Author: Abdihakim Kalale

As the 34th Ordinary Arab League Summit opens in Baghdad, a growing diplomatic rift between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has cast a shadow over regional discussions, especially on security and cooperation in the Horn of Africa. Sudan is represented at the summit by Lieutenant General Ibrahim Jaber, a senior member of the Sovereign Council and Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces. Jaber’s attendance comes in place of Sovereign Council Chair Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who opted to stay away amid Sudan’s ongoing war and what Khartoum perceives as a lack of regional solidarity. Sudanese officials have expressed…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has accused political opponents of attempting to derail Somalia’s transition to a one-person, one-vote electoral system, warning that a return to indirect voting could plunge the country back into instability. Speaking during Somali Youth Day celebrations in Mogadishu, President Mohamud said the days of “backroom deals” determining national leadership were over. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing direct elections, stating that voter registration had already begun in the capital and electoral frameworks were in progress. “The Somali people now hold the power,” he declared. “We will not revert to a system where political elites…

A growing number of pastoralists in central Somalia are transforming their livelihoods by moving their camels to urban areas, where camel milk sales are proving to be a profitable and sustainable alternative to traditional rural grazing. After enduring years of harsh drought in the Galgadud region, Dahir Abdullahi Ali, 40, relocated his herd of 30 camels from the rural Do’oley area to the outskirts of Adado town. Today, he earns at least $20 daily from milk sales, enough to feed his family of nine, pay off debts, and enroll his children in school for the first time. “This is the…

Amid growing fears of renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia, residents of Maychew, a town in southern Tigray, held a large anti-war demonstration on Wednesday, voicing strong opposition to any return to violence in the region. The rally, which included youth, women, and elders, was organized in response to recent statements by a faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led by Debretsion Gebremichael. The group had rejected a decision by Ethiopia’s National Election Board to revoke the TPLF’s legal status and warned of possible military action to “restore Tigray’s sovereignty.” Demonstrators marched peacefully through Maychew, chanting slogans such as…

Kenya’s international trade dynamics reflect its ongoing economic transformation, with imports continuing to play a vital role in meeting local industrial and consumer needs, while exports offer critical foreign exchange and regional trade leverage. According to the latest Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), total imports rose by 3.6% to KSh 2.71 trillion in the 2024–2025 fiscal year. This increase comes amid a broader government expenditure uptick, which reached KSh 3.6 trillion, driven by development and infrastructure goals. Despite the surge in imports, Kenya also recorded a 10.4% rise in exports, reaching KSh 1.11 trillion, suggesting…

A new ranking of Africa’s fastest-growing companies in 2025 has revealed that Nigeria and South Africa continue to dominate the continent’s entrepreneurial landscape, accounting for more than half of the top 130 companies. The list, compiled by Statista in collaboration with the Financial Times, tracks revenue growth between 2020 and 2023 and highlights the resilience and dynamism of the private sector amid global economic headwinds. According to the data, 51 companies from South Africa and 28 from Nigeria made the list, reflecting not only the relative size of their economies but also the deeper pools of capital and consumer markets…

Residents in Ethiopia’s northernmost towns near the Eritrean border say they continue to live in fear as Eritrean forces maintain a presence in several areas of the Tigray region, despite a peace agreement that called for their withdrawal. In Alitena, a small town of roughly 3,000 residents near the Eritrean frontier, locals say Eritrean soldiers remain nearby, with some neighborhoods already under what residents describe as “effective occupation.” One resident, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, told local reporters, “The Eritrean army can raid us anytime. They’ve abducted people, enforced curfews, and even forced some into labor.” He added that reports…

As global economic pressures persist, many African nations continue to rely on financial assistance from multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Recent data released by the IMF highlights the top 10 African countries with the highest outstanding debt to the institution as of May 2025. The rankings reflect not just current borrowing levels but also broader fiscal dynamics and the economic recovery efforts of nations still managing the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, global inflation, and domestic financial challenges. At the top of the list is Egypt, which remains the continent’s largest IMF debtor, followed closely by several…

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a state-backed attempt to dismantle its elected leadership, warning that the move threatens to unravel the 2018 peace agreement with the Ethiopian government and risks pushing the region back toward instability. In a statement released on May 14, ONLF’s Executive Committee alleged a coordinated campaign by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Somali Regional Administration to override the party’s internal structure and install political loyalists. “This is not a technical disagreement. It is a deliberate and reckless effort to erase ONLF’s…

The Sudanese government has formally called on China to take a clear and immediate stance regarding the reported use of Chinese-manufactured drones by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of violating arms agreements and fueling conflict in Sudan. In a statement released Thursday, Sudan’s Minister of Information and official government spokesperson, Khalid Aleisir, said Khartoum is demanding China disable the drone operating systems being used by the RSF in attacks across the country. The request follows a series of drone strikes on civilian and military infrastructure, including power stations, airports, and fuel depots. “We believe…

In an exclusive interview with Jeune Afrique, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan outlined Türkiye’s expanding engagement across Africa, with a strong emphasis on counterterrorism cooperation, regional mediation, and development-focused diplomacy—positioning Somalia as a strategic anchor in its Africa policy. The interview marks Fidan’s first major French-language media appearance since becoming foreign minister in June 2023, and provides a rare glimpse into Ankara’s comprehensive approach to African affairs, one that blends military expertise, intelligence cooperation, and a rejection of traditional power dynamics. Somalia: A Pillar of Türkiye’s African Strategy At the heart of the discussion was Somalia, where Türkiye continues to…

The restoration of the historic Al-Nejashi Mosque in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is in its final stages, with local authorities reporting the project is 90% complete. The mosque, which was significantly damaged during the two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia, is undergoing reconstruction with financial and technical support from the Turkish government and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). Zafu Gebresilase, the Cultural and Tourism Coordinator of Wukro district, told local media that repairs have been underway for the past eight months, led by local professionals in collaboration with national and regional heritage experts. She noted that both the mosque and…

A group of sixteen senior Somali political figures, including former presidents and prime ministers, have accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of abandoning his constitutional role as a neutral national leader, instead deepening political divisions through the formation of the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP). In a strongly worded joint statement issued Tuesday night, the leaders expressed concern over what they described as the collapse of inclusive governance and the erosion of Somalia’s federal model, following the official launch of JSP, chaired by President Hassan Sheikh himself. “The country is facing an unprecedented political crisis,” the statement read. “Rather than facilitating…

Ethiopia and China have taken a significant step in strengthening cultural and media ties with the official launch of “China Hour”, a new television segment showcasing Chinese audiovisual content on Ethiopian media outlets. The initiative was announced during the “Seeing China – Fostering China-Ethiopia Media Collaboration” event held at Addis Ababa University, which also marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Organized jointly by Ethiopia’s Government Communication Service, China’s National Radio and Television Administration, and the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa, the event emphasized the importance of media as a tool for fostering mutual understanding, cooperation,…

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has accused Uganda of violating the United Nations arms embargo on South Sudan by deploying troops and military hardware into the country without notifying the UN Security Council. In a statement released Wednesday, Amnesty urged the Security Council to renew and enforce the embargo, which is set to expire on May 31, 2025, warning that lifting the restrictions now could worsen an already fragile security situation. The accusations come amid rising tensions and renewed clashes between rival forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, despite a 2018 peace agreement aimed…

Sudan’s national electricity company confirmed that a drone attack carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Wednesday night struck two key power stations in Omdurman, leading to a widespread blackout across the capital. According to the company, the Al-Markhiat substation and a major distribution station were directly targeted, resulting in fires and significant infrastructure damage. “This assault deepens the hardship faced by citizens and disrupts essential public services,” the statement said. Civil defense teams are working to extinguish the fires, while technical crews prepare to conduct a full damage assessment and initiate repair operations. The attack marks the…