Author: Abdihakim Kalale

In a significant diplomatic gesture, the United Arab Emirates has conferred its highest civilian honor, the Mother of the Nation Order, on Tanzanian President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan. The award recognizes her leadership in promoting sustainable development and social unity in Tanzania. The decoration was formally presented by UAE Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during his official visit to Tanzania on Monday. The ceremony was held in the presence of Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and other senior officials from both nations. The meeting between President Hassan and Sheikh Abdullah marked the…

A Turkish humanitarian vessel carrying over 1,600 tons of essential supplies docked at Port Sudan on Monday, providing critical relief to a nation grappling with one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises. Dubbed the “Ship of Goodness,” the vessel is the second dispatched by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and marks the fourth humanitarian delivery from Türkiye to Sudan since conflict broke out in April 2023. The ship delivered food parcels, clothing, hygiene products, and shelter materials aimed at alleviating the suffering of displaced and vulnerable populations across the country. The arrival was met with an official welcoming…

The city of Port Sudan, currently serving as Sudan’s interim administrative capital, came under a fresh wave of drone attacks on Tuesday, marking the third such assault in less than a week. The strikes, attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeted key infrastructure including the international airport, oil depots, and areas close to government facilities. Multiple explosions were reported near the Port Sudan International Airport and the city’s main seaport along the Red Sea. A large fire broke out at an oil depot in the southern port area, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky and prompting…

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday dismissed a genocide case brought by Sudan against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing a lack of jurisdiction. The lawsuit accused the UAE of complicity in atrocities committed by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur. Sudan alleged that the UAE had provided direct military and financial support to the RSF, contributing to acts of genocide against the Masalit ethnic group in western Darfur. The Sudanese government had requested provisional measures to compel the UAE to cease its alleged involvement and prevent further atrocities. However, the ICJ concluded that it “manifestly…

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar arrived in Ethiopia on Monday for a diplomatic visit, following the March trip by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos to Jerusalem. The reciprocal visits mark a period of intensified political dialogue between the two countries. While both governments have cited the deepening of bilateral cooperation as a central goal of the meetings, the timing and content of the discussions have raised concerns among observers regarding regional security and geopolitical shifts in the Horn of Africa. During his stay, Sa’ar is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Foreign Minister Timotheos. A joint economic…

Tanzania is poised to become a major player in the global critical minerals market, as experts and stakeholders urge the government to take bold, strategic action to harness the country’s vast mineral wealth for national development and global competitiveness. Speaking during a recent Policy Forum discussion themed “Critical Minerals and Tanzania’s Energy Transition,” Engineer Lightness Salema, CEO of Women in Mining Operations, emphasized the need for deliberate investment in local capacity, inclusive governance, and sustainable mining practices. “The path forward must be people-centered, environmentally conscious, and geared toward long-term prosperity,” Salema said, urging authorities to learn from historical missteps in…

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to deliver a landmark ruling on Monday in a case brought by Sudan against the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of aiding and abetting genocide through alleged military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Khartoum claims that the UAE has supplied arms and logistical backing to the RSF, whose conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces since 2023 has devastated the country. Tens of thousands of civilians have died, and the United Nations describes the situation as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with record levels of displacement and acute hunger…

The Sudanese army launched a pre-dawn airstrike on Nyala International Airport in South Darfur on Saturday, targeting sites believed to be used by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for receiving weapons and military supplies, local sources report. Eyewitnesses in Nyala said at least three explosions rocked the airport, following multiple landings and take-offs by an unidentified aircraft. The plane, suspected of transporting equipment to the RSF, landed a final time and remained on the tarmac before the army’s assault began. Military insiders stated that army artillery targeted specific zones within the airport, including a former UNAMID airstrip and a…

A senior Sudanese military official has warned that the uncontrolled spread of weapons across Sudan poses a greater threat than the ongoing battle with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting deepening security and societal challenges amid the country’s civil conflict. General Shams al-Din Kabbashi, the army’s Assistant Commander-in-Chief and a member of the Sovereignty Council, made the remarks on Saturday during a meeting with state officials in Port Sudan. “The spread of arms among civilians is now a more dangerous challenge than the known enemy,” Kabbashi said, referring to the RSF. He urged state governors to prioritize disarmament and…

Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has announced plans to begin a hunger strike in protest against what he describes as unjust treatment during his detention and ongoing treason trial. The 57-year-old leader of the opposition party Chadema will commence the strike on Sunday or Monday, according to his lawyer, Peter Kibatala. The move comes amid growing concerns about political repression ahead of Tanzania’s general elections set for October. Lissu, a long-time critic of the ruling government, was arrested last month and charged with treason—a serious offense in Tanzania that carries the possibility of the death penalty. Speaking to journalists, Kibatala…

In a bold move to stabilize its weakening national currency, the Tanzanian government has officially banned the use of foreign currencies—most notably the US dollar—in all domestic transactions. The new foreign exchange regulations were made public in the Government Gazette on March 28, 2025, and are now being enforced across the country. According to a notice issued by the Bank of Tanzania, all goods and services must now be priced and paid for exclusively in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS). The central bank emphasized that quoting or receiving payments in foreign currencies is now illegal, and violations may lead to legal consequences.…

Kenya and Azerbaijan have taken a significant step toward strengthening their diplomatic and economic cooperation, following the first round of political consultations between the two countries held in Nairobi on Friday. The high-level discussions were led by Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr. Abraham Korir Sing’Oei and Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev, who is heading a visiting delegation from Baku. The meeting, which comes as the two countries mark over two decades of diplomatic relations, focused on expanding partnerships in key sectors such as trade, digital innovation, energy, agriculture, tourism, and education. Both sides expressed a shared interest in…

At least 50 Al-Shabaab militants were killed on Saturday in fierce clashes between Somali government forces and community-based fighters along the border of Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, Somali defense officials reported. The battle erupted in multiple rural areas, including Muqliga Ali, El-Hareeri, Hareeri Madoobe, and Garas Magan, after the militant group launched a surprise assault on a military base. According to the Ministry of Defense, government troops and allied Ma’awisley fighters successfully repelled the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers. Defense Ministry spokesperson Abukar Mohamed described the operation as a major victory. “Our troops, with the support of…

In the heart of Harar’s ancient walled city, 75-year-old Abdallah Ali Sherif is quietly preserving the cultural soul of one of Ethiopia’s most historic towns. Surrounded by shelves of old cassette tapes and piles of weathered newspapers, the father and grandfather has spent decades recovering Harar’s lost heritage—one book at a time. Growing up in eastern Ethiopia, Abdallah was met with silence whenever he asked about his city’s past. “Our parents were too afraid to teach us,” he says, seated on a floor mattress in his modest home. Like many of his generation, he was discouraged from exploring his roots…

In a significant escalation of Sudan’s ongoing civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a drone attack on military facilities near Port Sudan Airport, a Sudanese army spokesperson confirmed on Sunday. This marks the first RSF strike to reach the eastern port city, which has largely remained untouched by the violence ravaging other regions. While no casualties were reported, the incident has raised alarm over the conflict’s eastward expansion. The RSF has not publicly commented on the attack. Over recent months, the RSF has targeted energy infrastructure in central and northern Sudan, though with limited impact. However, Sunday’s…

Three leading Republican senators have unveiled a proposed bill to restrict U.S. funding for peacekeeping operations in Somalia, unless international partners—including the European Union, the United Nations (UN), and the African Union (AU)—increase their financial contributions to match the U.S. share. The bill, titled the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) Funding Restriction Act of 2025, is spearheaded by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Florida). It seeks to ensure American tax dollars are not disproportionately used to fund anti-terrorism and peace operations in…