East Africa

Mogadishu (AX) — On Saturday, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi engaged in a pivotal conversation with James Swan, the Acting Special Representative of the United Nations, in Mogadishu. Their discussion revolved around the newly inaugurated United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), which has taken over from UNSOM. This meeting came just a day after UNTMIS’s official debut on November 1. The dialogue centered on Somalia’s evolving role within the UN Security Council, along with critical security…

Mogadishu (AX) — On Saturday, Somali law enforcement apprehended a dozen individuals following a well-orchestrated clan-driven assault on a police precinct close to the Ex-Control Afgoye crossroads in Mogadishu, as reported by Police Spokesperson Colonel Abdifatah Adan Hassan. This brazen attack saw armed factions and government forces from various military divisions engaging in conflict, seemingly influenced by clan affiliations. Colonel Abdifatah elaborated that the Somali Police Force was collaborating with the Hodan…

FILE - On January 1, 2024, North Western State of Somalia's President Muse Bihi Abdi and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came together in Addis Ababa to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) granting Ethiopia access to a North Western State of Somalia port. As tensions swirl around the maritime dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asserted on Thursday that his nation is pursuing access to the Red Sea "through peaceful avenues.” During a parliamentary session where lawmakers pressed him for…

On November 1, 2024, in a ceremonial event brimming with significance, President William Ruto entrusted the Kenyan constitution to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki following Kindiki's oath of office. Nairobi — Kithure Kindiki stepped into his role as Kenya’s deputy president on a Friday, mere hours after a judicial verdict lifted restrictions that had been preventing his nomination. He was chosen to succeed the impeached Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, who is currently pursuing legal avenues to reclaim his former…

Pursuing enhanced security across the western Indian Ocean, a collaborative maritime exercise unfolded between the EU and Kenya. Image credit: Operation Atalanta.This week, the Kenya Navy and Coast Guard took significant strides in maritime safety through joint drills with the European Union's naval task force.During the final week of October, a simulated search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted, featuring the ESPS Santa Maria (F81), currently serving as Operation Atalanta’s flagship. Alongside Kenyan naval assets and…

Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali government has warmly greeted the United Nations Security Council's collective choice to morph the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) into a provisional mission over the coming two years, stepping up on November 1, 2024.

Mogadishu (AX) — On a balmy Wednesday evening in the heart of Mogadishu, Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre welcomed Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita of Djibouti's Parliament and his team to discuss fortifying the ties between their two nations.The Prime Minister underscored the crucial partnership between Somalia and Djibouti, emphasizing shared goals like development, mutual admiration, and maintaining peace. He extended heartfelt thanks to Djibouti for its unwavering backing in Somalia's journey of…

Somalia has tagged an Ethiopian diplomat in Mogadishu as unwelcome and sent him packing.Somalia's Foreign Affairs ministry on Tuesday pointed a finger, accusing the diplomat of "actions not suitable for his diplomatic duties."The diplomat in the hot seat, Ali Mohamed Adan, who serves as a counselor at the Ethiopian embassy in Mogadishu, was given the boot and must depart Somalia within the next 72 hours.The specifics of Ali's alleged misconduct weren't disclosed, but the statement mentioned a "breach of the Vienna Convention…

Muscat: Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, the esteemed Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, had an insightful meeting on Tuesday in Muscat with Hassan Hussein Mohamed, Somalia's Minister of Livestock, Forestry, and Range, who is gracing Oman with his presence during an official visit.In this meeting, they explored ways to enhance collaboration in the realm of livestock and meat production. The dialogue also touched on bolstering joint investments and other industries that cater to the shared aspirations of both…

On a noteworthy Wednesday, the UN Security Council decided to kick off a two-year plan for phasing out its political mission in Somalia, a task that's been rolling for a decade-plus in East Africa. Back in 2013, the Security Council launched UNSOM to aid Somali leaders in steering toward democracy after over 20 years locked in battles with militias and chaotic elements. Adroitly weaving through Somalia's endemic chaos, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud aims to lead the nation toward a brighter, stable tomorrow. This May,…