Author: Abdihakim Kalale

The United States has announced sweeping new travel restrictions affecting citizens from 12 countries, including Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan, under a directive signed by President Donald Trump that will take effect on June 9. The proclamation, a revival and expansion of earlier travel bans introduced during Trump’s first term, cites “national security risks” and “inadequate identity verification systems” as reasons for the renewed measures. The latest order enforces full entry bans for nations including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and the three African states of Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan. In addition to the outright bans, a…

Kenya’s Muslim community has raised Ksh.5.4 million to support hunger-stricken Palestinians in Gaza ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, in a faith-driven show of compassion and solidarity. The funds, collected under the Gaza-Udhiya Program 2025, will be used to purchase livestock in Egypt for ritual slaughter. The meat will then be frozen and transported into Gaza once aid corridors are open and secure. The initiative is led by Voice of Palestine, a collective of Kenyan Muslim organizations including Jamia Mosque Committee, Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims, National Muslim Leaders Forum, and the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya. “This is not just…

In a major step to strengthen its tourism sector and ease travel for international visitors, the Tanzanian government has announced that nationals from 71 countries will now be able to enter the country without a visa. The announcement was made during a parliamentary session in Dodoma by Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dustan Kitandula, who emphasized that this move aligns with Tanzania’s broader efforts to modernize its immigration system and attract global travelers. “This policy shift means most tourists can now obtain visas on arrival at Tanzania’s international airports, and for many others, visa requirements will be waived…

In a rare show of continental recognition, American philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has been awarded two of Africa’s highest national honors for his decades-long commitment to improving lives through healthcare, education, and poverty reduction. During his recent tour of Africa, Gates received Nigeria’s Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and Ethiopia’s Special Order, the latter being the country’s most prestigious civilian decoration. Both ceremonies highlighted the sustained impact of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the continent’s development efforts over the past 25 years. In Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the CFR award…

A new international report has placed African countries at the top of the list of the world’s most neglected humanitarian emergencies, raising alarm over shrinking aid budgets and limited international engagement in crises that continue to displace millions across the continent. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), in its latest Most Neglected Crises report, lists nations such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, and Somalia among the ten most invisible and underfunded emergencies globally. Eight of the ten most neglected crises in 2024 were in Africa. The findings come amid a steep decline in foreign aid. In 2024, humanitarian agencies received…

Somalia has received a new shipment of advanced military helicopters from the Republic of Türkiye, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities amid intensified operations against the al-Shabab militant group. According to Middle East Eye, three T129 ATAK attack helicopters were delivered to Somalia this week, alongside two utility helicopters designated for the Somali Navy. The transfer is part of a bilateral defense agreement signed in February 2024, under which Türkiye committed to supporting the establishment of a functional naval force for Somalia. The helicopters are produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and…

Kenya is increasingly being identified as a major transit route for gold smuggled from conflict-ridden African countries, with watchdog groups warning that the country’s informal mining sector and porous regulatory systems are making it vulnerable to exploitation by criminal networks. A newly released report by SwissAid, a global organization focused on natural resource governance, highlights Kenya’s growing role in the unregulated gold trade, particularly gold originating from nations such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, and Sudan — some of which are currently affected by conflict and weak institutional control. Despite reporting only 672 kilograms of…

For the first time in history, the Somali language will be among the official languages used to interpret and broadcast sermons during the Hajj pilgrimage, Somalia’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs has confirmed—marking a spiritual milestone for Somali-speaking Muslims around the world. The announcement was made by Minister Mukhtar Robow Ali, who is currently in Mecca to oversee the arrival and arrangements for Somali pilgrims. “This development ensures our people can connect more deeply with the Hajj experience,” said Robow. “Understanding the sermons in their mother tongue will bring greater spiritual awareness.” The inclusion of Somali in the real-time…

A United Nations aid convoy en route to the besieged city of El Fasher in North Darfur was attacked on Monday night, triggering alarm over the worsening security and humanitarian conditions in Sudan’s war-torn western region. According to UNICEF, the convoy—carrying food and medical aid on behalf of both UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP)—was targeted while waiting for clearance in Al-Koma, a town along the supply route to El Fasher. The agency confirmed receiving reports of “multiple casualties,” though the exact number and identities remain unconfirmed. The UN has strongly condemned the assault, calling it a grave violation…

In a major boost for Ethiopia’s renewable energy ambitions, Chinese manufacturing giant Huajian Group has committed $100 million to establish a solar energy production and export hub within the Geda Special Economic Zone. The agreement was officially signed on Monday between Motuma Temesgen, Director General of the Geda Special Economic Zone Authority, and Zhang Huarong, Executive Chairman of Huajian Group. The move is part of Ethiopia’s broader strategy to attract investment in clean energy and industrial manufacturing. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Motuma highlighted the government’s efforts to create a favorable investment environment, citing ongoing infrastructure developments such as electricity,…

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…