Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Over the past decade, Ethiopia has become an unexpected player in the global footwear industry — thanks in part to major foreign investments like the one from China’s Huajian Group. Founded by former soldier and shoemaker Zhang Huarong, the company has played a pivotal role in transforming Ethiopia’s leather export landscape. However, behind the success story lies a more complicated reality. A Fast Track to Expansion Huajian entered Ethiopia in 2011 after an invitation from the Ethiopian government. Within just three months, the company set up its first factory, trained over 100 Ethiopian workers in China, and began production. Today,…

Tanzania has rejected recent allegations from United Nations experts and human rights groups accusing the government of increasing repression ahead of the country’s general elections in October 2025. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Tanzania’s Permanent Representative Dr. Abdallah Possi described the claims as “erroneous, misleading and misconstrued,” reaffirming the government’s commitment to constitutional rights and democratic principles. The response follows concerns raised by the UN and regional human rights organizations about reported media censorship, police brutality, and enforced disappearances. UN experts cited over 200 cases of disappearances since 2019, along with recent incidents involving foreign activists…

According to exclusive information obtained by Wall Africa Journal (WAJ), the man recently captured in Puntland’s Togga Baalade region—initially labeled a “Turkish national”—has now been identified as a Jordanian national with confirmed ties to the Daesh. Far from being an isolated terror incident, this arrest is revealing deeper layers of regional power plays and growing suspicions about foreign agendas in the Horn of Africa. UAE’s Silent Depth: A Strategic Eye on Natural Resources? Local sources seen by WAJ suggest that this development is not merely a counterterrorism issue but may be part of a broader geopolitical and economic agenda, particularly…

Across the African continent, a quiet revolution is underway—one that seeks to redefine health security not through foreign aid, but through local investment and self-reliance. As global health financing tightens and donor priorities shift, African nations are stepping up to build their own pharmaceutical and medical infrastructure—turning vulnerability into opportunity. A Wake-Up Call for Self-Reliance Africa bears nearly a quarter of the world’s disease burden, yet still imports the vast majority of its medicines and medical inputs. More than 95% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and around 70% of finished drugs are sourced from outside the continent, primarily China and…

As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate, the Somali government is calling on its nationals in Iran to consider evacuating the country. The Somali Embassy in Turkiye has issued an official advisory urging Somalis in Iran to contact the embassy if they wish to return home safely. In a statement published via Facebook, the embassy said: “The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Turkiye informs Somali citizens in Iran who wish to leave the country due to the ongoing fighting there to contact the embassy for assistance in returning to their country safely. Mobile Number: +90…

Authorities in South Sudan’s Warrap State have announced that over 4,000 illegal firearms have been voluntarily surrendered by civilians in Tonj East County, marking a significant step forward in the government’s disarmament campaign aimed at curbing local violence and cattle-related conflict. The disarmament initiative follows President Salva Kiir’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Warrap State and Unity State’s Mayom County, where decades of communal violence and revenge killings have devastated local populations. The government issued a seven-day ultimatum for voluntary compliance before sending in a joint force from the country’s armed services to carry out enforced disarmament.…

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has formalized a strategic partnership with Tanzania and Zanzibar in a bid to enhance regional cooperation in the oil and gas sector. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed this week between the PAU, the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) of Tanzania, and the Zanzibar Petroleum Regulatory Authority (ZPRA). The signing ceremony took place at the PAU headquarters in Entebbe, marking a significant step in regional integration and resource governance. Speaking at the event, Lynda Biribonwa, Chairperson of PAU’s Board of Directors, emphasized the region’s vast untapped potential. “The East African region is…

Ethiopia has officially opened the doors to its newest and most ambitious events venue: the New International Convention Centre, marking a major step toward positioning the country as a leading conference destination in East Africa. Inaugurated in March 2025, the state-of-the-art facility spans a vast 40-hectare area in the heart of the capital. With two massive halls capable of hosting 4,000 participants each, plus eight additional meeting spaces, the indoor complex can accommodate up to 10,000 delegates at any one time. But the scope goes even further. The centre is equipped for outdoor exhibitions, boasting space for up to 50,000…

Since the civil war erupted in Sudan in 2023, millions have been forced to flee. Among them are Othman, Amjad, and Wegdan—three Sudanese nationals now navigating a life of uncertainty and hardship on the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. At just 22, Othman begins each day outside the Tirusina Mosque in central Addis. “I arrive at five in the morning and leave again before noon,” he says, pointing to the mosque’s entrance gate, where he finds brief shelter before returning to the streets. “The army came looking for me several times in Sudan. My father told me, ‘Leave the…

Eritreans continue to suffer from “systemic” human rights violations under President Isaias Afwerki’s decades-long rule, according to a report by Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea. Speaking at a UN summit in Geneva on Monday, Babiker described a deeply repressive environment in the Horn of Africa nation, citing arbitrary detention, forced labour, and indefinite national service as major concerns. “Violations are systemic, and the need for accountability is urgent,” Babiker told the forum. He dedicated part of his speech to those “detained without charge or trial, who have not been heard…

As global economic uncertainty continues to challenge traditional financial systems, African central banks are increasingly turning to gold as a safe and strategic reserve asset. In the first quarter of 2025, seven African nations have emerged as key holders of gold reserves, signaling a broader continental trend toward economic self-reliance and currency stability. Gold’s Timeless Appeal Gold has long been valued for its ability to retain value, especially during periods of inflation, currency devaluation, or geopolitical tensions. For African economies often exposed to global market volatility, strengthening gold holdings offers both financial resilience and increased investor confidence. Top African Gold-Holding…

Kenya has emerged as one of the world’s most investment-curious nations, ranking third globally in a new study that examined online searches related to personal finance and investment. According to the report, Kenya records 17,288 monthly investment-related searches per one million people, placing it ahead of larger and more established financial markets such as Canada, the UAE, and South Africa. While Australia leads the world with over 29,000 investment searches per million and Singapore follows with around 22,500, Kenya’s performance is particularly notable due to the overwhelming interest in forex trading. An astonishing 97% of Kenya’s investment-related searches are tied…

In the quiet hills of rural Tanzania, herbalist Hawa Nyamizi leans over a steaming pot of neem leaves and crushed roots, gently guiding a mother through the herbal treatment of her feverish child. In villages like Mkolye, far from the reach of modern hospitals, herbalists like Nyamizi are often the only accessible caregivers. Yet despite their crucial role, Tanzania’s traditional healers continue to face widespread stigma, legal ambiguity, and systemic exclusion from national health policy. “People call me a witch,” Nyamizi says with a shrug. “But I use knowledge passed down through generations. This is medicine.” A Critical Yet Overlooked…

Ten African nations — Somalia, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Djibouti, Mauritania, Algeria, Chad, Gambia, and Comoros — have jointly condemned Israel’s recent military strike on Iran, calling it a dangerous escalation that threatens regional and global peace. In a unified statement issued in mid-June, the governments expressed deep concern over the growing instability following the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory in early June 2025. The declaration urged all parties to de-escalate tensions, respect sovereignty, and commit to non-selective nuclear disarmament, highlighting the importance of upholding international law in the face of rising geopolitical risks. African Union Warns of Global Repercussions The…

Somalia and Türkiye have signed the second phase of a fisheries cooperation agreement aimed at expanding investment, infrastructure, and regulatory development in Somalia’s maritime sector. The agreement was finalized between Somalia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Türkiye’s OYAK Group. The deal forms part of ongoing efforts to develop Somalia’s blue economy and build long-term cooperation between the two countries in the maritime sector. Agreement Highlights: Investment in fisheries infrastructure to support coastal development Introduction of quality and safety standards for international market access Development of local fish processing and value chains Enhanced monitoring to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing…

The ongoing military escalation between Israel and Iran is stirring widespread concern across African nations, particularly among oil-producing and energy-importing countries, as global oil prices continue to climb. Following Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian territory and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks, crude oil markets reacted sharply, with prices surging amid fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East—home to some of the world’s key energy corridors. Cheta Nwanze, a partner at Nigeria-based SBM Intelligence, warned that both oil exporters and non-producers on the continent are likely to feel the economic pressure. “While oil-producing nations may gain short-term revenue from higher prices, the…