North Africa

In a bid to accelerate the fight against tuberculosis, the World Health Organization is urging countries to expand access to new, low-cost diagnostic tools that deliver rapid, point-of-care results. The push centers on innovations such as portable tests that return findings in under an hour and tongue swab sampling to enable earlier detection—approaches designed to widen coverage, cut expenses, and reach people at highest risk. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said these advances have the potential to…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Southwest State is spilling into the security arena, with regional authorities warning that fresh troop deployments could ignite wider conflict and compound an already precarious humanitarian situation. In a statement released Monday from Baidoa, Southwest State officials said the arrival of Somali National Army forces in the region amounts to a military escalation rooted in political disagreements—issues they argued should be…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A fresh accusation from Baidoa is intensifying a growing rift with Mogadishu, as the speaker of Southwest State’s parliament claims the federal government is diverting Egyptian-supplied weapons—intended for national defense—into a volatile local power struggle in the Southwest region. In a post on X dated March 21, 2026, Dr. Ali Said Fiqi alleged that rifles provided by Egypt to help Somalia battle al-Shabab are instead being distributed to militias in the Burhakaba district. “These…

At least 64 people, including 13 children, lost their lives in a devastating assault on a hospital in Sudan, according to the World Health Organization on Saturday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the attack on Friday targeted el-Daein Teaching Hospital, the capital of East Darfur. He called for an end to the nearly three-year conflict plaguing Sudan, asserting that "enough blood has been spilled." The assault claimed the lives of at least 64 individuals, among them 13 children, two female…

In a dramatic turn of events, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is under scrutiny following its recent decision to revoke Senegal's hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a mere 58 days after the tournament concluded. Leading the charge for accountability, the Guinean Football Federation (FGF) has formally requested that CAF apply uniform disciplinary measures, drawing attention to a pivotal moment in AFCON history: the contentious 1976 match between Morocco and Guinea. In that encounter,…

Friday March 20, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A deepening rift between Mogadishu and Southwest State burst into public view on Friday as a group of federal cabinet members from the region resigned en masse. The departing officials are State Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr. Mohamed Yusuf Hassan (Waliid); Deputy Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development Mohamed Aden Mohamed; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Isaak Mohamud Mursal; Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate…

Intense Clashes Erupt in Sudan's Kordofan Region The Sudanese Kordofan region has become a focal point of intense conflict as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched coordinated attacks on strategic locations. This escalation aims to isolate el-Obeid, a vital hub in the ongoing conflict. RSF targeted North Kordofan city of Bara and South Kordofan city of Dilling. The conflict marks a pivotal phase in the three-year war between the army and RSF. Tens of thousands have been displaced, exacerbating humanitarian…

Monday March 16, 2026 ARUSHA, Tanzania — Nine Somali representatives were sworn in Monday to the East African Community Legislative Assembly (EALA), marking Somalia’s first formal participation in the regional parliament since joining the East African Community in 2023. The ceremony at EALA headquarters in Arusha followed the resolution of legal challenges that had temporarily delayed Somalia’s entry into the assembly. The East African Court of Justice cleared the way for the lawmakers to take their seats, ending months of…

AL-MISKAD MOUNTAINS, Somalia — On a windswept ridge overlooking a maze of limestone caves, Puntland State Defence Forces soldiers huddle around a hand-held screen, tracking a lone figure sprinting through a chalky valley. “He has been to fetch water for his friends,” one says, as the dot moves toward a suspected hideout. Another adds: “He is running and carrying something on his back.” The suspected cave network below, commanders say, shelters 50 to 60 Islamic State group fighters. It is one node in a stubborn insurgency…

Deadly Drone Attack in Sudan's Dilling A drone strike in Dilling, South Kordofan, has claimed the lives of five individuals, including three children. This incident marks the latest tragedy in Sudan's ongoing civil conflict. At least 13 people were injured and hospitalized in Dilling. The attack involved several drones targeting the town. The region has been a battleground between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Context of the Conflict The civil war in Sudan has caused widespread devastation…