West Africa

Breaking: Sudan’s RSF chief Hemedti sworn in to lead parallel government as drones hit Nyala What happened Sudan slid deeper into a dangerous split this weekend as Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — better known as Hemedti — was sworn in as head of a rival government backed by his Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The oath-taking was announced from Nyala, a major city in Darfur that has served as the RSF’s hub during the war. The ceremony could not be independently verified, and Hemedti has rarely been seen inside Sudan since fighting…

Somalia’s Aid Lifeline Tangled in Political Fight as Northeastern State Blocks Federal Relief to Area Cleared of ISIS Mogadishu — A political feud inside Somalia burst into public view this weekend, as the federal disaster authority accused the state of Northeastern State of blocking medical evacuations and emergency supplies to civilians and soldiers in a rugged northeastern district freshly pried from ISIS control. Mahmoud Moallim, Director-General of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA), said Northeastern State…

Kenya Bets Big on Khat as Its Somalia Lifeline Frays In the cool highlands of Meru, where khat bushes cling to the slopes like stubborn green lace, the leaf locals call miraa is not just a crop. It is a clock. By late morning, pickers hurry to fill baskets; by noon, bundles are racing toward airstrips; by afternoon, flights fan out over the Indian Ocean to quench a daily chew in Mogadishu and beyond. If the chain is disrupted by an argument in a boardroom or a checkpoint on a highway, thousands feel it—farmers in Meru,…

On Türkiye’s Victory Day, Somalia’s envoy stands beside Ankara — and a century of lessons ANKARA — Under a late-summer sky, the red-and-white flag that is never far from Turkish life seemed to stretch just a bit wider this weekend. Victory Day, marked every August 30, is an annual rite here — a day when schoolchildren learn again the name Dumlupinar and adults take an extra glance toward the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This year, amid the ceremonies and speeches, a guest from the Horn of Africa stepped forward to…

On Turkey’s Victory Day, new Somali officers step forward in Ankara Under a late-summer sky in Ankara, the brass of military bands mingled with the steady tap of parade boots and the low murmur of families craning for a better view. On a day when Turkey commemorates its hard-won independence, a new class of officers—including a cohort from Somalia—crossed the stage at the National Defence University’s War College to collect their diplomas. Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Somalia’s ambassador to Turkey,…

Heavy Airstrikes Hit Al-Shabaab on Galgadud–Middle Shabelle Frontier, Casualties Unclear Powerful airstrikes pounded suspected Al-Shabaab positions late Friday along the border between Somalia’s Galgadud and Middle Shabelle regions, flattening militant compounds and sending shockwaves across nearby villages, according to residents who described a night lit by flashes and thunderous detonations. There was no immediate word on casualties, and Somali authorities had not issued a statement by early Saturday. What happened The…

Somalia and Djibouti set up regular political talks amid shifting Horn of Africa landscape Somalia and Djibouti signed a memorandum of understanding in Mogadishu on Saturday that creates a new, formal channel for routine political consultations between the two neighbors—an understated but potentially important move in a region where quiet diplomacy often does the heavy lifting. The agreement was inked by Somalia’s foreign minister, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, and Djibouti’s foreign minister, Ambassador Abdulqadir Hussein Omar,…

Morocco edges Madagascar 3-2 to clinch CHAN 2024 crown in Kasarani thriller Morocco became champions of Africa’s home-based talent once again, outlasting Madagascar 3-2 in a breathless African Nations Championship (CHAN) final at Kasarani Stadium on August 30. In a match that swung like a metronome, the Atlas Lions twice surrendered a lead before Oussama Lamlioui’s late strike handed them their third CHAN title and a new piece of African football history. A final that swung like a pendulum The night began with a dart of…

Somalia’s new Northeast State tests fragile federalism as favored candidates win amid interference claims In the sunbaked streets of Las Anod, the epicenter of a year of upheaval on Somalia’s northern rim, lawmakers this weekend chose a president and vice president for a new political entity they call the Northeast State. The result — a victory for Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known widely as Firdhiye, and his running mate Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril — was greeted in Mogadishu as a milestone for state-building. It was also met with…

North Western State of Somalia police warn against attacks on Ethiopian migrants after Hargeisa incident Hargeisa, North Western State of Somalia — Police in the North Western State of Somalia capital moved quickly on Saturday to warn would-be vigilantes that anyone who harms Ethiopian nationals will be prosecuted after a group of youths attacked Ethiopian migrants in the city. Authorities said no serious injuries were reported, but the incident has unsettled a city that prides itself on order and relative calm. What…