Understanding

The scene was thick with emotion as jubilant crowds gathered to greet a busload of Palestinians who had tasted freedom again, following their release from Israeli jails. This act was a poignant part of a complex and tenuous dance of ceasefire and prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel, all under the January sunshine of 2025. Imagine the hopeful yet weary faces outside the Israeli military prison, Ofer, nestled near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. They stood in anticipation, waiting for a reunion forged in the…

With just a week left before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump is ready to unleash a torrent of executive orders aimed at overhauling U.S. policy. This bold move is set to create quite a stir on the political landscape. So, what exactly can Trump achieve through these executive orders, and where are the boundaries? To the uninitiated, an executive order might sound like just another piece of bureaucratic jargon. However, it's a powerful tool the president wields that carries the weight of law, executed…

Somalia's young'uns, especially those who sprouted just as the Siad Barre regime fizzled out, know naught but turmoil. Drama and chaos have been their babysitters. We’ve hung on for yonks, looking for some government worth its salt, but just when we think there might be some glimmer of silver linings, doubt crashes the party. Is change just a pipe dream? A smidgen of impatience ain't outlandish given that every step forward seems to come with a hop back. Walking amidst shattered pledges and dislocation, our enthusiasm…

Why Egypt is involved in Ethiopia-Somalia conflict CAIRO, Egypt – The Egyptian government finds itself tangled in the row between Somalia and Ethiopia, stirring unease in the Horn of Africa. This region is currently grappling with a brewing crisis and its potential fallout, desperately seeking viable resolutions. Northward Over the Weekend: Egypt decided to send more military aid to Somalia. Officials claimed this was in line with a defense pact between both nations. This transfers and the country's looming presence in the…

Back in 2006, Ethiopia was the big player in the Horn of Africa. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's leadership brought about a time of unprecedented political stability. The EPRDF held the reins tightly, and the economy was on fire with an average growth rate of 8% annually, thanks in no small part to Western aid. Ethiopia's robust military and economic boom made it a linchpin for the U.S. in the War on Terror, which gave it the green light to meddle in Somalia. Using its formidable military, Ethiopia thrust itself into Somalia…

In response, Ethiopia boldly declared that Egypt “must abandon its aggressive approach,” firmly restating that any discussions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are firmly within Ethiopia's jurisdiction. This latest back-and-forth fuels the enduring diplomatic friction between the two nations, intensifying fears of further escalation. Why is the GERD causing such a stir? Back in 2011, Ethiopia laid the first stone for what would become a landmark project to bring electricity to millions of its citizens, half of…

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, alongside the World Health Organisation, have sounded the alarm on the current mpox outbreak in Africa. They've classified it as a health emergency. The epidemic, originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has now seeped into neighboring nations. According to Fitch, seven countries have verified mpox cases: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. In a cautionary note, Fitch warned investors about potential under-reporting,…

Understanding the complex conflict in Ethiopia as the ENDF prepares the assault on TDF NAIROBI, Kenya - For decades Ethiopia has been under a dictatorial rule primarily as a reason why conflict was rare, and even in its presence it was generally small in scale compared to what the world is currently experiencing. Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, the country has first…

Sudan signed a "historic" memorandum of understanding on Thursday with General Electric, the US power generation group. The deal comes after decades of US sanctions, with Sudan since 1993 on the US blacklist of countries supporting terrorism. Between 1992 and 1996, the Sudanese dictator Omar-al-Bashir had really welcomed the leader of the jihadist group al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden.…