Author: Abdihakim Kalale

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…

“In Africa, people eat meat only once a year.”This line—often repeated in charity appeals and social commentary—evokes a powerful image of scarcity. But is it true? According to Wall Africa Journal’s (WAJ) investigation based on verifiable data, extensive field reports, and expert analysis, the claim is overly simplistic, misleading, and masks a much more complex reality. Beyond the Stereotype: A Diverse Continent with Divergent Diets According to Statista (2025), Gabon topped Africa’s per capita meat supply in 2020 with 67 kg per person, followed closely by Seychelles (62.4 kg) and South Africa (59.8 kg). Meanwhile, countries like Burundi (3.1 kg)…

More than 1.1 million displaced Sudanese have returned to their homes in recent months, according to new data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), offering a rare glimmer of hope amid the country’s protracted conflict. The IOM report, covering the period from December 18, 2024, to May 28, 2025, states that 1,189,893 individuals have voluntarily returned to 20 localities across Khartoum, Sennar, and Gezira states. These returns followed renewed control by the national army in areas previously held by armed groups. Gezira State absorbed the majority of the returnees—approximately 80%—with key return destinations including East Gezira, Um Al-Qura,…

Muslims across Kenya gathered in large numbers on Friday morning to observe Eid-ul-Adha, a significant religious festival celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide. In Nairobi’s Eastleigh, a hub of Muslim life in the capital, worshippers arrived at prayer grounds as early as 6 a.m., filling venues such as Eastleigh High School, Maina Wanjigi Secondary, Masjid Sahaba, and Zawadi Primary School. At Eastleigh High School, the main prayer congregation attracted notable figures including Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan and Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, who joined thousands for Salat al-Eid, the traditional Eid prayer. Security was visibly heightened with officers…

An undercover investigation has revealed Kenya’s growing role in the global organ trade, where the desperation of poverty-stricken youth collides with the urgent medical needs of wealthy foreign transplant seekers. In the western town of Eldoret, dozens of young men—healthy but jobless—are reportedly selling their kidneys for as little as £1,800 (approx. Ksh. 330,000), lured by the promise of quick cash amid deepening economic hardship. Meanwhile, foreign patients from Europe, the Middle East, and other African countries are flying into Kenya to receive illegal but life-saving kidney transplants, often paying up to £80,000 (over Ksh. 14 million) for the procedure.…

Addis Ababa, June 5, 2025 — The African Union Commission has expressed concern over the recent executive proclamation by U.S. President Donald Trump, which imposes new travel restrictions on citizens from several countries, including Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan. In a statement released this week, the Commission acknowledged the sovereign right of all nations to regulate entry and safeguard national security but urged Washington to exercise that right “in a manner that is balanced, evidence-based, and reflective of the long-standing partnership between the United States and Africa.” “Africa and the United States share mutual interests in promoting peace, prosperity, and global…

Somalia has entered a new chapter in its security capabilities following the covert delivery of three advanced T129 ATAK helicopters by Turkiye, in a move that could significantly alter the balance of power in the country’s long-running war against the al-Shabab armed group. The ATAK helicopters, developed by Turkiye are among Turkiye’s most sophisticated rotary-wing combat systems. Armed with 20mm autocannons, anti-tank missiles (CİRİT and UMTAS), and advanced night vision and laser targeting systems, the aircraft are capable of conducting high-precision missions in rugged environments—day or night. Though neither the Somali government nor Turkiye has officially announced the delivery, Middle…