Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Ethiopia has officially announced its bid to join the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB), signaling its intention to deepen economic ties with emerging global partners and strengthen key domestic sectors. According to Ethiopia’s ambassador to Brazil, Leulseged Tadese Abebe, Addis Ababa has submitted a formal membership application and is awaiting final confirmation. “We are fully committed to all frameworks within the BRICS structure, and the New Development Bank is a vital pillar for us,” said the ambassador. He noted that the country has received strong political backing from existing BRICS member states and expressed optimism that the membership process will…

A Sudanese oil firm has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Russian companies to strengthen cooperation in petroleum services, signaling deepening ties between Khartoum and Moscow ahead of a major bilateral summit. The agreement, signed Saturday, brings together Sudan’s Bashayer Pipeline Company (BAPCO), Russia’s Al-Rossi Global Services, and the state-owned Zarubezhneft. The deal comes just days before the upcoming Sudan-Russia Joint Ministerial Committee meeting, which is expected to cover a wide range of cooperation, particularly in the extractive industries. Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum confirmed the MoU signing, which took place in the presence of Russian Embassy…

Somali security forces faced a major security breach late Saturday night after militant group Al-Shabaab carried out a coordinated attack on military positions in Elasha Biyaha, a strategically located area just 15 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu. The assault, which began with explosions and was followed by hours of heavy gunfire, targeted personnel from the Somali National Army (SNA) and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Eyewitnesses described intense clashes involving both light and heavy weapons, leaving several casualties. The government has yet to release official figures on the number of dead or injured. Elasha Biyaha has long been a…

Sudan’s ongoing civil war has taken a troubling turn as evidence emerges linking Bulgarian-made weapons, originally exported to the United Arab Emirates, to fighters on the ground. Despite a European Union arms embargo on Sudan, 15,000 mortar shells manufactured by Bulgaria’s Dunarit company were reportedly used by Sudanese paramilitary forces, raising fresh concerns about illicit arms flows fueling the brutal conflict. The weapons, according to Bulgarian officials, were legally sold to the UAE’s Ministry of Defense in 2020. Sofia maintains that it has not violated any sanctions, citing end-user certificates and proper documentation. “The products were delivered to a government…

Tanzania’s leading opposition party, CHADEMA, has raised alarm over the mysterious whereabouts of its leader Tundu Lissu, who was arrested last week on treason charges. According to party officials, lawyers, and family members, repeated attempts to locate Lissu at Keko Prison in Dar es Salaam on Friday were unsuccessful, prompting concerns over his safety and detention conditions. Lissu, a former presidential candidate and vocal critic of the government, has been in custody since April 9 following allegations that he incited rebellion during a recent speech. Authorities have yet to allow him to enter a plea, and the charges have sparked…

The death toll from a devastating boat fire and capsizing on the Congo River earlier this week has risen to 148, with more than 100 people still missing, officials confirmed on Friday. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday when a wooden vessel carrying around 500 passengers caught fire and sank near the town of Mbandaka in the country’s north-west. The fire reportedly started when a passenger was cooking on board the boat, which quickly spread, leading to chaos as people attempted to escape. Many passengers, including women and children, jumped into the river in panic but drowned as they were…

According to Shabelle Media Network United States has formally opposed a United Nations initiative to finance the African Union’s new mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, raising concerns about the future of efforts to stabilize the country and combat al-Shabaab insurgents. AUSSOM, which began operations in January 2025, aims to support Somalia’s security forces and consolidate peace in areas liberated from militants. The mission is set to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which is gradually winding down its operations. Ahead of a key U.N. Security Council vote on May 15, Washington declared its opposition to a…

In the fierce struggle for African liberation, few names resonate with such electrifying clarity as Patrice Émery Lumumba. The first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a towering figure in Africa’s anti-colonial history, Lumumba’s life was both a beacon of resistance and a tragedy forged by imperial betrayal. Though assassinated within months of Congo’s independence, his vision of a free, united, and sovereign Africa continues to burn in the hearts of those who reject subjugation in all its forms. Origins of a Revolutionary: From Humble Beginnings Born on July 2, 1925, in Onalua, in the Kasai…

In the annals of modern African history, few names shine as brightly and controversially as that of Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso whose short tenure from 1983 to 1987 shook the very foundations of neocolonialism, corruption, and complacency in Africa. Known as “Africa’s Che Guevara,” Sankara was much more than a symbol of radicalism; he was a pragmatic visionary who sought to redefine what it meant to be free, African, and independent in a post-colonial world still held hostage by Western interests. Early Life: The Birth of a Revolutionary Born on December 21, 1949, in Yako, a…

Tanzania has announced a bold new trade policy stance, threatening to impose sweeping restrictions on agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa unless the two countries lift what it calls unfair non-tariff barriers on Tanzanian farm products. Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe delivered the ultimatum via social media, warning that Dar es Salaam will suspend all fertilizer exports to Malawi and halt the transit of agricultural goods from both nations through Tanzanian territory—including its ports—if the restrictions are not lifted by Wednesday next week. Bashe criticized the continued bans on key Tanzanian exports such as bananas, flour, maize, ginger, and rice.…

Kenya’s Central Bank has announced it will lift its nine-year ban on licensing new commercial banks by July 1, 2025, marking a significant turning point for the country’s financial sector. The move is expected to usher in a wave of competition, innovation, and foreign investment in East Africa’s largest economy. The moratorium, which has been in place since November 2015, was originally imposed to address weaknesses in governance and risk management across the banking industry. Over the years, the pause allowed for major reforms and sector consolidation, positioning Kenya for a more robust financial future. In a statement released this…

Premier African Minerals Faces Uncertainty as Ethiopia Revokes Mining License of Key Partner Premier African Minerals Limited is navigating fresh turbulence after the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines revoked the Mining and License Agreement (MLA) held by Circum Minerals Limited, a company in which Premier has an indirect but substantial stake. The license termination comes amid an ongoing Force Majeure declared by Circum in September 2022—an extraordinary legal status that typically shields companies from penalties due to unforeseeable disruptions. Premier’s interest in Circum is held through Vortex Limited, which owns 36.7% of Circum’s shares. Premier itself holds a 13.1% stake in…

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, has initiated a sweeping cabinet reshuffle by removing key ministers, signaling a potential overhaul of the transitional government structure. Foreign Minister Ali Yousif and Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Omer Bakhit were among those dismissed, both confirming their exits via separate social media statements. Their removal comes just five months after being appointed in a limited reshuffle that aimed to recalibrate the government during a period of escalating internal conflict. Yousif, reflecting on his tenure, expressed satisfaction with his contributions amid what he described as “enormous challenges.” He thanked his…

The war in Sudan has taken a devastating toll on the country’s health sector, with alarming reports of targeted violence against medical professionals. According to the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, more than 230 doctors have been killed since the conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The syndicate’s Steering Committee revealed that nine female doctors were raped, and two others abducted when RSF fighters advanced into Gezira State. In addition, both warring factions are accused of arresting over 30 doctors and abducting at least 20 more, whose fates remain unknown. Adeeba Ibrahim Al-Sayed,…

The Somali National Army, with support from US Africa Command (AFRICOM), has launched decisive counteroffensives against al-Shabaab, killing at least 47 militants in separate operations in Middle Shabelle and South West State. The operations come amid growing concerns of a jihadist resurgence in Somalia following a series of bold al-Shabaab attacks. In the central town of Aadan Yabaal, Somali forces carried out a joint airstrike late Wednesday targeting a militant gathering. The Somali Ministry of Information confirmed that 12 al-Shabaab fighters — referred to as “Khawaarij” by the government — including senior operatives, were killed. The strike, coordinated with AFRICOM,…

As traditional powers like France and the United States lose influence across the continent, African nations are increasingly embracing Türkiye’s rising role as a strategic partner — one that promises mutual benefit rather than dominance. At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held from April 11–13, Türkiye showcased its deepening ties with Africa through diplomacy, military cooperation, and economic engagement. Leaders such as Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joined Turkish officials in a display of growing South–South solidarity. For many African nations, Türkiye’s “win-win” approach — rooted in respect, reciprocity, and shared development — is emerging as a credible “third way” amid…