Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Kenyan telecom giant Safaricom has marked a major milestone in its Ethiopian operations, recording 8.8 million customers as of March 2025—more than double the number it had a year ago. This represents a 103.2% year-on-year growth, achieved less than three years since the company officially entered the Ethiopian market in October 2022, becoming the first private operator to compete with the state-run Ethio Telecom. The rapid expansion follows the award of a telecom license in 2021 to the Global Partnership for Ethiopia consortium, led by Safaricom. Safaricom Ethiopia has since expanded its infrastructure to include over 3,100 network sites, while…

Farmed fish from Kenya, including tilapia, will now be eligible for export to the European Union following a new trade agreement between the Kenyan government and the EU, a major breakthrough announced by Siaya’s deputy director of fisheries, David Mboya. Speaking at a fish farmers’ forum in Simenya, Ugunja subcounty, Mboya revealed that the agreement opens doors for small-scale aquaculture producers, particularly those raising fish in ponds, to benefit from international trade opportunities that were previously limited to wild-caught Nile perch from Lake Victoria. “Our fishpond tilapia has been cleared for European markets. This is a major opportunity for local…

Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a series of bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation in security, trade, infrastructure, and energy, marking a new phase in relations between the two countries. The deals come amid growing scrutiny of the UAE’s expanding footprint across Africa. Seven memoranda of understanding were signed during a high-level meeting at State House in Nairobi, attended by Kenyan President William Ruto and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The agreements span military cooperation, customs enforcement, transportation infrastructure, renewable energy, economic partnerships, and the development of a joint business council. According…

Amnesty International has released new findings indicating that advanced Chinese-made weaponry, originally supplied to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is being used by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in violation of a United Nations arms embargo on Darfur. According to the rights group, weapons including GB50A guided bombs and AH-4 155mm howitzers have been observed in video footage and images of recent RSF military activity, particularly in Khartoum and the Darfur region. The footage, Amnesty said, provides compelling evidence of the use of re-exported arms by the paramilitary group. “These are sophisticated systems, and their deployment on Sudanese soil strongly…

The Ethiopian government has lifted a controversial entry ban on three archbishops of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church who had been denied access to their home country for over a year. The Government Communication Service announced that “conditions have been arranged” for the return of the clergy members, enabling them to attend the church’s Holy Synod meeting in Ethiopia. The archbishops—Abune Petros, Abune Yaqob, and Abune Theoflos—serve dioceses in the United States and had previously been barred from entering the country. Archbishop Abune Petros, head of the church’s jurisdiction in New York, was deported upon his arrival at Addis Ababa…

Drone strikes targeting Port Sudan continued into a several consecutive days, with Sudanese army anti-aircraft units responding to fresh attacks near key military and civilian infrastructure. Residents reported hearing multiple explosions early in the morning near the Flamingo naval base, a strategic facility located on the northern edge of Port Sudan. According to local sources, this marks the third time the base has come under drone fire since the latest escalation began on Sunday. Military air defenses were observed actively intercepting drones above the base for the first time, and plumes of smoke were seen rising from the area, witnesses…

In a fresh turn of diplomatic events, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced his intention to visit Kenya in the coming weeks, signaling a renewed push to deepen ties between Nairobi and Washington. The news emerged following a high-profile meeting between Rubio and Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, held in Washington, DC. Their discussions spanned regional peace efforts, trade relations, and enhanced diplomatic cooperation. “I had a productive session with Secretary Rubio in Washington, where we focused on expanding trade, investment, and advancing peace and security across the region,” Mudavadi said in a…

The United Arab Emirates has stated that it does not recognize the decision by Sudan’s Security and Defense Council to cut diplomatic relations, claiming that the Port Sudan-based administration does not represent Sudan’s legitimate government. In a statement released through state media, the UAE rejected the Sudanese council’s remarks as “regrettable” and accused it of attempting to derail peace efforts. The diplomatic fallout comes a day after the International Court of Justice dismissed Sudan’s case accusing the UAE of breaching the Genocide Convention by allegedly arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group at war with the Sudanese army…

The Sudanese conflict took a dangerous turn on Thursday after drone strikes allegedly carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) set ablaze fuel depots in the southern city of Kosti, threatening vital energy supplies in White Nile State. According to a military source who spoke under condition of anonymity, “three drones targeted the fuel storage facilities that supply the state, causing major fires and disrupting fuel distribution.” The RSF has not claimed responsibility, but Sudanese authorities blame the group for the coordinated attack. Meanwhile, in Port Sudan, the country’s critical humanitarian and governmental hub, aerial attacks continued into…

Explosions echoed across Port Sudan for a fourth consecutive day as drone strikes targeted the coastal city, dealing a fresh blow to a nation already grappling with war and hunger. The Sudanese army has blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the attacks, which have sparked renewed fears over the stability of one of the last remaining aid corridors into the country. The city, once considered a haven from Sudan’s civil war, now finds itself on the frontlines. On Wednesday morning, military sources reported drone strikes near the port area, prompting anti-aircraft fire from army units. Key infrastructure, including…

A Kenyan court has sentenced four individuals, including two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan accomplice, to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 each for attempting to smuggle thousands of rare ants out of the country. The case, described as a landmark in wildlife protection enforcement, highlights a growing trend of trafficking lesser-known but ecologically vital species. The suspects — Belgian nationals David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx, Vietnamese citizen Duh Hung Nguyen, and Kenyan national Dennis Ng’ang’a — were arrested in April at a guesthouse in Naivasha with more than 5,000 live ants in their…

Health professionals across Ethiopia staged coordinated pre-strike demonstrations on May 6, 2025, demanding urgent reforms in salary structures, benefits, and working conditions. The demonstrations, marked by placards declaring “Our lives are valuable,” “Now or never,” and “We demand an urgent solution,” are part of a growing movement aimed at securing better treatment for Ethiopia’s frontline health workers. The Ethiopian Health Professionals Association (EHPA), while supporting the campaign, urged all parties to prioritize national stability. In a statement issued on May 7, the Association declared that “the demands raised by health professionals are fair and long overdue,” adding that these concerns…

Kenya has been officially selected to host the 2026 World Potato Congress (WPC), becoming the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to organize the prestigious global event. The announcement follows a revised agreement between the World Potato Congress Inc. and the Polish Potato Federation, which had initially planned to host the event in Gdansk, Poland. The decision to return the hosting rights to Kenya comes after a renewed request by the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) and strong support from various stakeholders. WPC President Peter VanderZaag acknowledged that Kenya had originally been selected for 2026 but the plan was temporarily…

At least eight internally displaced persons (IDPs) have died over the past three months in Axum, a town in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, amid a severe shortage of food and medicine. Local coordinators say the ongoing suspension of humanitarian assistance has left many vulnerable to hunger, illness, and harsh weather conditions. Kahsay Asayehegn, who oversees IDP affairs in the Axum Cluster of Western Tigray, reported that the deaths were linked to extreme deprivation. He added that many displaced families are now exposed to cold and flood risks due to heavy rains, and have urged authorities to either provide immediate support or…

South Sudanese authorities have reiterated strong warnings to their citizens against becoming involved in Sudan’s ongoing war, following the reported death of a South Sudanese pilot in a deadly airstrike in South Darfur. Speaking on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Akuei Bona Malwal Madut Riing emphasized that South Sudan’s position remains one of strict neutrality, grounded in a non-aggression agreement with Khartoum. The pact commits both nations to respect each other’s sovereignty and to refrain from interference in domestic affairs. “The conflict in Sudan is an internal matter. We urge our people not to get involved…

The militant group Al-Shabaab continues to maintain a significant financial base, generating an estimated annual income of between $100 million and $200 million, according to a new report released by Insight Intelligence. The report, authored by security analyst Elena Martynova, highlights Al-Shabaab’s reliance on domestic revenue streams, including taxation of local businesses, mobile money transactions, and remittances. These financial mechanisms remain key to the group’s ability to sustain its operations across Somalia. Martynova notes that Al-Shabaab has strategically leveraged cash economies and local banking systems to coordinate its financial flows and carry out planned attacks. Despite increased international counterterrorism efforts,…