Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Somalia has witnessed a sharp increase in foreign military strikes this year, with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducting at least 34 airstrikes in 2025 alone — killing an estimated 109 to 174 people, according to a new report by the New America Foundation. The uptick in air operations aligns with an intensified joint offensive led by Puntland forces in the mountainous north, targeting entrenched DAESH positions. The New America Foundation, which monitors global air campaigns, noted that the scale of U.S. strikes this year already rivals the four-year total under the Biden administration, which recorded 51 airstrikes from 2021 to…

The commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commonly known as Hemetti, has threatened expanded military offensives in key regions, including El Obeid in North Kordofan and several towns in the Northern State. His latest remarks, issued in a recorded message, mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric amid Sudan’s deepening civil war. Hemetti claimed that RSF forces are now positioned around El Obeid from multiple directions following recent gains in South and West Kordofan. The RSF leader warned that if the Sudanese army attempts to use the city as a base for operations in Darfur and…

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov arrived in Nairobi on Tuesday for an official visit, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic relations with the opening of Azerbaijan’s first embassy in Kenya. The visit underscores a growing interest in deepening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade, innovation, urban development, and cultural exchange. Minister Bayramov is expected to hold high-level meetings with senior Kenyan government officials during his stay. The two countries, while geographically distant and culturally distinct, share a strategic ambition to leverage their regional positions—Kenya as East Africa’s commercial hub and Azerbaijan at the crossroads of Europe and…

The report, published by the Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR), reveals that while millions of dollars’ worth of gold is extracted and exported from the country each year, very little benefit reaches the local population or the national treasury. Eastern Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal states are among the areas most affected, where artisanal mining is rampant but largely unregulated. Communities in towns such as Kapoeta and Boro Medina often work in unsafe conditions and see little to no return on their labor. Yoaso Mototio, a senior geologist at the Ministry of Mining, acknowledged the extent of…

Ethiopia’s Minister of Defense, Aisha Mohammed, has issued a strong response to recent remarks made by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, in a rare public exchange that signals rising tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbors. Speaking earlier this week during an address focused on Ethiopia’s military reforms, the defense minister criticized President Isaias for his comments about Ethiopia’s internal affairs and sovereignty, calling them “unfounded and provocative.” Without mentioning the Eritrean leader by name, Minister Mohammed said it was “typical” of certain individuals “to speak disparagingly about Ethiopia,” and emphasized that “Ethiopia is not a state that takes orders…

Intensified fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has triggered fresh waves of displacement and civilian casualties across Sudan’s volatile Kordofan region, according to humanitarian sources and local reports. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed Sunday that more than 2,700 families were forced to flee their homes in Al-Khuwai, West Kordofan, following RSF advances into the area late last week. This comes after weeks of renewed fighting that has seen control of several key towns shift between the warring factions. According to the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, the clashes between May 29 and…

As the global race for influence in Africa intensifies, nations across the continent find themselves navigating a complex landscape of opportunity and risk. From Tokyo to Ankara, Washington to Abu Dhabi, major global powers are repositioning themselves—eager to invest, extract, or entrench. Yet this time, African voices are rising, demanding partnerships based on equity, sovereignty, and mutual gain. Japan’s Strategic Shift: From Donor to Investor After decades of being perceived primarily as a humanitarian donor, Japan is now seeking a deeper commercial foothold in Africa. With deflation behind it and private sector risk appetite rising, Tokyo is promoting business-led engagement…

In a significant development for Somalia’s security landscape, a military court in Mogadishu sentenced five individuals linked to the Al-Shabaab militant group, as the federal government announced a major leadership reshuffle at the helm of the country’s intelligence agency. According to HO, the First Instance Court of the Armed Forces delivered the verdict on Saturday, convicting five men for their roles in orchestrating assassination plots and bomb attacks across the capital. The convictions followed a targeted operation by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in August 2024, during which suspects were apprehended with weapons, including pistols and hand grenades.…

Ethiopia has reiterated its commitment to supporting peace and stability in neighboring Sudan, as a high-level delegation led by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) Director General Redwan Hussien delivered a special message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Sudanese leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The delegation, which also included Getachew Reda, Advisor on East African Affairs to the Prime Minister, met with General al-Burhan in Port Sudan — the current administrative seat of Sudan’s military leadership since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023. Redwan confirmed that the Ethiopian team was “warmly received” and stressed that Addis Ababa remains…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, underscoring Türkiye’s enduring commitment to Somalia’s peace, development, and democratic progress. The two leaders held a detailed discussion on bilateral cooperation and regional developments, with a strong focus on expanding ties in defense, energy, and fisheries. The conversation comes amid deepening strategic relations between the two nations. President Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s support for Somalia’s efforts in counterterrorism, pledging enhanced collaboration in security and defense capacity-building. “Türkiye will continue to stand firmly with Somalia in its journey toward peace and prosperity,” he affirmed. The leaders also reviewed…

The Kenyan government has officially distanced itself from the recent opening of a Somaliland Mission office in Nairobi, reaffirming its recognition of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Kenya underscored that it does not recognize the diplomatic status of the newly unveiled Somaliland office, which was inaugurated on May 29 by Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro. Despite the high-profile event being attended by prominent Kenyan leaders, including Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and Marsabit Senator Mohamed Said Chute, the Ministry made it clear that the opening did not…

A suspected airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab militants was reported Friday night in the Basra area, a strategic corridor situated between Balcad and Afgooye in Somalia’s Middle and Lower Shabelle regions. According to Hiiraan Online local residents told media sources that several loud explosions were heard in the area overnight, with the strike believed to have hit a known militant hideout on the outskirts of Basra. The area is said to be frequently used by senior Al-Shabaab operatives for planning and coordination. Though details remain scarce, early accounts suggest that the strike may have inflicted serious losses on the group. The number…

Kenya’s President William Ruto held a high-level meeting with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro in Nairobi on Thursday, sparking renewed diplomatic attention across the Horn of Africa. The two leaders discussed a broad agenda of bilateral and regional concerns, including economic cooperation, education, counterterrorism, and regional stability. According to a statement from Somaliland’s presidential office, the talks aimed at strengthening collaboration in areas such as trade, air connectivity, vocational training, and institutional capacity-building. Both parties reportedly emphasized the value of academic exchange and youth development as part of a broader vision for peace and economic growth in the region.…

The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend its arms embargo on South Sudan for another year, amid ongoing concerns over the country’s fragile peace process and continued insecurity. The renewed measures will remain in place until May 31, 2026. Adopted under Resolution 2781, the decision also maintains targeted sanctions—including travel bans and asset freezes—against designated individuals and entities believed to be obstructing peace efforts or involved in human rights abuses. The vote passed with nine members in favor and six abstentions. Notably, African representatives Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Somalia joined China, Pakistan, and Russia in abstaining from the…

Deputy commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Abdel Rahim Dagalo, has pledged to continue the group’s eastward military push toward the capital Khartoum and key cities, despite fierce resistance and contradicting claims from army-aligned officials. In a statement delivered to RSF fighters at an undisclosed location, Dagalo hailed what he called “major victories” in multiple towns across South and West Kordofan, including Al-Dubaibat, Al-Hammadi, and Al-Khawi. He further announced plans to advance on strategic targets such as El Obeid, Kosti, Port Sudan, and ultimately Khartoum. According to the RSF, their forces have reclaimed several areas including Kazgail and…

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified their military campaign in Sudan’s Kordofan region on Friday, launching drone and artillery strikes on El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. The assault left several civilians dead and rendered the city’s main hospital inoperable, deepening the humanitarian crisis in a region already strained by prolonged conflict. Local witnesses confirmed that the Elobied International Hospital was struck by a drone, prompting the facility to halt services. It was the last operational hospital with adequate capacity to serve residents in the area. At least five people were reported dead and ten others injured due to…