Author: Abdihakim Kalale

In a significant development for Kenya’s tourism industry, Africa Travels Investment, a firm backed by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has acquired Pollman’s Tours and Safaris, the country’s oldest and most iconic tour operator. The acquisition was approved by Kenya’s Competition Authority, which confirmed that the deal does not raise any competition concerns or risk of job losses. The regulator emphasized that the tourism industry remains tightly regulated and that the transaction complies with market fairness guidelines. Pollman’s, founded over six decades ago, is a household name in East African tourism, offering safari packages and transport services to both domestic…

The Somali government has unveiled a renewed campaign to dismantle human trafficking networks responsible for smuggling Somali citizens into exploitative and often deadly conditions abroad. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Attorney General Suleiman Mohamud Mohamed confirmed that Somalia is intensifying efforts to track, arrest, and repatriate traffickers operating both inside the country and abroad. The campaign is being supported by international partners, including agencies focused on cross-border crime prevention. “It is becoming easier for us to repatriate our Somali citizens in Sudan, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco who have committed crimes in Somalia, using legal procedures that facilitate the…

Members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee have expressed growing concern over what they describe as the United States’ diminishing influence in East Africa and the Horn of Africa, warning that the region is becoming increasingly vulnerable to foreign rivalries, instability, and governance challenges. The remarks came during a hearing titled “East Africa and the Horn: At a Turning Point or Breaking Point?” held on May 13. Lawmakers and expert witnesses, including Michelle Gavin, Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, offered critical assessments of U.S. foreign policy in the region and highlighted several…

Ethiopia’s National Election Board (NEBE) has officially revoked the legal recognition of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), citing the party’s failure to meet conditions set under provisional registration guidelines. The decision, which took effect on May 5, 2025, has sparked renewed tensions between the federal government and Tigray’s dominant political force. NEBE announced the revocation after the TPLF failed to comply with requirements laid out under Proclamation No. 1332/2016, which allows formerly armed political movements to register under special terms. These conditions included holding a general assembly within six months of registration and notifying the Board in advance for…

A new report by Amnesty International has shed light on the disturbing realities faced by Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, with over 70 women recounting abuse, deception, and exploitation at the hands of recruitment agents and employers. The report, launched Tuesday in Mombasa, documents cases where workers were promised legitimate jobs—only to find themselves in inhumane working conditions, often without pay, rest days, or basic freedoms. One of the women, Bigeni Maina Mwangi, said she was recruited under the pretense of becoming a beautician, but upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, her contract was changed. She was forced into domestic…

Tanzanian authorities have arrested Amani Golugwa, Deputy Secretary General of the opposition CHADEMA party, in a move that has sparked concerns about a growing crackdown on political dissent ahead of the country’s October 2025 general elections. Golugwa was taken into custody early Tuesday at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam as he prepared to board a flight to Brussels, Belgium, where he was scheduled to attend a political forum organized by the International Democracy Union (IDU). According to a statement by the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police, Golugwa was arrested over alleged violations of immigration regulations, specifically…

More than 7,000 families have been forced to flee their homes in Sudan’s West Kordofan state as fresh clashes erupt between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The conflict has intensified around the strategic towns of Al Nuhud and Al Khuway, with both locations witnessing waves of displacement between May 1 and 2, IOM reported on Monday. The RSF launched a surprise offensive on May 1, seizing Al Nuhud—a key transportation hub—by the following day. Government forces withdrew initially to Al Khuway and later regrouped in…

Ethiopia is set to receive a significant boost to its renewable energy and mineral industries, with five Chinese firms committing a combined investment of $1.75 billion, according to Finance Minister Ahmed Shide. The investment package, which is currently undergoing local licensing procedures, spans solar-cell manufacturing, mineral exploration, and the development of a dedicated economic zone. Among the key investors is CSI Solar Co., a Shanghai-listed firm majority-owned by Canadian Solar Inc, which plans to inject $250 million into building a facility for solar modules and energy storage solutions. In the mining sector, Sequoia Mining & Processing Plc has pledged $600…

A new political party, Justice and Unity, was officially launched in Somalia’s capital on Monday, drawing participation from the country’s highest-ranking leaders and marking a significant step in the evolving political landscape. The event, held in Mogadishu, served as the party’s founding congress and formal entry into Somalia’s political system. The launch was attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and the Presidents of Southwest, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and SSC-Khaatumo. Thousands of supporters, civil society members, and political stakeholders also gathered to witness the announcement. President Hassan Sheikh was unanimously elected as the party’s chairman and presidential…

Ethiopia has imposed a travel ban on foreign nationals seeking to enter the northern Tigray region, as concerns grow over rising political tensions and uncertainty following a fragile post-conflict recovery. The measure, confirmed by local officials on Tuesday, effectively halts international visits to a region that had only recently reopened to foreign tourists following the end of a devastating civil war in 2022. “I can confirm that foreigners are banned from travelling to Tigray, but we still do not know the reason behind the decision,” said Wondimu Asamnew, an associate of Tigray’s regional leader Debretsion Gebremichael. The federal government has…

Tanzania has emerged as the most peaceful country in East Africa according to the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), securing the 65th position globally out of 163 countries and territories evaluated. This marks a notable improvement from its 2023 ranking and reflects the country’s growing reputation for internal stability. Compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the Global Peace Index measures levels of peace using indicators such as societal safety, internal and external conflict levels, and militarisation. With a peace score of 1.987, Tanzania leads within the East African Community (EAC), outperforming regional peers including Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi,…

In Kenya’s remote northern highlands, a painful chapter continues to haunt women who say they were victims of sexual violence committed by British soldiers stationed in the country over the past several decades. Despite repeated calls for justice, survivors say their cries have long gone unanswered. For many women in Laikipia and Samburu counties, the presence of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) has left deep emotional and physical scars. Allegations range from rape and assault to murder, committed by soldiers during their training deployments—yet no convictions have been recorded. Ntilaren Supuko, now 60, recalls a night in 1985…

In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the political and security establishment, Kenya’s top intelligence official has confirmed that a foreign armed group is occupying parts of Kenyan territory near the Ethiopia border. Appearing before Parliament on Monday, Noordin Haji, Director-General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), revealed that the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)—an armed rebel group from Ethiopia—is no longer merely conducting cross-border raids but has entrenched itself within Kenyan territory. “In Ethiopia, the Oromo Liberation Army is occupying our land… we cannot ignore this anymore,” Haji said, addressing the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee of the…

Ethiopia is on track to achieve a record 6.5 million tonnes of wheat production in the 2025-26 marketing year, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous year, according to recent projections by agricultural analysts. The growth is attributed to expanded use of irrigated farmland, improved agricultural inputs, and enhanced yields, as part of a broader government initiative to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imports. Despite continued growth in domestic demand for wheat and wheat-based products, wheat imports are expected to decline by 24% to 1.3 million tonnes during the same period. Analysts note that while consumption is rising,…

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has raised alarm over a series of drone attacks targeting the strategic eastern city of Port Sudan, warning that the assaults threaten the safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and regional stability. In a statement released Monday, the ministry directly blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for orchestrating the attacks, while indirectly accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of sponsoring the operation. The ministry alleged that the UAE provided drones, weapons, and foreign mercenaries to assist RSF in launching strikes against critical civilian and military infrastructure. According to the ministry, recent attacks have struck…

In a joint counterterrorism effort, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS militants approximately 70 kilometers southeast of Bosaso, in the Bari region. The operation, confirmed by Somali authorities, was carried out to support Puntland Security Forces in their ongoing campaign to dismantle militant strongholds in northeastern Somalia. The strike forms part of a wider strategy to weaken the operational capabilities of ISIS-affiliated groups operating in the region. While casualty figures have not been released, Somali officials stated that damage assessments are ongoing, and the full impact of the strike…