Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Leading human rights organizations have intensified demands for accountability after new footage identified Kenyan security forces involved in the deadly crackdown on anti-tax protests last June. The renewed calls come in the wake of a BBC Africa Eye documentary, which pinpointed the uniformed officers who fatally shot three protesters outside parliament during demonstrations against a controversial finance bill. Amnesty International and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) urged swift legal action against the officers named in the investigation, stressing the need for transparent justice. The Kenyan government responded defensively, with spokesperson Isaac Mwaura criticizing the documentary as unbalanced. While acknowledging…

A new political movement is taking shape in Ethiopia’s Tigray region as former interim regional president Getachew Reda prepares to lead the formation of the Tigray Liberal Democratic Party (TLDP), marking a decisive departure from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the region’s long-dominant political force. The TLDP, rooted in liberal democratic values, is currently undergoing the registration process with the National Election Board of Ethiopia, sources close to the initiative confirmed. Though the party has yet to hold its founding congress, internal documents including bylaws and policy outlines have reportedly been finalized. The creation of the TLDP follows months…

Tensions in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region escalated sharply this week as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a new offensive on El Fasher, prompting fierce fighting and heavy civilian casualties. In response, armed factions allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) firmly rejected an RSF call to evacuate the city, accusing the group of using deception to conceal military failures. The RSF had offered safe passage to SAF units and allied groups, urging them to withdraw from El Fasher “in the interest of peace and humanitarian considerations.” But Mohamed Adam Kosh, commander of the Joint Force alliance and head…

Five quarry workers were killed and two others injured in a brutal ambush early Tuesday morning in Kenya’s northeastern Mandera County, near the Somali border. Authorities suspect the attack was carried out by militants from the Somalia-based extremist group Al-Shabaab. According to local police, the workers were traveling in a minibus around 6 a.m. near Bur Abor village when they were intercepted by an estimated 10 armed men. The attackers, believed to have crossed from Somalia, forced the passengers out of the vehicle and demanded their mobile phones and identification cards. “Victims were shot while lying on the ground,” the…

Somaliland has announced a suspension of sand exports from its northwestern Salal region to neighbouring Djibouti, disrupting a key trade route and deepening diplomatic rifts between the two sides. The decision, which took effect on April 28, was confirmed through an official directive from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals. Director General Shucayb Osman Mahmoud instructed local authorities and companies to cease the transport of fine-grade construction sand—commonly known as ciidda niista—until further notice. “This suspension takes immediate effect and applies to all sand shipments originating from the Salal region,” the directive stated. The ministry cited regulatory enforcement as the…

A United Nations panel tasked with monitoring sanctions in Sudan is investigating how mortar rounds originally sent from Bulgaria to the United Arab Emirates ended up in the hands of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), raising fresh questions about the flow of arms into the conflict-stricken Darfur region. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the panel traced seized 81mm mortar rounds—captured by pro-government militias in North Darfur in November—back to a 2019 Bulgarian shipment intended for the UAE. Images and video of the seized weapons, shared online by Sudanese fighters, clearly show serial numbers that match those declared in…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has raised concerns over what he described as a growing and dangerous alliance between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and extremist groups operating in Somalia, including ISIS and Al-Shabaab. In a recent public statement published by Alsharq Al-Awsat journal, President Mohamud said Somali intelligence has uncovered ongoing coordination between the Houthis and Somali-based terrorist networks. He revealed that this cooperation includes the transfer of weapons, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and drone components from Yemen into Somalia. “Our intelligence teams have intercepted several arms shipments originating from Yemen, including explosives and drone equipment. We have also dismantled smuggling…

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the issuance of Umrah and family visit visas for nationals from 14 countries—11 of them in Africa—as part of measures to manage crowds and enhance security before the 2025 Hajj season. The restriction, in effect since April 13, applies to those without official Hajj permits. It does not affect pilgrims with authorized Hajj visas or valid travel documents. Saudi authorities say the move is aimed at ensuring order and safety during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. The affected African countries include Somalia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Chad, Niger, Mali, Libya, the Democratic Republic…

South Sudan has affirmed that its growing relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is not intended to harm Sudan or interfere in its internal affairs, amid speculation over regional dynamics involving the UAE’s increasing presence in the Horn of Africa. Speaking to reporters upon his return from Vatican City, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Semaya Kumba, emphasized that Juba’s foreign policy is grounded in national interest and international norms—not regional rivalry. “Relations between nations are established to serve mutual interests and should never be viewed as a threat,” Kumba said. “Our relationship with Sudan is deeply…

The Tanzanian government has committed more than 6 billion Tanzanian shillings to upgrade and modernize the National Sugar Institute (NSI) in Kilosa District, with the aim of transforming it into a regional center of excellence for the sugar industry. This major investment marks a new chapter for the institute, which had suffered from years of neglect despite being the only specialized sugar training facility in East and Central Africa. Director of the NSI, Casmir Casmir, said the upgrades are already underway, with improved classrooms, offices, and the installation of new furniture designed to meet global training standards. “So far, over…

At least 68 African migrants have been killed and dozens more injured after a detention facility in northern Yemen’s Saada province was struck by an airstrike, which Houthi authorities say was carried out by the United States. The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that the facility, housing over 100 migrants at the time, was bombed in the early hours of Monday morning. Shocking footage showed bodies buried under rubble, with survivors being pulled from the debris and rushed to hospitals. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it was aware of the reports and said it is conducting a battle-damage…

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has issued a stark warning that the looming revocation of its legal status by Ethiopia’s electoral board could endanger the fragile Pretoria peace accord signed in 2022, which brought an end to two years of devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia. In a statement released on April 26, 2025, the TPLF urged both the African Union and international stakeholders to recognize the “serious threat” posed by the National Election Board of Ethiopia’s (NEBE) actions, which it says undermine commitments made under the Pretoria agreement. NEBE had suspended the TPLF’s political activity in February 2025, citing…

Few African leaders have left behind as complex and debated a legacy as Muammar Gaddafi. As the leader of Libya from 1969 until his death in 2011, Gaddafi was at once a symbol of anti-imperial defiance and a figure of authoritarian excess. His ideas about African unity, economic self-sufficiency, and global resistance to Western dominance sparked admiration and controversy in equal measure. Early Life and Political Awakening Muammar Gaddafi was born in 1942 in a desert area near Sirte, Libya, into a modest Bedouin family. His upbringing was shaped by the experiences of Italian colonialism and post-World War II occupation,…

Gamal Abdel Nasser remains one of the most recognizable figures in Africa’s 20th-century political history. As Egypt’s second president, Nasser played a crucial role in dismantling colonial influences, fostering Arab-African solidarity, and promoting a model of state-led development across the continent. However, his tenure was also marked by authoritarian practices and challenges that continue to shape debates about leadership in post-colonial Africa. Early Life and Military Background Born on January 15, 1918, in Alexandria, Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser came from a modest middle-class family. His exposure to Egyptian nationalism began early, particularly during the upheavals against British colonial rule. Nasser…

In the vast story of Africa’s liberation and state-building, few names shine with as much quiet dignity as Aden Abdulle Osman Daar, the first President of Somalia. In an era where strongmen dominated post-colonial Africa, Aden Abdulle stood out as a rare figure: a leader who believed deeply in democracy, peaceful transition of power, and the ideals of African unity. Born before the great waves of decolonization, he would live to see Somalia’s independence and lay the foundation stones of its early national dream. Early Life: A Son of Somalia’s Heartland Aden Abdulle Osman was born in 1908 in Beledweyne,…

Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, announced a major government reshuffle on Sunday, appointing new leadership in key positions as the country faces mounting pressure from al-Shabaab insurgents. In a statement delivered through a government spokesperson via an online video, Barre named Ahmed Moallim Fiqi Ahmed — a former foreign minister and national security chief — as the new defence minister, replacing Jibril Abdirashid. Additionally, Abdisaalan Abdi Ali Daay was appointed as the new foreign minister, while Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi was named second deputy prime minister. Although no official reason was given for the reshuffle, it comes as Somali…