Author: Abdihakim Kalale

As Ethiopia prepares for its next national elections in 2026, growing concerns over press freedom are casting a shadow over the country’s media landscape. Reports of arbitrary detentions, newsroom raids, and legal crackdowns are creating what media workers describe as a “climate of fear.” In recent weeks, several journalists and media outlets have come under direct pressure. Staff from a prominent independent publication were reportedly detained and questioned after authorities raided their offices, seizing laptops and phones. The incident has yet to be officially explained, deepening concerns over transparency and accountability. Another journalist was detained while reporting on the grievances…

Kenya, a jewel of East Africa, offers a rich tapestry of experiences that captivate the senses and ignite the spirit of adventure. From iconic wildlife safaris to immersive cultural encounters and coastal retreats, the country promises a first-time journey filled with awe, discovery, and unforgettable moments. Here are ten essential experiences every visitor should have when exploring Kenya for the first time. Often described as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Great Wildebeest Migration between July and October is a breathtaking spectacle. Over a million animals cross the plains and rivers of the Masai Mara, creating one of nature’s…

Africa’s vast and evolving railway network remains one of the continent’s most vital infrastructures, linking cities, ports, mines, and neighboring countries. As transportation systems modernize and expand, these railways are playing an increasingly important role in regional integration and economic development. This report highlights the top ten African nations with the longest railway lines and offers insights into how these systems are shaping trade, industry, and mobility across the continent. South Africa holds the most extensive railway network in Africa and ranks 12th globally. Operated largely by Transnet Freight Rail, the network includes the world-renowned Sishen-Saldanha line, which transports iron…

The Sudanese military, supported by allied groups, has regained control of the town of Al-Khuwayyi in West Kordofan after intense combat with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a statement issued Sunday. The RSF had previously announced its capture of Al-Khuwayyi on May 3, just one day after it seized El Nahud, a significant town in the same region. Al-Khuwayyi lies roughly 110 kilometers west of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. A commander aligned with the military told local media that army units, joint forces, intelligence operatives, and community-based militias had taken full control of the…

The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has confirmed the successful of 121 citizens from Myanmar, where they had been held under harsh and inhumane conditions after falling victim to human trafficking schemes. In a statement released Friday, the ministry said 41 individuals arrived home on Thursday, followed by 80 more on Friday. The operation was carried out in coordination with Ethiopia’s Embassy in India, which oversees relations with Southeast Asia. “These Ethiopians were rescued from extremely difficult circumstances, having been misled by false job promises and trafficked into Myanmar,” the statement read. The government reiterated its commitment to repatriating…

As violence resurges in parts of South Sudan, women leaders are raising their voices to demand a greater role in peacebuilding and national decision-making processes. They argue that excluding women from key political discussions continues to fuel a cycle of conflict that leaves women and children to suffer the most. Speaking at a forum on Thursday, Vicky Nyanut Mawien, a South Sudanese legislator, criticized the lack of female involvement in matters of war and peace. “Time and again, women wake up to find their lives overturned by wars they had no part in planning,” she said. “We are left to…

In a major development for the Amhara region’s armed resistance, four prominent Fano factions have announced their unification under a single umbrella organization named the Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF). The declaration follows a series of intensive consultations and a covenant signing in Quara, a historically significant site associated with Emperor Tewodros II. The merging groups include: Gojjam Fano led by Zemene Kassie Wollo Fano under Mihret Wodajo Gondar Fano Unity headed by Habte Woldie Shewa Fano led by Desalegn Siasebeshewa In their inaugural public statement released Friday, AFNF declared its mission as defending the Amhara people from what it…

The African Union’s efforts to secure U.S. financial backing for its newly launched peacekeeping mission in Somalia, AUSSOM (African Union Somalia Support Mission), have hit a major setback, with Washington once again refusing to commit funds under the current arrangement. According to diplomatic sources cited by Africa Intelligence, recent face-to-face negotiations between AU representatives and U.S. officials ended without progress. American diplomats reiterated their stance that the United States would not fund the AUSSOM operation in its present form—a position consistent with statements made during a previous meeting in Kampala. AUSSOM officially replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia…

The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan for another year, as political instability and fears of renewed violence escalate in the world’s youngest country. On Thursday, the Council approved the resolution—drafted by the United States and supported by 11 other member states—to continue the operations of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until April 30, 2026. The extension allows peacekeepers to take “all necessary measures” to protect civilians, support the implementation of the 2018 peace accord, facilitate humanitarian access, and monitor human rights abuses. China, Russia, and…

In a landmark move toward sustainable energy development, Turkish energy technology firm YEO Technology Energy and Industry Inc. and Zambia’s GEI Power Limited have officially launched the country’s first solar power project integrated with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The Cooma Solar Project, located in Choma, Southern Province, was inaugurated during a high-level groundbreaking ceremony attended by senior Zambian government officials, traditional leaders, and international stakeholders. Set to generate 60 MWp of solar power and store 20 MWh of energy, the facility aims to provide clean electricity to over 65,000 households and create 150 local jobs during construction. The…

New satellite imagery from March 2025 indicates that the long-stalled construction of a naval base in Berbera, Somaliland—reportedly backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—is now nearing completion. The images confirm that dredging operations in the port’s basin and channel have been finalized, opening the area for potential naval vessel access. The site lies approximately 11 to 12 kilometers from Berbera’s main commercial port. The base is situated in Somaliland, a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized. The UAE began developing the Berbera facility in 2017 as part of its strategic interests along…

Tanzania and Mozambique have taken a major step forward in strengthening their long-standing relationship by signing a series of wide-ranging bilateral agreements aimed at boosting trade, energy cooperation, infrastructure, agriculture, and cultural exchange. The agreements were formalized during a joint press conference at the Magogoni State House on Thursday, witnessed by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, who is on his first foreign trip since assuming office. President Samia described the visit as a sign of renewed dedication to regional solidarity, noting that while political ties between the two countries have always been strong, trade volumes…

Tanzania is gaining international recognition for its strides in expanding affordable internet access and boosting digital inclusion, thanks to focused investments and government-led initiatives under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration. Speaking during the national celebration of International Girls in ICT Day, Communications and Information Technology Minister Jerry Silaa highlighted that Tanzania now boasts 49.3 million internet users and over 90 million active mobile lines as of March 2025. Silaa attributed this progress to deliberate efforts to expand digital infrastructure across the country, which have enabled millions to connect, learn, and do business more efficiently. He emphasized that digital transformation is…

The Sudanese Armed Forces on Friday announced that it had successfully defended Port Sudan from a sixth consecutive day of drone assaults launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the war between the two rivals escalates. The military reported that its anti-aircraft units responded swiftly to unmanned aerial vehicles flying over key sites in central and northern Port Sudan, including the vital Flamingo naval base and areas surrounding Sudan’s primary Red Sea port. According to eyewitness accounts and local reports, the RSF had earlier in the week launched a wave of drone strikes between Sunday and Wednesday, targeting…

Kenyan telecom giant Safaricom has marked a major milestone in its Ethiopian operations, recording 8.8 million customers as of March 2025—more than double the number it had a year ago. This represents a 103.2% year-on-year growth, achieved less than three years since the company officially entered the Ethiopian market in October 2022, becoming the first private operator to compete with the state-run Ethio Telecom. The rapid expansion follows the award of a telecom license in 2021 to the Global Partnership for Ethiopia consortium, led by Safaricom. Safaricom Ethiopia has since expanded its infrastructure to include over 3,100 network sites, while…

Farmed fish from Kenya, including tilapia, will now be eligible for export to the European Union following a new trade agreement between the Kenyan government and the EU, a major breakthrough announced by Siaya’s deputy director of fisheries, David Mboya. Speaking at a fish farmers’ forum in Simenya, Ugunja subcounty, Mboya revealed that the agreement opens doors for small-scale aquaculture producers, particularly those raising fish in ponds, to benefit from international trade opportunities that were previously limited to wild-caught Nile perch from Lake Victoria. “Our fishpond tilapia has been cleared for European markets. This is a major opportunity for local…