urges

President William Ruto recently expressed his admiration for the more than eight million Kenyans who diligently fulfilled their tax responsibilities by June 30. These citizens not only met but exceeded the set targets by an impressive 26%. He specifically recognized Lillian Nyawanda and Risper Muthoni Simiyu for their outstanding achievements in surpassing tax collection benchmarks. During the Taxpayers’ Day Awards ceremony held at State House in Nairobi on November 2, 2024, Ruto took a moment to celebrate these top…

Mogadishu (AX) — The Ethiopian Dialogue Commission is urging the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) to reevaluate its choice to withdraw from Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Conference. This decision, according to the Commission, could potentially destabilize the delicate peace deal between the two parties, established back in 2018.ONLF, which champions the cause for self-determination in Ethiopia’s Somali region, blames the government for reneging on crucial commitments, prompting them to abandon the conference mere days…

Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali government has strongly criticized Israel's nocturnal strikes on Iran, branding them an infringement upon Iran's sovereignty and an affront to established global laws and norms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Somalia issued a statement on Saturday reaffirming its resistance to any further intensification of hostilities in the Middle East. "Such expansion of conflict jeopardizes both regional tranquility and security," the ministry warned. "Somalia emphatically calls upon the global community…

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed grave concerns about the plight of everyday Zimbabweans, who bear the brunt of economic sanctions levied against the nation. Although these sanctions target specific individuals, the ripple effects reach far wider, impacting the livelihoods of ordinary citizens. Mnangagwa argues that these punitive measures hinder efforts toward regional cooperation and stifle sustainable development initiatives. In a significant turn of events, U.S. President Joe Biden took steps to forge a new…

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized the urgent need for a "just peace" in Ukraine during a crucial meeting of BRICS leaders led by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This dialogue unfolded on the concluding day of the BRICS summit, taking place in the city of Kazan, Russia. This forum serves as a platform for Russia, aiming to rally emerging economies to present a cohesive stance against Western powers. "We require peace in Ukraine," Guterres expressed to the assembled BRICS leaders around the…

In Kismayo, United Nations envoy James Swan and Jubbaland's head honcho, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), shook hands and dove into Somalia's political big picture. They chewed over state-building, the quagmire with Al-Shabaab, and the prep work for the upcoming National Consultative Council (NCC) hoo-ha.Mogadishu (AX) — On a Sunday powwow, James Swan, the UN's point person, nudged Jubbaland's President Ahmed Madobe back into Somalia's National Consultative Council. They focused their chat on building an effective state and…

The Taoiseach has strongly asserted that Israel must halt its attacks on UNIFIL personnel stationed in southern Lebanon. This statement follows a recent incident in which Israeli forces targeted the headquarters of UN peacekeepers, resulting in injuries to peacekeepers for the second time in just two days. For the second time within 48 hours, explosions rattled the Naqoura base of UNIFIL, causing significant concern. Two peacekeepers sustained injuries when blasts erupted near an observation tower, illuminating the…

MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a global force combating piracy, has expressed the ongoing necessity for alertness. Even with the notable downturn in piracy incidents along the Somali coast during 2024's initial nine months, vigilance remains key. As per the latest dossier shared with Xinhua, the IMB recounted that three ships ended up hijacked, two were commandeered or shot at, and there was an attempt to accost another vessel around the Somali waters and the Gulf of Aden during this period.…

 Qatar has urged the global community to ramp up support in humanitarian and developmental aid, along with technical help, to bolster the efforts aimed at enhancing human rights capabilities in Somalia. The call emphasizes fulfilling both domestic and international commitments aligned with Somali priorities.These sentiments were shared by Turki Mohammed Abdullah al-Khalifa, the Third Secretary from the African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He spoke during an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert…

Mogadishu (AX) – The Acting Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, James Swan, has voiced his worries about the simmering unrest between Somalia and Ethiopia. This follows a contentious Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between Ethiopia and North Western State of Somalia, a region claiming autonomy, on the first day of 2024.This agreement, granting Ethiopia access to the sea and permitting a military base in North Western State of Somalia, faced strong objections from Somalia. On Friday,…