July and August," he commented. He urged Ethiopia and Somalia to approach diplomatic talks earnestly and steer clear of moves that could escalate matters. "This is vital given the possible negative fallout for the region's stability, especially…

In a move egged on by Western allies, Kenya's leadership has nudged the International Monetary Fund to dive deep into examining its murky corridors of power riddled with graft, as revealed by a couple of folks in the know to Reuters. This kind of probe, tagged officially as a "governance diagnostic," can only kick off with the asking of the respective country. It's the IMF's way of sniffing out how corruption and shaky governance might be sapping a nation’s coffers dry or wreaking havoc on the financial commonwealth. "In…

Ivory Coast should allow former President Laurent Gbagbo, who is barred from running in next month's main presidential election, to vote in the vote, the African Court of Human Rights and Peoples' Rights said on Friday. The court, set up by members of the African Union in 2004, asked Côte d'Ivoire to "take the necessary steps to immediately remove all obstacles" that prevented Gbagbo from being added to the electoral roll. Ivory Coast withdrew its recognition of the Court's jurisdiction back in April this year.…