Author: Abdihakim Kalale

The Sudanese Ministry of Health has reported a surge in dengue fever cases, with the total number rising to 773, including three fatalities. This outbreak has spread across four states, with the latest cases identified in Karari locality, Khartoum State (43 cases), and Kassala (37 cases). Dr. Hiba Omar, head of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, attributed the severity of the health crisis to a dire shortage of medicines. She highlighted that government restrictions and ongoing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are severely impeding the operations of both local and international health organizations, with aid shipments often being looted…

Three Kenyan fishermen, lured by the promise of higher wages, unknowingly boarded a vessel that led them into foreign detention. Their journey, which began as a routine fishing trip off the Kenyan coast, has turned into a harrowing ordeal, leaving their families in turmoil and the men languishing in a foreign detention center. The fishermen, aged between 26 and 50, had been recruited by a local agency offering Sh40,000 monthly salaries, a significant sum for coastal fishermen. Tempted by the offer, they agreed, unaware that the Sri Lankan captain they would work under had clandestine plans to sail far beyond…

Tax specialists are urging for a broader definition of illicit financial flows (IFFs) as Africa continues to lose billions annually through undeclared and unlawful financial activities. The current narrow interpretation, they argue, enables looters to siphon funds out of the continent, stunting economic progress. Experts are advocating for IFFs to include tax avoidance, benefits from transnational crime, corruption, and embezzlement, which they believe would facilitate stronger policies, international cooperation, and transparency. “A wider definition would ensure we capture unethical practices, which may not technically be illegal but still cause significant damage to local economies,” said Chenai Mukumba, Executive Director of…

Malik Agar, the deputy chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, has walked out of a peace forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, in protest of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attending the event. Agar had been slated to deliver a presentation concerning the situation in Sudan but chose to leave when he saw an RSF delegation arrive. In an official statement, Agar’s office described the RSF’s invitation as a “serious oversight” that undermines the suffering endured by the Sudanese populace. “It is unacceptable to impose coexistence with a militia on the Sudanese people,” the statement emphasized. The RSF delegation, led by Brigadier…

Air strikes conducted by Sudan’s military in the Hamra al-Sheikh region of North Kordofan on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 30 individuals, according to legal sources. The military targeted both Hamra al-Sheikh and Abu Zuama, key areas that connect Khartoum with the Darfur region, amid ongoing conflict. Emergency Lawyers, a human rights organization, reported that the air raids injured over 100 people, as warplanes dropped approximately six bombs on civilian neighborhoods and the main market in Hamra al-Sheikh. This attack has raised concerns over the frequency and intensity of strikes in these areas. Local residents disputed claims…

The growing influence of Egypt in Somalia’s security landscape is causing unease among international partners and countries contributing troops to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The Egyptian military is set to be deployed as part of a new security arrangement for the Horn of Africa nation following the expiry of the current African Union peacekeeping mandate. Regional security experts have indicated that rising tensions in the Horn of Africa—intensified by Egypt’s military support for Somalia and the latter’s decision to exclude Ethiopia from this new security framework—have triggered concerns among donor countries. This situation comes as the African…

As the Israeli invation and air strikes on Lebanon escalate, migrant domestic workers find themselves in dire circumstances. Among them is Soreti, an Ethiopian worker living in Tyre, who narrowly escaped a devastating attack on September 23. “It was a massacre,” she recounted from a temporary shelter housing dozens of fellow migrants, many of whom are children traumatized by the ongoing violence. Soreti is one of an estimated 175,000 to 200,000 foreign domestic workers in Lebanon, with a significant portion being Ethiopian women. They have historically come to Lebanon for low-wage jobs as caregivers, often sending money home to support…

In a significant offensive against al-Shabaab, the Somali National Army (SNA), supported by local communities and international security partners, has reported over 50 terrorist casualties during operations in the central Galgadud province. The operations targeted the militant group near the newly liberated town of Eeldheer, specifically in the areas of Bida Isse and Geriile. Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur stated at a press conference in Mogadishu that the ongoing military efforts include both ground assaults and aerial strikes aimed at crippling the operational capabilities of al-Shabaab. He emphasized that these targeted missions are part of a broader strategy to dismantle…

A Sudanese court has issued a death sentence to an individual for his support of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting the intensifying legal crackdown on perceived opponents in military-controlled regions. The convicted man, known only as M.J.M., was found guilty of “cooperating with rebel forces, undermining the constitutional system, and inciting war against the state,” as reported by state media. The ruling, delivered by a general court judge in Port Sudan, also included a 10-year sentence for another man, E.H.N., involved in the same case. This decision reflects a broader trend of expedited trials and harsh penalties, including death…

The Tanzanian government has suspended the online operations of a prominent newspaper publisher following the release of an animated advertisement that portrayed President Samia Suluhu Hassan in connection with recent abductions and murders of political dissidents. The animated advert, released on social media platforms X and Instagram by The Citizen, depicted a character resembling the president flipping through television channels, each displaying individuals discussing loved ones who had disappeared. In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) announced the suspension of Mwananchi Communications, which publishes The Citizen and other newspapers, for 30 days while further…

As Rwanda battles an outbreak of the highly lethal Marburg virus, an experimental vaccine is being deployed, marking the country’s first step in combating the deadly pathogen. Health Minister Nsanzimana Sabin announced that frontline workers, including doctors and nurses most exposed to the virus, would be the first recipients of the vaccine. The Marburg virus, akin to Ebola, is a contagious hemorrhagic fever with an 88% fatality rate. First detected on September 28, the virus has already claimed 12 lives, many of whom were healthcare professionals. Rwanda’s health authorities have received 700 doses of the experimental vaccine from the Sabin…

Efforts are in full swing in Mogadishu to plan and secure funding for the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), set to replace the current AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in three months. A joint AU-UN delegation, supported by the Somali government, troop-contributing countries (TCCs), and international stakeholders, is working on the mission’s design and financing options. This collaboration is aligned with UN Security Council resolution 2748 (2024), which stipulates a November deadline for presenting a comprehensive report on the mission’s implementation plan. General Cheick Dembele, head of AU Peace Support Operations, highlighted that discussions…

Recent remarks made by the Somali government regarding the upcoming presidential elections in Somaliland have been firmly rejected by the breakaway region’s administration as “baseless” and an attempt to undermine its sovereignty. This strong reaction follows comments made by Somali Foreign Minister Fiqi at the UN Security Council, where he raised concerns over Somali territorial integrity and the political situation in Somaliland. Somaliland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi, stressed that Somalia has no jurisdiction over Somaliland’s internal matters, including the presidential elections scheduled for November 13. In a statement released on Friday, Elmi reiterated, “The government…

A top Sudanese government official has criticized the U.S. special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, calling his approach to peace negotiations “hurried and superficial.” The official, speaking anonymously, noted that while Sudan desires peace urgently, Perriello’s strategies are not conducive to achieving it. “The envoy may have spoken about matters not meant for public discussion,” the official remarked, referencing Perriello’s recent meeting in Nairobi where he mentioned talks with the African Union about peacekeeping troops in Sudan. The official criticized Perriello’s repeated statements as “contradictory and repetitive,” arguing that they do not reflect the reality on the ground. They added…

Local activists report Sudanese military airstrikes hit the village of al-Kuma in North Darfur on Friday, killing at least 59 and injuring over 200. The attack, targeting a market on its busiest day, caused severe property damage and high civilian casualties. This escalation follows recent diplomatic visits by Sudanese officials to China, Iran, and Russia. Human rights groups have condemned the air raids, demanding a no-fly zone. North Darfur activist Abdel Rahman Mustafa said, “The bombing targeted innocent civilians, resulting in widespread deaths and market destruction.” He urged global intervention to prevent further tragedies. The Sudanese military claims the strikes…

Student enrollment in Tigray has plunged to critical levels, with only 40% of eligible students returning to school for the current academic year. According to Seyoum Hagos, Communications Director at the Tigray Education Bureau, fewer than one million students are enrolled, despite over 2.4 million being eligible. “Although the overall enrollment rate reached 40%, the situation is far worse for younger students, with fewer than 20% enrolled,” Seyoum stated, highlighting the mounting education crisis in the region. One of the major obstacles is the fact that more than 106 schools are currently being used as shelters for internally displaced persons…