Author: Abdihakim Kalale

Somalia continues to feel Türkiye’s growing influence, not only through infrastructure, health, and education projects but also through personal stories like Daqane’s — young Somalis who studied in Türkiye and returned home to contribute to their nation’s development. “I had no plan to go to Türkiye,” Daqane recalls. “Two Turkish officials came to our school to conduct an exam. I took it, and the next day I learned I had passed. At first, I couldn’t believe it. I was scared — I was young, heading to a new culture, a new language, and a foreign country all alone.” With her…

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Friday dismissed and replaced several senior military leaders as part of a major shake-up of the country’s security structure. The move follows persistent insecurity in the north and renewed rumours of a coup attempt. In a statement, Tinubu said the decision aimed “to further strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.” Those removed include Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ogalla, and Chief of Air Staff Hassan Abubakar. Olufemi Oluyede, former army chief, has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Shaibu, I Abbas, and SK Aneke were named…

For many Tanzanians, election season brings excitement and civic engagement. But for people with albinism, it revives deep fear. Mariam Staford, a 42-year-old woman living in northern Tanzania, says every election brings back memories of violence. “The first thing that comes to me is fear,” she told the BBC, explaining that she avoids campaign rallies due to rising witchcraft-related killings that often spike during elections. Albinism affects around 30,000 Tanzanians, a genetic condition marked by lack of skin pigment. However, widespread superstitions have made them targets of ritual killings. Believers falsely claim that their body parts bring wealth or political…

Former government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary has declared himself the winner of Cameroon’s 12 October presidential election, challenging long-time leader Paul Biya, who has ruled the country for more than four decades. Tchiroma Bakary, 76, told the BBC that he would “never accept stolen votes,” claiming his team’s tally shows him leading with about 55% of the vote. The official results, due to be announced Monday, are expected to be disputed amid mounting tensions. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) dismissed Bakary’s declaration as “illegal,” insisting that only the Constitutional Council can certify the results. A former transport and…

Ivorians are preparing to vote in a high-stakes presidential election overshadowed by discontent over President Alassane Ouattara’s decision to seek a fourth consecutive term and the disqualification of major opposition leaders. The 83-year-old incumbent, who argues that the 2016 constitutional reform reset term limits, faces growing criticism for undermining democracy. The vote comes amid a ban on protests, tightened security, and fears of violence reminiscent of past elections that plunged the nation into crisis. Ouattara, who has ruled since 2010, campaigns on stability and economic growth. Supporters credit him for infrastructure progress, while critics accuse his government of suppressing dissent…

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched another wave of drone attacks on Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and its international airport on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive day of sustained strikes. The assault has raised fears about the safety of air operations just days before the airport was due to reopen. Residents near Khartoum International Airport reported hearing drones and surface-to-air missiles overnight, followed by loud explosions in the early morning hours. It remains unclear whether the airport was directly hit or the extent of any potential damage. The attacks come after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Khartoum from the RSF…

The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) has temporarily suspended the local correspondents of Deutsche Welle (DW), the German state-funded international broadcaster, over alleged violations of national media laws and professional ethics. In a statement on Thursday, DW confirmed that it received a letter from the EMA accusing its Ethiopia-based journalists of breaching regulations, though the Authority has not yet made the decision public. DW said the suspension, which took effect immediately, affects nine correspondents working across cities including Addis Ababa, Mekelle, Bahir Dar, Hawassa, Dire Dawa, Dessie, and Assosa. The EMA did not specify how long the suspension will last. The…

The Nigerian military announced Thursday that its troops killed at least 50 Boko Haram fighters during intense clashes in the country’s northeast, marking a major counterterrorism success in the volatile region. According to military spokesman Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the attacks occurred early Thursday when Boko Haram militants launched coordinated assaults on military bases in Dikwa, Mafa, and Gajibo in Borno State, as well as Katarko in neighboring Yobe State. Troops reportedly repelled the assaults “with overwhelming and lethal force,” killing dozens of militants and recovering significant weaponry, including 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two…

In a statement, Masra’s party Les Transformateurs said his condition had worsened since his imprisonment earlier this year, calling for his provisional release on medical grounds. The statement added that an official request for medical evacuation, supported by his doctor, had been submitted to authorities but remains unanswered. Masra was arrested in May 2025 in N’Djamena following inter-communal clashes in Logone Occidental province that left at least 42 people dead. He was later sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges including hate speech, xenophobia, and inciting violence. The former prime minister had gone on a hunger strike in June…

According to an order issued on October 20 by ICJ President Judge Yuji Iwasawa, Israel’s new deadline for presenting its Counter-Memorial has been extended to March 12, 2026. Israel had requested another extension, arguing that certain evidence submitted by South Africa was incomplete or only available through online links, making review difficult. The country also cited its ongoing participation in separate UN legal proceedings related to the occupied Palestinian territories. The court had originally set July 28, 2025, as Israel’s deadline, following South Africa’s timely submission in October 2024. After a previous request earlier this year, Israel was granted an…

At least 40 migrants, including several children, have died after a boat carrying dozens of people sank off Tunisia’s central coast, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The vessel went down near the Mediterranean port city of Mahdia while carrying around 70 migrants, most of whom were from sub-Saharan African countries. About 30 survivors were rescued, and a search operation is continuing, local officials said. Tunisian authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the sinking, one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the region this year. Tunisia has become a major departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe,…

Khartoum International Airport has resumed domestic flights for the first time since the outbreak of Sudan’s conflict in April 2023. The reopening on Wednesday marks a symbolic and practical step toward reconnecting the country after more than two years of isolation. The first civilian aircraft, operated by Badr Airlines, arrived from Port Sudan, signaling the start of limited air services. The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority said operations would gradually expand as security conditions improve. The airport’s reopening had been delayed earlier in the week following drone attacks near the facility, highlighting the fragile situation in the capital. Authorities and aid…

Ivory Coast heads to the polls this Saturday in a closely watched presidential election that pits an 83-year-old incumbent, a former first lady, and a business tycoon against one another, as questions mount over the future of democracy in the world’s top cocoa producer. President Alassane Dramane Ouattara, known simply as “Ado” to his supporters, seeks a fourth term in office, citing the constitution’s allowance for his candidacy. Critics, however, view his continued rule as a setback for democratic transition, arguing that his long leadership risks deepening political fatigue. Among those challenging Ouattara are Simone Gbagbo, the former first lady…

The Sudanese government has accused the European Union (EU) of granting legitimacy to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) while ignoring the group’s human rights violations against civilians. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khartoum said that recent comments by the European Council reflect a “biased and misleading” understanding of the conflict, claiming that the EU prioritizes its political interests over Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU had earlier stated that it sought to support a civilian-led transition and was in contact with all parties involved in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. However, Sudan’s government rejected what it…

A United States missionary working for the evangelical organisation Serving in Mission (SIM) has been abducted in Niamey, Niger’s capital, the US State Department confirmed on Wednesday. The incident marks the latest in a string of kidnappings targeting foreign nationals in the Sahel region. According to diplomatic sources, the man, aged in his 50s, was seized by three unidentified assailants near Niamey’s Plateau district, close to the presidential palace, as he was heading to the airport. He was reportedly being taken toward the border with Mali, an area known for the presence of armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and…

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, is contesting her first presidential election. She is seeking a fresh mandate to extend her leadership and strengthen her position within the ruling party. The elections will be held under a first-past-the-post system, with voters electing both the president and vice president through a simple majority. Tanzania’s parliament will also be renewed, with 264 constituency seats — 214 from the mainland and 50 from Zanzibar — alongside 113 seats reserved for women representatives. While 17 candidates were initially approved, only Hassan’s CCM remains nationally active…