Author: Abdihakim Kalale

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit departed Juba on Sunday for an official diplomatic visit to the United Arab Emirates, aiming to strengthen economic ties and attract foreign investment amid ongoing regional instability. Kiir was seen off at Juba International Airport by senior officials, including Vice President for the Economic Cluster Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, who is expected to oversee government operations during the president’s absence. The presidency did not indicate the duration of the visit. This marks President Kiir’s second trip to the UAE in 2025. During a visit in February, he held talks in Abu Dhabi focused on…

Farmers in South Sudan’s Unity State have strongly opposed a controversial proposal by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC), a consortium majority-owned by Chinese interests, to relocate thousands of residents to make way for expanded oil drilling operations. The rejection was led by Unity State’s Minister of Agriculture, Gai Gatdweil, who labeled the plan as “illegal and unacceptable,” warning that it bypasses both regional and national procedures. “Pushing communities 45 kilometers away from their ancestral lands without formal approval or environmental assessments is not only unlawful, but also unjust,” Gatdweil said during a press briefing in Bentiu. GNPOC, which…

Hundreds gathered on Friday at Tanzania’s Muhimbili National Hospital to pay their final respects to Dr. Zhang Junqiao, a Chinese physician who died while attempting to rescue a drowning woman off the coast of Dar es Salaam. Dr. Zhang, who served as the head of the 27th Chinese medical team stationed in Tanzania, lost his life on June 15 while assisting a woman in distress in the ocean. According to eyewitness accounts, he managed to help the woman into a life jacket before he was overwhelmed by the current and disappeared beneath the water. His body was later recovered, but…

While Nairobi offers a taste of Kenya’s rich coffee culture, the true essence of Kenyan coffee is found beyond the capital — in the heart of the highlands where volcanic soil, cool climates, and generations of farming tradition produce some of the world’s finest beans. From established plantations to emerging farms, several regions across Kenya now offer immersive coffee tours that take visitors from bean to brew. Here are five standout destinations that promise both scenic beauty and flavorful experiences: Kiambu County – A Coffee Gateway Near the Capital Just a short drive north of Nairobi, Kiambu is home to…

LG Electronics has provided food, basic supplies, and financial assistance to 54 surviving Ethiopian veterans of the Korean War, as part of its ongoing social responsibility efforts. Ethiopia remains the only African nation that sent ground troops to the 1950–1953 Korean War, participating under the United Nations Command. The Ethiopian Kagnew Battalion fought alongside other UN forces in defense of South Korea during the conflict. Since 2013, LG has awarded scholarships to 230 descendants of Ethiopian veterans. The company also operates the LG-KOICA Hope Technical and Vocational Education and Training College in Addis Ababa, in cooperation with the Korea International…

Once known for its rich marine bounty, Somalia’s coastline is now a frontline of economic hardship. Local fishermen, who for generations relied on the sea for survival, are watching their nets come back empty — victims of unchecked illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by foreign industrial trawlers. “We used to bring home fish every morning. Now we bring nothing,” says Abdi, a fisherman in Puntland, voicing a growing despair shared along Somalia’s shores. According to estimates, Somalia loses up to $300 million annually due to illegal fishing — much of it carried out by vessels from countries that paradoxically…

In a rare and carefully worded speech delivered to his troops in Darfur, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, extended an unexpected olive branch to neighboring Egypt, signaling a possible easing of tensions between Khartoum and Cairo. “We respect our Egyptian brothers. Whatever problems exist can be resolved through dialogue,” Hemedti said, in stark contrast to his earlier accusations that Egypt had supported the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with military assistance. Speaking from an undisclosed location in war-torn Darfur, the RSF chief suggested that “criminal elements” were working to sabotage Sudan’s relations with…

In a powerful address at the opening of the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan placed Africa at the heart of the Islamic world’s future, stating: “Africa’s voice is our voice. The powerful voice rising from Africa today signals a multi-centered revival across the Islamic world.” The summit, held in Istanbul under the theme “The Organization of Islamic Cooperation in a Transforming World,” comes amid major global shifts and pressing regional crises — including the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and instability across the Sahel. Fidan described…

As Israeli military attacks on civilians continue in Gaza and tensions escalate with Iran, foreign ministers from across the Islamic world — including key African delegations — are convening in Istanbul for the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers. Among the early arrivals is Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, representing his nation at a time when Muslim-majority countries face a growing number of geopolitical challenges. Hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the summit is being held under the theme: “The Organization of Islamic Cooperation in a Transforming World.” The agenda is…

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander General Michael Langley held high-level meetings this week in both Ethiopia and Somaliland, signaling renewed American engagement in the Horn of Africa amid growing regional security complexities. In Addis Ababa, General Langley was received by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, the two discussed “bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest,” with a focus on stability in the Horn and ongoing counterterrorism cooperation. The visit came shortly after Langley and U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard Riley led a U.S. delegation to Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa. There, the delegation…

Thirty-two years after achieving its long-sought independence, Eritrea finds itself at a crossroads. Once hailed as a beacon of self-determination and resilience, the country today stands burdened by the weight of unfulfilled promises, prolonged militarisation, and limited political reforms. President Isaias Afwerki, who led the liberation struggle against Ethiopian occupation, has remained at the helm since 1993. In the early years, his leadership inspired hope not just within Eritrea but across the African continent. His vision of building a sovereign nation free from foreign interference resonated with many who had experienced colonialism and external domination. The drafting and ratification of…

In East Africa, democratic freedoms appear increasingly fragile as opposition politicians and human rights activists across Tanzania and Uganda face mounting persecution, unlawful detentions, and torture, raising alarm among civil society groups and international observers. In Tanzania, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, a key figure in the Chadema party, remains in detention under charges of treason and cybercrime-related offenses. His arrest, linked to his public campaign for electoral reforms, was followed by Chadema’s disqualification from the upcoming October 2025 general elections. The government has since intensified its clampdown on dissent, including media blackouts, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances. One Chadema official…

Kenya’s main opposition coalition has announced plans to submit evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing President William Ruto’s administration of extrajudicial killings and unlawful suppression of protests. The coalition alleged that recent anti-government demonstrations in Nairobi were met with disproportionate force by the National Police Service, resulting in the deaths of unarmed demonstrators. According to the opposition, these incidents form part of a broader pattern of human rights violations under what they call an increasingly repressive government. In a joint statement, opposition leaders cited the alleged use of masked officers without identification badges, live ammunition against peaceful protesters,…

As Sudan’s devastating conflict drags into its third year, a toxic combination of mass displacement, systematic sexual violence, and deadly disease outbreaks is pushing millions of civilians—especially women and children—into the margins of survival. Rights experts and humanitarian agencies warn that the scale of human suffering in the country now ranks among the world’s gravest crises. In a report released to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations experts sounded the alarm over what they called a “pattern of weaponized rape and terror,” placing overwhelming responsibility on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).…

Sudan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Kamil Idris, has unveiled a 22-member technocratic cabinet aimed at restoring governance through merit and expertise — signaling a sharp departure from previous power-sharing arrangements that involved political and armed group quotas. In a nationally televised address, Idris emphasized that his administration would be independent, professional, and free from political favoritism. “We will remove political quotas and nepotism from the structure of our government,” he stated, pledging to focus on competence, integrity, and technical know-how. Idris was appointed to office on May 19 by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, marking the return of a civilian…

Somaliland leader Abdirahman Irro received a high-level delegation from the United States this week, led by Ambassador Richard Riley (U.S. Ambassador to Somalia) and AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley. The discussions reportedly focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the area of regional security and strategic cooperation. The visit included a stop in Berbera, where the U.S. delegation inspected a military facility that is reportedly under development. This visit comes amid growing speculation about the establishment of a U.S. military base in the area — a move widely interpreted as part of Washington’s efforts to secure its interests along the…