North-Africa

Basillioh RukangaWednesday May 6, 2026 Officials say operations at the airport, pictured here in February, have been suspended following the drone strikes Sudan has levelled extraordinary accusations against neighbouring Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), saying the two countries were behind drone strikes on its main airport in what it called "direct aggression". The capital's international airport was struck on Monday, together with military sites across the Greater Khartoum area. The attacks have broken a spell…

Tuesday May 5, 2026 Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati spoke by phone with Somali Foreign Minister Abdelsalam Abdi Ali on Tuesday to assess developments in Somalia and discuss ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries. During the call, Abdel-Aati welcomed the steady progress in Egypt-Somalia ties and reiterated Cairo’s backing for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also firmly rejected any unilateral actions that would encroach on Somali sovereignty, condemning Israel’s recognition…

Sudan has taken decisive diplomatic action by recalling its ambassador to Ethiopia, escalating tensions after accusing Ethiopia and the UAE of involvement in a drone strike on Khartoum’s airport. The announcement was made by Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem during a press briefing in the capital. "The recall of our ambassador is due to the Emirati-Ethiopian drone aggression against Khartoum airport," Salem stated. He emphasized that the airport is a civilian hub and such an attack contravenes international law.…

Saturday May 2, 2026 A Filipino pilgrim presents her paperwork at immigration at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah late on Thursday. (SPA) MADINAH: The first Hajj flights from the Philippines, Algeria, Somalia and Morocco touched down on Thursday at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, marking the start of inbound pilgrim arrivals as the kingdom steps up preparations for the annual pilgrimage, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to SPA, the…

By: OMAR M ELMI, EconomistSaturday May 2, 2026 North Western State of Somalia sits on one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors, along Somalia’s Gulf of Aden coast where the Bab el-Mandeb strait opens into the Red Sea. | Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images As tensions mount across the Red Sea, North Western State of Somalia is nearing a turning point that could reshape not only its diplomatic ambitions but also its security outlook. For more than 30 years, the self-declared republic has pressed for international…

Saturday May 2, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali pilgrims have begun their journey to the holy sites as the first Hajj flights from Mogadishu and Hargeisa touched down in Saudi Arabia, signaling the opening of this year’s pilgrimage season for nationals from the Horn of Africa. According to Somali officials, the initial flights arrived Friday at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport with 432 pilgrims on board. Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs Mukhtar Robow Ali oversaw the launch ceremony in Mogadishu,…

By Shola LawalFriday May 1, 2026 A fresh wave of hijackings off Somalia is rattling shipping lanes and reviving memories of the piracy crisis that once made the Horn of Africa one of the world’s most dangerous maritime corridors. At least three vessels have been targeted this week, according to reports, prompting fears that the region may be sliding back toward the turmoil that plagued global trade in the early to mid-2000s before an international naval response helped bring the threat under control. According to the World…

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation has sounded the alarm over a widening wealth gap across the continent, warning that economic gains are increasingly captured by a small elite while large numbers of workers grapple with rising living costs and shrinking opportunities.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said at least 17 Sudanese refugees have drowned after a boat sank in the Mediterranean, in one of the latest deadly attempts to reach Europe. The craft reportedly held 33 people; authorities have confirmed seven survivors and listed nine others as missing. Since the 2023 outbreak of war in Sudan, over 500,000 Sudanese have crossed into Libya in search of safety. Experts caution that for many migrants, Libya functions less as a destination than as a "waiting room" before attempting the hazardous…

Friday May 1, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali National Army units have taken part in a multinational military exercise held in Turkey over the past several days, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense. The expansive drill drew troops from a wide roster of countries, including Somalia, the United States, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Cameroon, Libya, Pakistan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, the exercise highlighted a broad spectrum of…