EU–AU human rights talks expose a shared crisis of civic space — and an urgent test of the partnership When civil society leaders stood before officials from the African Union and the European Union in Brussels on 7 October, their message was stark and unvarnished: the basic infrastructure of civic life — independent media, watchdog organisations, protest — is under pressure on both continents. For a gathering meant to stitch together cooperation across two sprawling political orders, the warning was less an appeal than a…

Somalia moves against online defamation. The bigger story is who decides what’s dangerous speech—and when In Mogadishu’s humming tea stalls and on the diaspora’s WhatsApp groups from Minneapolis to Mombasa, politics is now a permanent scroll. Somalia’s Office of the Attorney General stepped squarely into that stream this week, announcing a legal push against what it called online insults, defamation, social incitement, offensive images, immoral content, false information, and posts that “promote societal division.” Some…

Chad’s Political Landscape: The Sentencing of Succes Masra and Its Implications On a sweltering afternoon in Ndjamena, the atmosphere turned heavy as a court sentenced opposition leader Succes Masra to 20 years in prison, a verdict that reverberated across the heart of Chad's already tenuous political landscape. Observers, international voices, and local citizens alike are questioning the motivations behind this charge, which the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has branded as politically motivated. The ruling has generated a sense…

Somali Telecom Firms Shine in Crisis Handling with Cutting-Edge Alert Systems NAIROBI, Kenya - In the evolving sphere of emergency responses, Somalia's telecom industry has emerged as a key player through cutting-edge warning systems. This was underscored at the National Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP) held in Nairobi, Kenya. From September 23 to 27, a unified initiative brought together Somalia's National Communications Authority (NCA), the International…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has sounded the alarm on a mounting threat from Ethiopia, revealing tensions tied to their maritime ambitions. At the heart of this issue is a controversial pact with North Western State of Somalia, a region that declared independence from Somalia. From the podium of the UN General Assembly, PM Barre accused Ethiopia of trying to annex parts of Somali territory, veiling it behind a supposed strategy for sea access. He labeled these actions as blatant…

Ethiopia Signals Vigilance Amid Egyptian Military Moves in Somalia ADDIS ABABA - The head of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, has declared that Ethiopia stands ready to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity from any external threats. In a recent address, General Jula accused Somali leaders of conspiring with foreign elements that have historically opposed Ethiopia. While he refrained from naming specific entities, there’s a growing suspicion around Somalia’s budding…

In Guinea, the renewal of the Supreme Judicial Council is contrary to the appointment of one of its members. The Magistrates' Association criticizes "sneaky negotiations" that govern the election of some of its members. These pressures come from the…

In West Africa, Greepeace and Changing Markets condemn the major European companies that produce fishmeal and fish oil, in a report published on June 1, 2021. For the two NGOs, these large companies are increasing food insecurity in West Africa. "Devastating consequences", the words of Greenpeace and Changing Markets are strong…

Int'l partners shoot warning against Somalia's political stakeholders MOGADISHU, Somalia - A section of members of the international community has sent a warning to Somalia's politicians following Wednesday's collapse of the Afisyoni conference, which was to address a number of challenges ahead of the country's elections. The Villa Somalia leadership had accused the federal states of…