Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Kenyan authorities have intercepted a major smuggling operation involving 27 metric tons of raw macadamia nuts destined for China, exposing a growing trade crisis fueled by Kenya’s strict export ban. Illegal Shipment UncoveredAccording to local reports, intelligence agents at the Port of Mombasa seized three 40-foot containers falsely declared as “tarpaulin” but loaded with raw macadamia nuts worth $64,300. The shipment, linked to exporter DLI International Group, was allegedly being routed through Mozambique to bypass Kenya’s ban on raw nut exports. The Kenyan government imposed the ban to protect local farmers and boost domestic processing, but industry experts warn it…

Kenya is losing over Sh9 billion ($69 million) annually in unpaid taxes due to the booming illicit cigarette trade, according to a new report by global research firm Kantar. The study reveals that more than one in three cigarettes sold in Kenya evade taxes, dealing a major blow to government revenue and legitimate businesses. Illegal Trade Hits Record HighThe findings show a sharp rise in smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes, with illicit products now making up 37% of the market, up from 27% just a year ago. Most of these cigarettes are smuggled into the country through porous borders, denying Kenya…

Russia has announced plans to significantly deepen its economic and defense partnerships across Africa, a move aimed at expanding its influence as Western powers scale back their presence in the region. Speaking to reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Moscow is committed to enhancing cooperation with African nations in both investment and security. “Russia’s presence in Africa is steadily growing,” Peskov said, underscoring Moscow’s long-term vision to build robust bilateral ties, especially in regions impacted by political instability. The latest announcement comes at a time when several West African nations have experienced military coups and rising discontent with former…

The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has officially resumed control of its national headquarters in Finfinne (Addis Ababa), marking the end of a nearly four-year standoff that began in August 2020. The handover was conducted in the presence of officials from the Addis Ababa Branch of the Joint Council of Political Parties, with the OLF acknowledging the pivotal role played by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Joint Council in facilitating the process. “We welcome this outcome as a crucial step toward restoring our constitutional and political rights,” said Lemmi Gemmechu, the OLF’s current Public Relations Officer. A…

Ethiopia has officially emerged as Africa’s leading wheat producer, surpassing Egypt by a significant margin, according to recent statements by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Prime Minister cited national production levels now exceeding 6 million tonnes annually — triple Egypt’s estimated 2 million tonnes — marking a major turning point in the country’s agricultural journey. This development highlights Ethiopia’s growing role in ensuring food security both domestically and regionally. It also reflects the government’s decade-long efforts to modernize the agricultural sector through mechanization, improved seed varieties, expanded irrigation, and supportive policies aimed at empowering smallholder farmers. “Achieving wheat self-sufficiency is…

Over 100 Chinese and Sino-Tanzanian enterprises are preparing to participate in the fourth edition of the China-Tanzania Talent Exchange and Job Fair, set to take place on June 28 at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). The event is expected to connect hundreds of young Tanzanians with employment opportunities across key sectors. Themed “China-Tanzania Cooperation Creates Jobs, Youth Together Forge the Future,” the fair will provide more than 500 job opportunities, primarily targeting university graduates, technical school students, and young professionals interested in fields such as construction, logistics, manufacturing, media, and services. Speaking at a press briefing in Dar…

Ethiopia is nearing completion of a new naval base in the Janmeda neighborhood of Addis Ababa, despite being a landlocked country with no direct access to the sea. According to the Ministry of Defense, the facility is now 95% complete, reflecting the government’s long-term ambition to develop a capable naval force and secure future maritime access. The new naval command center — constructed on a 3-hectare site — includes multi-story administrative buildings, a medical center, conference halls, and recreational facilities. While Ethiopia has not had a coastline since Eritrea’s independence in 1993, the project signals a strategic shift in military…

Speaking at the 2025 Africa Chiefs of Defense Conference in Nairobi, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander General Michael Langley emphasized the need for “burden sharing” in maintaining peace and security in Somalia. “As resources are rebalanced globally, it is essential that all partners – Africa included – take more ownership in their regional and continental security,” Langley said. “We support Somalia in building its own security capacity, but long-term sustainability requires shared responsibility.” The remarks come amid deepening uncertainty over the future of AUSSOM, which was launched to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The mission plays…

Elite commandos from Somalia’s Danab Special Forces unit have neutralized at least 25 Al-Shabaab militants—including three senior field commanders—in a carefully coordinated operation near the village of Gaalware, just four kilometers east of Sabiid and Caanoole in the volatile Lower Shabelle region. According to the Somali Ministry of Defense, the weekend raid was a major success. Government troops not only dismantled an imminent militant plot but also recovered a large cache of weapons, including six PKM machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and 17 AK-47 rifles. Authorities say the operation dealt a serious blow to the extremist group’s local capabilities.…

In a grim reflection of Sudan’s ongoing civil war, authorities in the capital have confirmed the discovery of at least 117 new mass graves across Khartoum, as fighting between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its 14th month. A senior official from Khartoum State, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that bodies have been buried in informal locations, including homes, streets, and makeshift burial pits, due to the collapse of normal burial procedures and overwhelmed cemeteries. The brutal urban warfare that began in April 2023 has devastated the capital’s tri-city area—Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri—leaving thousands dead and…

Over the past two decades, China’s financial footprint across Africa has expanded dramatically, with infrastructure loans becoming a cornerstone of Sino-African cooperation. New data reveals that between 2000 and 2023, ten African nations alone have collectively borrowed more than $130 billion from Chinese lenders, raising both opportunities and questions about long-term financial sustainability. According to records compiled from the Chinese Loans to Africa Database hosted by Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center, Angola tops the list with an eye-catching $46 billion in cumulative debt, largely backed by oil and channeled into post-war reconstruction. Top Borrowers and Their Priorities Angola –…

In a historic move set to redefine intercontinental connectivity, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have finalized plans to build a strategic bridge across the Red Sea, linking Africa and Asia for the first time via a permanent land connection. The long-anticipated infrastructure, tentatively nicknamed the Moses Bridge, is estimated to cost $4 billion and will connect Ras Hamid in Saudi Arabia to Sharm el-Sheikh on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The ambitious project, first floated in the late 1980s and revived during King Salman’s reign, is now “ready for implementation,” according to Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir. Authorities say the final decision on…

Kenyan authorities have suspended the head and staff of a Nairobi police station following the death of a 31-year-old man who had been arrested over a social media post. Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger from Homa Bay, was reportedly detained for “false publication” after allegedly making critical remarks about a high-ranking official on X, formerly Twitter. Instead of being held locally, he was transported over 350 kilometers to the capital, where he later died in custody. According to police, Ojwang sustained head injuries after “hitting his head against a cell wall” and was declared dead upon arrival at the…

A deadly road accident in southwestern Tanzania has left at least 28 people dead, after a lorry lost control on a steep hill and crashed into two other vehicles, including a minibus that plunged into a river. The crash occurred late Saturday near Iwambi, in the Mbeya region, close to the Zambian border. According to regional police chief Benjamin Kuzaga, the tragedy was triggered by brake failure on a steep descent. Among the victims were 10 women and four children, with authorities blaming driver negligence for the fatal incident. “The cause of the accident has been attributed to the negligence…

A British serviceman deployed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) is under investigation following accusations of rape near the military base in Nanyuki, intensifying long-standing concerns about misconduct among foreign troops operating in the region. The alleged assault occurred in May after a night out involving a group of British soldiers at a local bar. One of the soldiers is said to have sexually assaulted a Kenyan woman later that night, triggering a formal investigation by local law enforcement and military authorities. Police officials confirmed that the suspect has been interrogated and that the matter is now under…

In the cool, elevated outskirts of Addis Ababa, an unusual agricultural transformation is quietly taking root — led not by industry giants or foreign investors, but by a determined 29-year-old with a passion for mushrooms. Mikias Tadesse, a former truck driver, never expected fungi to redefine his future. But a chance encounter with a mushroom dish prepared by Chinese road engineers in southern Ethiopia changed everything. Intrigued by its taste and texture — and recognizing its absence in Ethiopian cuisine — he saw an opportunity where few others had looked. A Humble Beginning Mikias knew mushrooms were nearly unknown in…