East Africa

In a recent address to the Somali community in Kenya, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre of Somalia highlighted the current Federal Parliament's crucial role in achieving significant national milestones, contrasting it sharply with its predecessor. Barre emphasized that without the current Somali Parliament, the government would not have been able to secure relief from the arms embargo, achieve debt forgiveness, or join the East African Community, accomplishments that were unattainable under the previous administration.…

Deserted vans in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Photographer: AP Photo Nairobi (AX) - UNICEF has reported that almost one million people in Eastern Africa are suffering from floods and landslides caused by heavy rains, stressing the urgent need for humanitarian aid. The latest report on East Africa flood situation from UNICEF states that a large number of individuals have been displaced in Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania. Extensive damage has been recorded, including impacts on homes, schools, infrastructure, as well as the…

Irish authorities are scrambling to create new laws in response to a court ruling blocking the return of migrants to the UK. The decision, issued by the Irish High Court in March, cited concerns about human rights abuses in Rwanda as the reason for the UK being deemed unsafe for returning migrants.A young Somali individual, going by the pseudonym "Ali" for safety reasons, sheds light on the broader issue at hand. After enduring over two years of threatened deportation in the UK, Ali and others like him are now seeking refuge…

In Mogadishu, during her final official trip to Somalia, Isha Dyfan, a human rights expert appointed by the Human Rights Council in May 2020, urged the Somali government to take strong measures against officials who violate human rights. Dyfan stressed the importance of prosecuting offenders to ensure justice, especially in cases of gender-based violence. She criticized ongoing terrorist activities by Al-Shabaab, which disproportionately impact women and children. Dyfan called on the government to improve protection for…

Hargeisa (AX) - Law enforcement in Somaliland arrested a young person on Thursday for an alleged deadly attack in Hargeisa. Authorities validated the capture of Jim'ale Mohamed Mohamud, aged 17, in connection with the death of Abdihakin Adan Abdullahi, 18, in the Mohamed Mooge neighborhood at approximately 11:00 PM on Wednesday. "After a thorough inquiry by the police, predominantly from the eastern territory, and assisted by residents of Mohamed Mooge neighborhood, the suspect was nabbed early this morning," law…

The government of Somalia officially asked for the end of a U.N. political mission that has been advising on peace-building, security reforms, and democracy for more than ten years. The request, made in a letter from the foreign minister to the Security Council, came as a surprise to the 360-member United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOLD). Despite ongoing conflict and a lengthy insurgency by al Qaeda-linked militants, Somali authorities have been working to improve services and security in the country. However,…

In a surprising turn of events, Aden Duale, Kenya's Defense Secretary, and Michael Hammer, the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOAUS), engaged in a crucial meeting on Thursday evening. The focus of the meeting was on security arrangements in Somalia post-Atmis. It aimed at maintaining peace and security, highlighting their commitment to peacekeeping and counterterrorism efforts. Somalia's recent request to have the UN peacekeeping mission UNSOM removed from the country by October 2024 was unexpected. Somalia…

In a surprising turn of events, Lim Hyun-taek, the head of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), has stirred up a debate with an image he shared on Facebook that some are criticizing as racist. The photo depicted the 2008 graduates of Benadir University in Somalia—marking a pivotal moment as the nation's first medical graduates in more than twenty years—accompanied by the caption "Coming Soon." This social media post has ignited a larger discussion around the South Korean government's proposal to permit foreign medical…

In Mogadishu - The Somali administration has urged the termination of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) by October 2024 to secure a spot on the UN Security Council and manage its security independently.Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Mali Fiqi presented a comprehensive letter to the UN Security Council, stating that it is time for a shift in the partnership. "We believe the time has come to move forward to the next stage of our collaboration," Fiqi expressed, calling for a swift closure of the mission at…

In the lush thickets of Kenya, Ethiopian migrants have been abandoned by smugglers, sparking concern and legal action. Reports suggest that an estimated 24 Ethiopians were found stranded in Isiolo County before being taken into custody. The group had sought refuge at a local police station after their traffickers deserted them in an attempt to avoid detection along the Isiolo-Nairobi Highway. These migrants were en route to South Africa, a common destination for Ethiopian nationals seeking employment opportunities.…