Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Despite the devastation of Sudan’s ongoing war, a recent UN assessment reveals a surprising story of resilience in the country’s agriculture sector. A new crop and food supply mission report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that Sudan achieved a significant recovery in cereal production during the 2024/2025 season, defying widespread instability and supply shortages. According to the report, Sudan produced 6.7 million tonnes of grain—up 62% from the previous year and 7% above the five-year average. This includes 5.4 million tonnes of sorghum, representing a 77% increase from 2023. The rise is attributed to a favorable rainy…

Tanzania has announced its full support for Nigeria’s campaign to secure a seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category C, marking a major diplomatic boost for Nigeria’s efforts to return to the influential global body after a 16-year absence. The commitment came during a high-level benchmarking visit by the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The five-day working visit aimed to deepen cooperation and exchange expertise in maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and regulatory capacity. Speaking on behalf of TASAC Director-General Mohammed Salumu, the Director of Maritime Safety, Security…

Somaliland’s new President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, arrived in Djibouti on Wednesday for a three-day state visit aimed at resetting strained diplomatic relations and exploring new avenues for regional cooperation in the Horn of Africa. Welcomed at Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport by Prime Minister Abdikadir Kamil Mohamed, the visit is being hailed by both sides as a significant gesture toward restoring trust following a period of diplomatic friction. “This visit reflects a shared commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and regional peace,” Prime Minister Mohamed said, speaking on behalf of President Ismail Omar Guelleh. Tensions between the two neighbors flared earlier in…

Tanzania is fast rising as a critical transport and energy hub in East Africa, leveraging its geographic advantage, infrastructure investments, and growing clean energy capacity to position itself as a gateway for regional trade and development. With borders touching eight countries and a coastline linking it to the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is uniquely placed to facilitate trade between landlocked neighbors and global markets. The country’s three deepwater ports—Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mtwara—are becoming pivotal logistics centers for goods moving into Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa. A transformative development in this effort is the launch of the country’s first electric…

Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced on Wednesday that 45 al-Shabaab militants, including a top commander responsible for repeated mortar attacks in the capital, have been killed in a series of military operations in the central and southern regions of the country. The air and ground assaults targeted terrorist hideouts in the El-Hareeri area of Hiran and near Sabib in Lower Shabelle, where intelligence reports confirmed the presence of key militant leaders. The operations were part of an ongoing counterterrorism campaign that has intensified in recent weeks. “This marks a significant blow to the Khawarij network,” said a…

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Prof. Ben Saul, has called on the international community to continue supporting Somalia as it grapples with protracted conflict and terrorism. Concluding his official visit, Saul commended Somali efforts to tackle extremism but raised concerns about growing human rights violations under the guise of national security. “Somalia faces enormous security and resource challenges,” Saul said, “but efforts to counter terrorism must not come at the cost of fundamental freedoms and human dignity.” While acknowledging Somalia’s comprehensive approach—ranging from military operations to deradicalization strategies—the UN expert criticized overly broad anti-terror laws,…

Tanzania has been ranked among the world’s 10 most improved countries in water and sanitation by the AlTi Global Social Progress Index (AGSPI) 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country’s push toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6. The index, which evaluates 170 countries across 57 indicators, praised Tanzania for consistent gains in clean water access and sanitation infrastructure between 2011 and 2024. Tanzania ranks 126th overall, but its 52.56 score places it in the “improving” category, reflecting an annual increase of more than 0.25 points. Among the top ten most improved globally, Tanzania joins Nigeria, Mali,…

Ethiopia is taking new steps to regulate foreign ownership in its real estate sector with a draft law that sets stricter conditions for international investors. The draft proclamation, submitted to the House of People’s Representatives on 12 May 2017 (E.C.), mandates that foreign nationals or foreign-owned businesses must invest a minimum of $150,000 USD to purchase property or engage in residential construction. In a move designed to protect Ethiopia’s financial sector, the legislation also prohibits foreign buyers from accessing loans or raising capital through local banks to finance real estate acquisitions. Under the proposed law, individuals are limited to owning…

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held a historic public hearing on 14 May 2025, examining allegations of widespread and ongoing human rights violations committed by the Ethiopian government during and after the Tigray war. The case, brought forward by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and partners, marks a significant milestone in the search for accountability in one of Africa’s deadliest recent conflicts. Filed in 2022 by LAW, the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU), and global law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, the case outlines claims of mass killings, sexual violence, famine, forced displacement, and a prolonged communication blackout…

Tanzania has once again restricted access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after hackers compromised the official account of the Tanzania Police Force, using it to spread a false message claiming the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The move comes amid heightened concerns over cybersecurity and misinformation, with authorities blaming the attack for inciting public confusion and threatening national stability. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed the disruption, noting that X had become inaccessible across all major internet providers in the country shortly after the false post went viral. “Live metrics show X has become unreachable… the incident…

Judge Brian Murphy, presiding in Boston, expressed concern that a recent deportation flight carrying at least a dozen individuals — including a Burmese national — may have breached an April 18 injunction that prohibits the removal of migrants to third countries without due legal process. According to court filings by the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, at least one deported individual had limited English proficiency and had not consented to removal. Immigration lawyers claim a Burmese detainee was mistakenly sent to South Sudan, while another Vietnamese man’s deportation destination was kept classified due to a prior criminal conviction. “This seems like…

The decree — led by the Islamic Affairs Council of Hamaro and supported by local authorities — prohibits practices such as slaughtering camels before weddings, exchanging lavish engagement gifts, and distributing khat and cigarettes during ceremonies. These customs, once symbolic, have grown into costly obligations, elders say. “Sheikh Abdirahman Rashid, head of the council, emphasized that marriage should not be about wealth display. ‘What was once a sacred rite is now burdened by expectations that alienate our youth,’ he said.” One tradition targeted is gabaati, a goodwill offering from the groom’s family to the bride’s neighbors. Once modest, it now…

Ethiopia’s digital identity initiative “Fayda” has officially registered 15 million users, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing push toward digital governance and service delivery. The announcement was made by Yodahe Zemichael, Executive Director of Ethiopia’s National ID Program, during the opening ceremony of the ID4Africa 2025 Annual Meeting, currently underway in Addis Ababa. The high-level continental forum brings together over 2,000 delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from 35 African nations, to discuss innovations and collaboration in digital identity systems. “This milestone is not just about the numbers,” Yodahe emphasized. “It reflects Ethiopia’s accelerating progress in…

South Sudan’s National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) announced the interception of 11 trucks carrying fuel from Uganda that failed to meet required East African quality standards. The fuel was seized at the Nimule border crossing during a routine inspection. Laboratory tests revealed that the shipment was non-compliant with national safety regulations, prompting authorities to order its re-export to Uganda. In a statement, the SSNBS emphasized that the move aligns with its mandate to protect consumers, the environment, and public health. “Only products that meet established standards will be permitted into the country,” the agency stressed. This is not the first…

In a major move underscoring Africa’s growing importance in the global electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, China’s state-owned automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has launched its Aion electric vehicle models in Ethiopia, while parallel talks with Nigerian officials aim to deepen cooperation in critical mineral extraction. The rollout in Addis Ababa marks the debut of GAC’s Aion S, Aion Y, and Aion LX models in Ethiopia — a country actively shifting its mobility strategy toward greener alternatives. The Ethiopian Investment Commission welcomed the move, citing recent policy reforms aimed at attracting clean energy investors and scaling electric mobility infrastructure. Zeleke Temesgen,…

Africa is rapidly emerging as a pivotal supplier of critical minerals essential to the global green energy transition, with countries across the continent holding vast, yet underutilized, reserves of metals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals. Countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Guinea are already at the forefront of this movement, attracting global interest due to their abundance of resources required for electric vehicle batteries, solar and wind infrastructure, and hydrogen fuel systems. According to industry experts, Africa may contain up to 30% of the world’s critical minerals—though…