Union

SOFIA — Bulgaria has become the 21st country to adopt the euro, giving up the lev at midnight in a moment that drew both celebration and unease in a nation divided over the change and anxious about inflation and political instability. As the clock struck 12, images of Bulgarian euro coins were projected onto the central bank’s facade in Sofia. “I warmly welcome Bulgaria to the euro family,” European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said, calling the single currency a “powerful symbol” of shared values and collective…

MOGADISHU — The European Union on Saturday said respecting Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity is “key to the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa,” after Israel recognized the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state a day earlier. In a statement, the EU said it “reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” in line with Somalia’s Constitution and the charters of the African Union…

EU backs Denmark after Trump appoints Greenland envoy, reigniting sovereignty dispute The European Union declared “full solidarity” with Denmark after President Donald Trump named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland, a move that rekindled tensions over U.S. ambitions for the vast Arctic territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. “Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council…

African Union council assesses Somalia security mission and funding challenges ADDIS ABABA — The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) convened a special session Thursday to review the evolving situation in Somalia and assess the operations of the African Union Mission for Support and Stabilization in Somalia (AUSSOM), with a sharp focus on the mission’s funding pressures and next steps. Officials briefed the PSC on recent political developments in Somalia, the financial strain facing AUSSOM and potential…

CAIRO — Egypt will step up efforts to safeguard Red Sea maritime routes and back a new African Union mission in Somalia, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Friday, framing the Horn of Africa’s stability as inseparable from regional and global security. Addressing African ministers and delegates gathered in Cairo for the second ministerial forum of the Russia–Africa Partnership, al-Sisi called the Red Sea corridor “strategically vital” and said Egypt is working with partners to keep the waterway secure. The shipping lane…

Somalia signals deeper AU security role at Addis Ababa defense summit ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Somalia joined African Union defense and security talks this week in Addis Ababa, underscoring a bid to move from recipient of assistance to contributor in shaping the continent’s collective response to rising threats. Deputy Defense Minister Omar Ali Abdi led Somalia’s delegation to the 17th Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee on Defense, Safety and Security at AU headquarters. The forum convened…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The National Union of Somali Journalists concluded its participation in the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a slate of trainings, safeguarding measures and a human rights colloquium that union leaders say will strengthen protections for women journalists and raise ethical reporting standards across Somalia. Backed by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, the Nov. 25–Dec. 10 campaign combined practical newsroom interventions with public awareness efforts aimed at confronting…

Ireland’s prime minister rejected Donald Trump’s latest broadside against the European Union, after the U.S. president described the bloc as “weak” and accused member states of letting Ukraine fight “until they drop.” Speaking in Dublin, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said, “Europe is strong, not weak,” pointing to the EU’s pandemic response and ongoing work on defense and security as evidence of resilience. “New challenges” have emerged on defense and security, Martin said, but he added he was “confident” they would be overcome.…

Negotiations on the Brink: Nigeria's Academic Crisis Deepens In the heart of Nigeria, a looming confrontation between the government and its academic staff is stirring discontent. As tensions rise over the impending strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the government has escalated its rhetoric, asserting a stringent 'No Work, No Pay' policy. This warning, directed at faculty members set to initiate protests on October 13, highlights a complicated saga of negotiation, trust, and the future of…

Somalia stakes a moral claim in The Hague over the right to strike When Somalia’s ambassador stood at the International Court of Justice in The Hague last week, she did more than recite legal positions. Ambassador Khadija Osoble Ali framed a debate about workers’ rights in a country still rebuilding basic institutions after decades of conflict — and, in doing so, offered an argument with implications far beyond Mogadishu. The ICJ held hearings from Oct. 6–8, 2025, on a request for an advisory opinion about whether the…