By Batseba Kasahun Addis Abeba – The illegal gold trade in Tigray has grown into a highly militarized, violent, and exploitative enterprise with far-reaching consequences. This trade involves a complex network of local and international actors, whose activities have not only devastated the region’s environment and economy but also fueled conflicts and regional instability. Recent investigations reveal...
By EVELYNE MUSAMBI NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three African politicians seeking to head the African Union detailed their plans on Friday for regional security amid conflicts and political coups while strongly advocating for inter-Africa trade among other issues. Raila Odinga of Kenya, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar are seeking to be...
For three years, Omar Mohamud Ali, 60, and his family of six have lived in Biyo iyo Caano internal displacement camp in Mogadishu’s Kahda district, yearning for their old farming life back home in Lower Shabelle region. Omar was a farmer for 15 years in Yaaqbariwayne in Lower Shabelle, where the family had a self-reliant...
Stewart Maclean & Danai Nesta Kupemba The UK and US governments have imposed sanctions on a British-Kenyan businessman over his alleged involvement in the illicit gold trade. Kamlesh Pattni, and four others including his wife and brother-in-law, will have their assets frozen, a statement from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office, external read. He was implicated...
MOSCOW, (Reuters) – The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had left office and departed the country after giving orders there be a peaceful handover of power. In a statement, the ministry did not say where Assad was now and said Russia has not taken part in the talks around...
Elders from North Eastern region have raised fears over an influx of refugees in the country caused by rising tensions in the Horn of Africa over the independence of Somaliland. Over the past years, the contention on the independence of Somaliland has caused diplomatic incidents, especially between Somalia, Kenya, Egypt and Ethiopia. Somaliland, which has...
Somalia on Friday accused Ethiopia of interfering in its southern Jubaland region, the latest upset in a nearly year-long bitter dispute between the two nations. The neighbours have been at loggerheads since landlocked Ethiopia in January struck a deal with Somalia’s breakaway region Somaliland to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military...
Mogadishu, 161 Somali migrants, stranded in Libya, were welcomed home by Cabinet Ministers from the Federal Government of Somalia and the Special Presidential Envoy for Migration, Returns and Children’s Rights (OSPE). This assistance was funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The chartered flight carrying the migrants...
By Mohammed Omar Ahmed (Bloomberg) — Somalia’s biggest telecommunications firm plans to build more green data centers to support the growing demands of the local and the global AI economy, Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Mohamud Yusuf said. Hormuud Telecom Somalia Inc.’s investment in solar-powered data centers continues despite upheaval in the Horn of African nation. “We...
ByOMAR FARUK MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Chinese-owned fishing vessel with 18 crew members aboard was hijacked last week off the northeastern coast of Somalia, local authorities said Friday. An official in Xaafuun district in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, where the vessel is being held, told journalists that the hijackers include the ship’s security guards, who...