Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Health professionals across Ethiopia staged coordinated pre-strike demonstrations on May 6, 2025, demanding urgent reforms in salary structures, benefits, and working conditions. The demonstrations, marked by placards declaring “Our lives are valuable,” “Now or never,” and “We demand an urgent solution,” are part of a growing movement aimed at securing better treatment for Ethiopia’s frontline health workers. The Ethiopian Health Professionals Association (EHPA), while supporting the campaign, urged all parties to prioritize national stability. In a statement issued on May 7, the Association declared that “the demands raised by health professionals are fair and long overdue,” adding that these concerns…

Kenya has been officially selected to host the 2026 World Potato Congress (WPC), becoming the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to organize the prestigious global event. The announcement follows a revised agreement between the World Potato Congress Inc. and the Polish Potato Federation, which had initially planned to host the event in Gdansk, Poland. The decision to return the hosting rights to Kenya comes after a renewed request by the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) and strong support from various stakeholders. WPC President Peter VanderZaag acknowledged that Kenya had originally been selected for 2026 but the plan was temporarily…

At least eight internally displaced persons (IDPs) have died over the past three months in Axum, a town in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, amid a severe shortage of food and medicine. Local coordinators say the ongoing suspension of humanitarian assistance has left many vulnerable to hunger, illness, and harsh weather conditions. Kahsay Asayehegn, who oversees IDP affairs in the Axum Cluster of Western Tigray, reported that the deaths were linked to extreme deprivation. He added that many displaced families are now exposed to cold and flood risks due to heavy rains, and have urged authorities to either provide immediate support or…

South Sudanese authorities have reiterated strong warnings to their citizens against becoming involved in Sudan’s ongoing war, following the reported death of a South Sudanese pilot in a deadly airstrike in South Darfur. Speaking on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Akuei Bona Malwal Madut Riing emphasized that South Sudan’s position remains one of strict neutrality, grounded in a non-aggression agreement with Khartoum. The pact commits both nations to respect each other’s sovereignty and to refrain from interference in domestic affairs. “The conflict in Sudan is an internal matter. We urge our people not to get involved…

The militant group Al-Shabaab continues to maintain a significant financial base, generating an estimated annual income of between $100 million and $200 million, according to a new report released by Insight Intelligence. The report, authored by security analyst Elena Martynova, highlights Al-Shabaab’s reliance on domestic revenue streams, including taxation of local businesses, mobile money transactions, and remittances. These financial mechanisms remain key to the group’s ability to sustain its operations across Somalia. Martynova notes that Al-Shabaab has strategically leveraged cash economies and local banking systems to coordinate its financial flows and carry out planned attacks. Despite increased international counterterrorism efforts,…

Ethiopia and Iran have entered a new phase of bilateral engagement with the signing of a security cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) between their respective national police forces. The agreement, signed in Addis Ababa by Ethiopia’s Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael and Iran’s Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan, sets the groundwork for collaboration on issues such as cross-border crime, intelligence sharing, and capacity building through training and professional exchanges. The Ethiopian Federal Police described the deal as a strategic step in enhancing law enforcement capabilities between the two nations. It also includes provisions for ongoing monitoring and review to ensure…

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…