West Africa

Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appoints Zakariye Yusuf Hussein deputy director general at Villa Somalia in youth-focused reform move MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday appointed Zakariye Yusuf Hussein as deputy director general of the Presidential Palace, known as Villa Somalia, in a decree presented by the presidency as part of efforts to promote youth participation in governance and modernize public administration. The leadership change follows the reassignment of Mohamed Amin Sheikh Osman,…

Tunji Disu Sworn in as Nigeria's New Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu has officially taken office as the new Inspector-General of Police, succeeding his predecessor who stepped down in February under circumstances widely believed to have been influenced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Although an official statement attributed the resignation to "pressing family considerations," political analysts speculate that it was part of a broader reshuffle requested by the president. The presidency has expressed optimism…

Mogadishu’s constitutional limbo has defined Somalia’s federal transition for more than a decade. With the adoption of Article 63 in the amended constitution, lawmakers have drawn a new map for the capital and the wider Benadir Region—one that elevates local representation while keeping national authorities firmly in charge of security and other strategic levers. It is a hybrid that resists easy labels, neither a full Federal Member State nor a city simply run from the center. The decision settles years of debate over…

Somalia’s Cabinet clears raft of international pacts, adopts performance policy to tighten governance Moves include IAEA safeguards ratification, U.N. drug and maritime conventions, and visa-free diplomatic travel with Pakistan MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a package of international agreements and domestic policy measures aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties, aligning regulations with global standards and improving the performance of federal institutions. At its weekly meeting in…

Synthetic Drug Crisis in West Africa: A Public Health Emergency A new report warns that the proliferation of synthetic drugs across West Africa presents the most "urgent and complex" public health and security challenges facing the region. Published by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the report says the burden of consumption—and its devastating consequences—falls disproportionately on young people. "The crisis has grown so severe that since 2024, two countries have declared states of…

Las Anod — The newly formed Northeastern State of Somalia on Thursday welcomed the Federal Parliament’s approval of a revised national constitution, calling the move a significant step toward strengthening Somalia’s federal system and clarifying the country’s governance framework. In a statement issued by its Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs and Constitutional Affairs, the regional administration congratulated both the House of the People and the Upper House for completing a long-delayed review. The ministry described…

Iran–Israel war redraws the Horn of Africa’s security map The joint United States–Israeli strikes on Iran last week, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior security officials, have vaulted the Middle East into a wider war with immediate spillover risks for the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. Iran has hit Israel and several Arab states that host U.S. military facilities — the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan — while Hezbollah’s barrage from Lebanon…

South Africa’s government on Monday urged citizens stranded in the Middle East to “take immediate advantage” of the resumption of limited commercial flights out of the region, while Kenya Airways announced special repatriation services between Nairobi and Dubai to help passengers displaced by days of attacks. The moves follow a period of disruptions that left many travelers unable to leave and prompted several African governments to coordinate emergency measures. South African officials appealed to nationals in affected…

Tinubu Suspends Cashless Payment System at Nigerian Airports President Bola Tinubu has directed Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo to suspend the cashless payment system recently implemented by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at major airports, including those in Lagos and Abuja. The decision comes in response to widespread complaints from travelers who reported long queues and delays caused by the new system. Reflecting on the situation, Keyamo stated that the president emphasized the importance of…

Somalia’s Olympic Committee accuses sports minister of interference, escalating power struggle in Mogadishu MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Olympic Committee on Wednesday accused the country’s sports minister of attempting to disrupt its work and interfere in the administration of national sports, deepening a public rift between two institutions at the heart of Somali athletics. In a statement, the Olympic body alleged the minister orchestrated “fake contacts” to undermine its operations and tried to take control of its…