tensions

Kirubel Tesfaye, a fact-checker at HaqCheck, spearheads a workshop for journalists and university students in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, in 2024. (Photo courtesy of HaqCheck) WASHINGTON — In the volatile dance of geopolitics, misinformation weaves a dangerously seductive tapestry across social media platforms. Consider last year's rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia: a video claimed to show Egyptian troops training on Somali soil. The clip rapidly garnered 34,000 views on the social media platform X, but alas, it was a…

In an unexpected turn of events, the acclaimed Nigerian artist Tems, recognized globally for her Grammy-winning talents, has opted to cancel her highly anticipated “Born in the Wild” tour performance in Rwanda. This decision, grounded in complex geopolitical realities, spotlights the nuanced interplay between art and international conflict. Tems was set to grace the stage at the BK Arena in Kigali on March 22, 2025, a date that many fans had circled in red ink on their calendars. The excitement surrounding her performance…

Mogadishu (AX) — In the swirling dance of diplomacy and military tensions, Sunday heralded another somber chapter from the knotty conflict front. A tragic incident shook the northern Gaza Strip as Israeli forces reportedly killed a Palestinian while they were attempting to make their way back to a place he once called home. As if on cue, Hamas unleashed a salvo of accusations, charging Israel with dragging its feet on the supposed ceasefire and leaving displaced folks in a lurch with bureaucratic shackles. Well, Israeli…

CAIRO - Egypt and Somalia have enthusiastically rolled up their sleeves, set to activate a long-anticipated military accord inked in 2024. Curious as to why? Well, these interesting developments seem likely to raise eyebrows over in Ethiopia. You see, a significant discussion hovers over the colossal Grand Renaissance Dam, a construction project that's become quite the bone of contention between Ethiopia and Cairo. Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt recently put pen to paper on…

Okay, picture this: a diplomatic tug-of-war, with all the drama of a soap opera. We've got Ethiopia pulling one way and Egypt yanking the other. It's a high-stakes chess game, and Somalia's caught in the middle like the poor pawn wishing it could just be a knight and leap out of the fray. Somalian Diplomacy in the Hot Seat: A Tale of Two Rivals and a Stuck-in-the-Middle ADDIS ABABA/MOGADISHU, Jan 12 – Rumor has it that Ethiopia's trying to swap out Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Fiqi, for a new face. But there’s a snag…

Egypt Ponders Troop Deployment to Somalia: A Potpourri of Regional Drama CAIRO – Egypt stands at a crossroads, contemplating whether to dispatch troops to Somalia as part of the freshly minted African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This decision emerges amidst a soap opera of regional tensions and political maneuvering in the Horn of Africa. If you're anything like me, you'd imagine a diplomatic pow-wow with more coffee than a college exam week. Well, Egypt's government is gearing up for a…

Burundi, a country known for its significant role in the African Union's peacekeeping missions in Somalia, has made the decision to withdraw from the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) due to disagreements regarding troop numbers. This withdrawal marks a notable shift, especially considering Burundi's longstanding commitment to stabilizing the region over the past 17 years. The crux of the issue lies in the allocation of troops; Somalia proposed deploying just 1,041 soldiers from Burundi, a figure that the…

Mogadishu (AX) — The international community is raising a red flag over the growing friction between Somalia's Federal Government and Jubaland State, urging a chill-out period and talks that bring something constructive to the table. This spat heated up post-Jubaland's no-show at the recent National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting, a forum meant to iron out issues crucial for Somalia’s ongoing state-building efforts. Not too long ago, in early October, Jubaland’s President Ahmed Madobe stepped away from an NCC talk,…

Jubaland's Political Dilemmas: Independent Elections and the Pushback from Mogadishu Kismayo (AX)— Thursday was a pivotal day for Jubaland's parliament as it undertook the task of electing its new leaders, including a parliamentary speaker and two deputy speakers. This process involves candidates detailing their visions, followed by a vote, and concluding with swearing in the new victors. These elections are a significant milestone leading up to the presidential election scheduled for November 25, marking a meticulous…

Somalia: Escalating Tensions in Jubaland's Electoral Dispute with FGS KISMAYO, Somalia - The frosty rapport between Jubaland and Mogadishu shows no signs of thawing anytime soon, as the road to reconciliation stretches on. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre throws a stern reminder against deploying regional forces to tilt election outcomes. Jubaland officials, now acting without a handshake deal with Mogadishu, have tossed their hat in the ring, opting for indirect elections over the one-person, one-vote approach championed…