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FILE - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki hold up a symbolic key during a joint ceremony marking the restoration of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea in Asmara, Eritrea. The 2018 peace initiative formally ended two decades of hostility following a border war and paved the way for the reopening of embassies, flights and cross-border ties. MOGADISHU — Eritrea has withdrawn from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for the second time, accusing the Horn of Africa…

Mogadishu — U.S. Africa Command carried out seven new airstrikes in Somalia between Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, pushing this year’s total to at least 109 strikes — a record level of U.S. military activity in the country. The latest operations targeted ISIS-linked militants in Puntland State and an al-Shabaab site in southern Jubaland, AFRICOM said. The command described a rapid sequence of strikes focused on a remote mountain zone southeast of Bosaso, a longtime militant hideout, and a separate strike near the Kenyan border. It did…

SOUTH AFRICA — South Africa faces what health researchers call a “vaping crisis” among adolescents while a long-promised overhaul of the country’s tobacco laws sits largely dormant. The draft Tobacco Bill published in 2018 — designed to extend smoke-free public spaces, introduce plain packaging and ban point-of-sale displays for both cigarettes and electronic cigarettes — has yet to clear the long road from proposal to law, leaving regulators and public-health advocates alarmed as youth nicotine use climbs. A 2024 study of…

Overview: a surge in Irish passport applications from the UK Nearly a quarter of a million people living in the United Kingdom applied for Irish passports in 2024, the highest number recorded since the UK formally left the European Union. The wave of applications cuts across Britain and Northern Ireland and reflects both practical responses to Brexit and longer-running family ties. Department of Foreign Affairs figures show 242,772 applications in 2024. Just over half (53%) of those applications came from people living…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has pointed fingers at Ethiopia, holding it accountable for the revival of Al-Shabaab militants wreaking chaos and claiming countless lives nationwide. Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has declared its intention to oversee the selection of troop contributions, blocking Ethiopian forces from participating in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), 'We aim to steer our mission, prioritizing sovereignty,' a spokesperson noted. The Ministry accused Ethiopia of…

Certainly! Here's a reimagined version of the content: Somali Triumph Tales: Gathering Cheers for Fintech's Rise MOGADISHU, Somalia — Celebrating Somalia's bustling fintech sector, the third annual Somali Triumph Tales Conference wrapped up on October 17 at the vibrant Sahal Hall in Mogadishu. Hosted by Hormuud Telecom, the event brought together government heads, key business leaders, policymakers, scholars, and sector specialists to delve into the nation's dynamic fintech sphere. The spotlight at the conference was…

 Mogadishu (AX) — In a startling revelation from the Habitable Project, it's been disclosed that the specter of climate change looms large over Somalia, posing a burgeoning threat of displacement through intensified flooding. Released in July 2024, this report spells out a worrying future where flood-induced displacements could swell, moving tens of thousands from their abodes yearly. Climate change, it says, will likely ramp up flood hazards, potentially multiplying the number of displaced Somalis ninefold under bleak…

"Somalia to Ethiopia: 'Bring It On!' as Strains Rise" MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has firmly declared it won't be rattled by Ethiopia's intimidations concerning its contentious deal with North Western State of Somalia. The pact has stirred unrest, yet Somalia maintains its readiness for any move Addis Ababa might make, especially attempts that compromise its military or civilian tranquility. Ethiopia has persistently sidestepped apologies for its actions, which have tested Somalia’s sovereignty. The contentious…

  Washington— During a pivotal week for Somalia's security blueprint, dialogues in Washington and New York highlighted the pressing necessity for readiness ahead of the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Rising friction between Somalia and Ethiopia over Ethiopia's maritime accord with North Western State of Somalia has stirred the pot, capturing the attention of global stakeholders. Somalia is on the verge of finalizing the lineup for the fresh AUSSOM, with the current African Union mission wrapping up…

In recent weeks, a troubling wave of violence has swept through Cameroonian journalism, as reporters find themselves under siege. Armed assailants wielding rifles and machetes have launched "brutal attacks" against them, an alarming development coming just ahead of the impending presidential election scheduled for next year. President Paul Biya, who has held sway over the nation for more than 40 years, has yet to declare his intentions regarding another term, but pressure from his supporters to continue his reign is…