Author: Abdihakim Kalale

A recent drone strike and heavy clashes on November 5, 2024, in Ethiopia’s West Gojjam Zone have left numerous fatalities, including Fano militia members and civilians, according to local reports. The attack, which occurred in Durbete town within the Achefer district, reportedly involved aerial strikes targeting areas where Fano fighters were undergoing training. One resident described intense fighting and airstrikes that resulted in 16 Fano fighters killed. He also noted that bombs dropped by drones struck civilian areas, leading to additional casualties among residents. Another witness confirmed the deadly drone strike, stating, “More than 30 people have been killed, and…

The ongoing siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Al-Hilaliya, a town in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state, has led to a reported 67 fatalities, with allegations of severe human rights abuses and critical humanitarian shortages. The town, located about 70 km northeast of Wad Madani, has faced weeks of isolation since the local RSF commander defected to the Sudanese army, intensifying local tensions and violence. A civil society group, the Al Jazirah Conference, announced Wednesday that at least 13 residents were killed in direct clashes, while an additional 54 deaths were linked to suspected poisoning from contaminated food.…

Following Republican candidate Donald Trump’s projected U.S. presidential election victory, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was the first African leader to extend congratulations, signaling possible shifts in Ethiopia-U.S. relations. This outreach is notable after recent diplomatic tensions, including the Pretoria Agreement and criticism from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa. Many hope a Republican-led administration might take a new approach to relations with Ethiopia, as suggested by Abiy’s early congratulatory message. Other African leaders followed suit, including Sudan’s Sovereign Council Head Abdelfattah al-Burhan, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Kenya’s President William Ruto, all expressing optimism about strengthening relations under…

Local authorities in Eastern Equatoria State’s Kapoeta South County reported that a gold mine collapse in Nakiki Village last Wednesday left ten miners dead and several others injured. The incident, triggered by intense rainfall, caused a shaft around 8 to 9 meters deep to cave in on workers. Emergency teams recovered five bodies, but five others remain trapped within the site. Three miners who sustained injuries were taken to Kapoeta Civil Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Hospital Director Dr. John Isaac confirmed that the injured men are stable, with injuries ranging from mild to moderate. This latest incident adds…

Kenyan police launched an intelligence-led operation against two al-Shabaab camps in Garissa, recovering bomb-making materials. The camps, located on the Kenya-Somalia border, were set up for assembling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to disrupt civil transport and commerce on major roads between Garissa and Lamu counties. The operation, led by Kenya’s elite Special Operations Group (SOG), resulted in the discovery of detonators, IED cylinders, bullets, and communication equipment, which were left behind when the terrorists fled. The police thanked the local communities for their cooperation in sharing intelligence. This operation comes shortly after an IED attack on November 2 that damaged…

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has arrived in Havana, Cuba, today for a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations and exploring new socio-economic opportunities between Tanzania and Cuba. Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, is already in Havana to prepare for the visit. During her stay, President Samia will meet with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez tomorrow for discussions on bilateral cooperation and other shared challenges. Additionally, she will visit the José Martí Memorial and lay a wreath in honor of Cuba’s national hero. She will also unveil a statue of Tanzania’s first…

A Juvenile Court in Kos, Greece, acquitted a Somali asylum seeker, M.A., of all charges after he was accused of aiding the unauthorized entry of other migrants. The case, which drew significant attention, centered on M.A.’s action of lending his mobile phone to a fellow traveler to contact an NGO for assistance. This act, initially interpreted as facilitating illegal migration, was ruled as not constituting a criminal offense. M.A., who arrived in Greece as an unaccompanied minor, faced charges that included involvement in a criminal network and unlawful entry. However, the court cleared him of all allegations, reinforcing his legal…

Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives has formally approved a $738.2 million loan for South Sudan, aimed at financing a crucial cross-border highway linking the two nations. This decision, made during the fourth regular session of the House, solidifies a 2023 agreement that will see the construction of a 220-kilometer road designed to improve trade and connectivity between Ethiopia and South Sudan. The terms of the loan stipulate that South Sudan will repay the amount over a period of ten years, with a five-year grace period. Repayments are to be made either in cash or in crude oil, to be transported…

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that thousands of civilians are fleeing Sudan’s Al Jazirah State due to a surge in violence that has forced over 500,000 people from their homes since October 20. According to the Sudan INGO Forum, this recent wave of hostilities in eastern Al Jazirah has led to some of the most extreme violence witnessed in the last 18 months, prompting calls for urgent international intervention to protect civilians and ensure safe aid delivery across Sudan. Reports indicate that the violence began after a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander…

Kenya’s President William Ruto is set to travel to South Sudan today to brief President Salva Kiir on the progress of the Tumaini Initiative, a Kenya-led peace mediation between South Sudan’s government and opposition groups that did not sign the 2018 peace agreement. Ruto’s visit follows recent discussions with both South Sudan government and opposition representatives, aiming to reach a consensus on peace mechanisms. During a Tuesday press conference, South Sudan’s Presidential Press Secretary, Lily Martin Manyiel, announced that President Ruto will meet President Kiir to discuss ongoing developments and clear up any rumors surrounding South Sudan’s commitment to the…

Sudan lodged a formal complaint with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on November 1, accusing Chad of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with weapons, ammunition, and mercenaries, which has allegedly escalated the conflict in Sudan. At the same time, the African Union (AU) voiced alarm over escalating human rights abuses in the region and urged an immediate end to hostilities and humanitarian violations. Justice Minister Moawia Osman announced Sudan’s complaint, asserting that Chad’s alleged assistance to the RSF implicates it in severe violations, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, referencing the June 2023…

A Kenyan delegation arrived in Kismayo on Monday to address rising political tensions between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe regarding upcoming election preparations. The delegation, comprising prominent figures like former IGAD Secretary General Mahbub Moalim, ex-IGAD Special Envoy to Somalia Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey, and Wajir Senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan Olow, aims to facilitate a resolution between the Somali leaders. Jubbaland’s Presidential Palace confirmed that Ahmed Madobe met with the Kenyan team at the request of President Mohamud, who sought Kenya’s help in addressing the rift. Tensions between Mohamud and Madobe emerged after Madobe walked…

Kenya’s exports to African countries saw a 26% increase in the first seven months of 2024, bolstered by enhanced shipments and stronger regional relations, according to a new economic report from the Central Bank of Kenya released on Monday. The report highlights that exports grew to 248.7 billion Kenyan Shillings (approximately 1.93 billion USD) in this period, up from 1.53 billion USD during the same timeframe in 2023. Key destinations for Kenyan exports included Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DR Congo, and South Africa, where demand for goods such as re-exported oil and lubricants, tea, coffee, animal products, vegetable fats, clinker, wheat…

A tribal leader in North Darfur has issued a warning of possible large-scale attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on several localities, potentially intensifying Sudan’s ongoing conflict. Saleh Abdallah, head of the Zaghawa tribal council, stated that RSF forces plan to advance on the al-Tina, Umbaru, and Karnoi areas, launching from their positions in neighboring West Darfur. He claimed these localities, currently under partial control by the Sudanese army and its allies, face imminent assault. “We believe they’re preparing to move on our lands,” Abdallah said in an audio message shared with Sudanese media, adding that local fighters are…

A curfew has been enacted in En Nuhud, West Kordofan, following violent clashes on Monday that resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals, including a police officer. The unrest began when members of the Reserve Forces, a militia aligned with the army, attempted to seize a customs police vehicle. The commander of the Reserve Forces, Hamad al-Safi Hamad, stated they were following directives from a state security committee, which ordered them to mobilize government vehicles for the ongoing conflict against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Police intervened to reclaim the vehicle, leading to a violent confrontation at the…

Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, has announced a pause on new sign-ups for its residential plans in several urban centers across Africa due to network capacity challenges. The company is currently prioritizing efforts to expand its service capacity in densely populated areas to accommodate the rising demand for internet connectivity. However, it reassured potential users that rural regions still have sufficient internet coverage. In a recent statement, Starlink noted, “We are actively working to enhance internet capacity in Africa’s bustling urban regions. Importantly, significant service availability persists outside major metropolitan areas.” The decision to halt new subscriptions was initially…