Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Sudan’s worsening war has pushed multiple regions into simultaneous humanitarian catastrophes, with the United Nations and local activists reporting alarming surges in deaths from hunger, malnutrition, and preventable disease — alongside relentless violence targeting civilians. In El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur still under Sudanese army control, more than 60 people — mostly women and children — died in a single week from malnutrition, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). UN officials warned that famine, first identified last year in the Zamzam displacement camp, has now likely spread to other areas under…

The United States has announced sanctions against the Pareco-FF armed group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), accusing it of profiting from illegal mining operations in the coltan-rich Rubaya region between 2022 and 2024. Washington also targeted the Congolese mining company CDMC and two Hong Kong-based exporters, East Rise and Star Dragon, for allegedly trading minerals sourced from areas under the group’s control. US officials said the measures are intended to send “a clear message” that armed groups and their commercial partners undermining peace and stability in the DRC will face consequences. Rubaya, now held by the M23…

Nigerian security forces have killed more than 100 members of an armed group during a coordinated air and ground offensive in Zamfara State’s Bukkuyum area. The operation, launched early Sunday, targeted a forest camp where over 400 gang members were reportedly gathered. Authorities say the raid was prompted by a surge in violent attacks, including the recent assault on Adabka village that left 13 security personnel dead and saw residents abducted. The targeted group, accused of terrorizing rural communities through raids, kidnappings, and extortion, was allegedly preparing another large-scale attack when troops struck. The violence in northwestern Nigeria, rooted in…

Sudanese forces and allied armed groups say they have repelled a large-scale assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur not under RSF control. The August 11 offensive began with intense shelling across the city, including strikes on the army’s 6th Infantry Division headquarters and the Abu Shouk displacement camp, before ground forces attacked from multiple fronts. Military sources claim more than 200 RSF fighters were killed and over 40 combat vehicles destroyed or captured, though these figures could not be independently verified. Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi accused the RSF of…

Severe hunger is gripping Sudan’s North Darfur capital, El-Fasher, where hundreds of thousands remain trapped under a blockade that has cut off food and humanitarian supplies for more than a year. Local and international monitors say the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have surrounded the city since April 2024, closing routes in and out after local armed factions aligned themselves with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The siege has driven food prices to more than four times the national average, with markets running empty and communal kitchens shutting down. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies estimates that about…

Malian authorities have detained around two dozen soldiers, including a high-ranking general, over allegations of plotting to remove the current military leadership. Security sources said the arrests, which began three days ago, targeted individuals accused of attempting to “destabilise the institutions.” Those detained reportedly include General Abass Dembele, a former governor of Mopti region, who was taken from his home in Kati near Bamako. Officials have not publicly stated the charges against him. Some parliamentary members suggested the number of arrests could be closer to 50. The development comes amid growing discontent within the armed forces, with analysts noting frustration…

Kenya is mourning two tragic transport accidents that claimed 14 lives on Thursday, including health workers, local residents, and company employees. In the first incident, a medical evacuation plane operated by AMREF Flying Doctors crashed in Kiambu County, just northeast of Nairobi. Authorities confirmed that all four people on board — the pilot, two nurses, and a doctor — died, along with two residents on the ground when the aircraft struck a building. Witnesses reported heavy black smoke and flames at the scene as emergency crews battled to contain the fire and search for survivors. The cause of the crash…

Ghana has been plunged into national mourning following the deaths of two senior government ministers and six others in a military helicopter crash in the Ashanti region. Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among the victims aboard the ill-fated Z-9 helicopter, which went down in a densely forested area while en route from Accra to Obuasi. The officials were traveling to attend a government event targeting illegal mining operations. According to a statement from the Office of the President, all eight passengers — including three air force crew members…

A gruesome murder case unfolding in Limpopo has reignited national outrage over racial injustice and deep divisions in South Africa’s rural farming communities. A white farm owner stands accused of killing two black women and allegedly disposing of their bodies by feeding them to pigs. Adrian de Wet, a 20-year-old farm supervisor, turned state witness in the ongoing trial against his employer, Zachariah Johannes Olivier, and fellow farm worker William Musora. De Wet claims he was forced under threat to throw the bodies of Maria Makgato (45) and Lucia Ndlovu (34) into a pig pen after they were shot by…

Russia is pursuing a potential wet lease agreement with Ethiopian Airlines as part of broader aviation cooperation talks, according to a statement by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA). The move comes as Russian airlines face continued restrictions on acquiring Western-made aircraft and parts due to international sanctions. A Russian trade delegation, led by Trade Commissioner Yaroslav V. Tarasyuk, visited Addis Ababa on July 29 and met with ECAA Director General Yohannes Abera to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector. Key areas of interest included aircraft leasing, maintenance collaboration, and aviation equipment supply. The Russian side expressed immediate…

At least 68 Ethiopian migrants have lost their lives after a boat carrying over 150 people capsized off the southern coast of Yemen, according to officials and humanitarian sources. More than 70 others remain missing, while only 12 survivors have been found so far, as rescue efforts continue in the Abyan governorate. The boat was reportedly en route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, a route often used by migrants aiming to reach Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf nations in search of work and a better life. Despite Yemen’s ongoing civil war, thousands continue to use the country…

Tourism Attractions in Ethiopia Ethiopia, one of the ancient civilization in the world and the land of Origins has a lot to offer for international visitors. As the cradle of mankind, the country is endowed with incredible and conducive climatic condition throughout the year categorized under 18 agro ecological zone. Due to this very healthy whether condition, it has become one of the best destination for international tourists especially during the entrance of the two extreme weathers in other part of the world; freezing in winter, a heat wave and scorching sun during summer time. Apart from the room temperature…

Africa’s copper industry surged to new heights in 2024, becoming the continent’s second most valuable export commodity after crude oil, with a total trade value of $35 billion. However, the sector remains dominated by just a handful of countries, with the top ten nations accounting for a staggering 98% of the continent’s copper export earnings. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) emerged as the continent’s undisputed leader, exporting $19.8 billion worth of copper. Its major buyers include China, the UAE, Egypt, Singapore, and the United States — underscoring the country’s central role in meeting global demand for the metal. Zambia…

Niamey — On the second anniversary of Niger’s July 26, 2023 coup, the country remains in a state of political transition under military rule. General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who led the presidential guard that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, continues to head the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP). The junta came to power promising to restore order, end foreign interference, and prioritize national sovereignty — but two years on, the results are complex. Supporters of the military government praise its firm stance against what they see as decades of foreign meddling, particularly by France. The junta expelled French…

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti”, has announced the formation of a parallel transitional government, intensifying the country’s already fragile political situation. In a recorded statement released Saturday evening, the Founding Sudanese Coalition declared the establishment of a 15-member “Presidential Council for Peace,” naming Hemedti as President and rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu as his deputy. Mohamed Hassan al-Ta’ayshi, a former civilian negotiator in past peace processes, was appointed Prime Minister. This move comes months after the RSF and allied political and armed groups signed a political charter in Nairobi aiming to establish an alternative government.…

Türkiye has emerged as Ethiopia’s second-largest foreign investor, with investments nearing $2.5 billion across multiple sectors such as textiles, agribusiness, construction, and digital infrastructure. The announcement was made during the opening of the 8th World Cooperation Industries (WCI) Forum in Addis Ababa, where Ethiopian Investment Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen highlighted the presence of over 260 Turkish companies actively operating in the country. He praised the evolving economic partnership, which now extends beyond diplomacy to include collaboration in trade, health, technology, education, and cultural exchange. Türkiye’s Commercial Counsellor in Addis Ababa, Taha Alperen Salar, described Ethiopia as a key strategic partner in…