The Kenyan president is the first African leader invited for a state visit to the U.S. in fifteen years. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Meron Elias examines what both sides hope to gain from a trip that comes amid sharpening geopolitical competition in Africa. What is happening? On 23 May, President William Ruto will begin a state visit to...
May 29, 2025
Mr. James Swan of the United States – Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the designation of James Swan of the United States as his Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). Mr. Swan will act as Special Representative for a temporary period following the departure of Catriona Laing of the United Kingdom, to whom the Secretary-General is...
Earthquake in Ethiopia may damage GERD: Professor
Professor of Geology and Water Resources at the Cairo University Abbas Sharaky said that Ethiopia witnessed an earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale on Monday, and warned that it may have serious repercussions. Al-Shorouk newspaper reported Sharaky saying that though the earthquake is moderate in strength, its magnitude is large for the African region which does not have the necessary preparations...
A Husband Burning His Wife to Death-A Grim reality at a glance
By Othman Hassan Family values and the role of the husband hold significant importance in Somali culture, which is deeply rooted in traditions and social structures that prioritize family cohesion and responsibilities. The husband’s responsibilities as provider, protector, spiritual guide, and role model are integral to maintaining the family’s well-being and cohesion. On the hand, traditionally the wives are the...
4m Somalia children hit by war and climate change, experts say
As Somali forces navigate a delicate transition to assume the country’s security responsibilities from African Union peacekeepers who have secured civilians and personnel of international agencies for the past 17 years, experts say that four million children in Somalia have been affected by conflict and climate change. Isha Dyfan, UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Somalia, announced...
Identity, social organization, and governance
By Abdulkadir Osman Farah, PhD “Yaa ayuha naasu innaa khalaqnaakum min dakarin waunthaa, wajacalnaakum shucuuban waqabaaila litacaarafuu, inna akramakum cindallaahi atqaakum” (Oh humankind! We have created you male and female and have made you nations and tribes so that you may come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you is the most Allah-conscious of you) [Q-49:13]. “Soomaali baan...
EU allocates €1M to combat cholera outbreak as death toll in Ethiopia mounts to above 500
Addis Abeba – The EU has allocated emergency humanitarian funding of €1 million to help Ethiopia address the cholera outbreak currently affecting the country. Since August 2022, when the cholera epidemic first broke out, Ethiopia has reported a cumulative total of 44,044 cases, including 571 deaths, the EU said. Ethiopia’s ongoing cholera outbreak picked up an unprecedented pace since March 2023, with over 2,276...
Poor Kenyans feel devastated by floods and brutalized by the government’s response
NAIROBI, Kenya — Winnie Makinda, 35, says she is facing the worst crisis and lowest moment of her life because of the Kenyan government’s response to floods that devastated her poor community in the capital of Nairobi. The floods and mudslides swept away people and inundated homes, killing at least 267 people and impacting more than 380,000, according to government statistics. The...
Woman street cleaner injured in Mogadishu explosion finds new life in Garowe
(ERGO) – Maryan Ahmed Ali is delighted that her three children are now in school thanks to the tuk-tuk she was given by a generous well-wisher that is enabling her to make a living to support her family. Maryan was severely injured in a car explosion at Mogadishu’s Sobe intersection in 2022, in which she lost both her hands. She had...
Internet outage felt across East Africa
Internet users in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda have been complaining about poor connectivity as service providers across East Africa acknowledge there has been a problem. They have said they are working to fix it. The patchy service was a result of faults in the under-sea cables that connect the region to the rest of the world through South Africa,...