Author: Abdihakim Kalale

The cholera crisis in Sudan continues to worsen, with the Ministry of Health reporting on Thursday that the number of confirmed cases has surged beyond 19,000, alongside 566 recorded deaths. This devastating outbreak, which began on August 12, was triggered by severe flooding across the country. The accumulation of stagnant water has created ideal conditions for the spread of cholera, raising alarms over the potential for the disease to expand further. According to the ministry’s Emergency Operations Center, 190 new cases and two additional deaths were registered in the states of Kassala, River Nile, and Gedaref. This brings the cumulative…

Ethiopia’s National Defense Force (ENDF) has intensified its military operations against the Fano militia in the Amhara region, according to an official army statement released on Tuesday. The operation is part of a broader effort to quell ongoing conflict in the region, despite repeated calls from international organizations and human rights groups for dialogue and a peaceful resolution. Colonel Getnet Adane, the spokesperson for the ENDF, confirmed that the operation began over the past weekend in collaboration with regional security forces. “We have tried all peaceful means, but they have refused to listen. Now, we will speak the only language…

New International Mission Planned as Somalia Prepares for ATMIS ExitWith just months left before the African Union forces leave Somalia, international stakeholders are working to finalize plans for a new stabilization mission, AUSSOM (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia). This mission, set to replace the current ATMIS operation by January 2025, aims to support Somali forces as they gradually take over full responsibility for national security. At a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., the Somalia Quint Group—which includes the U.S., Qatar, Türkiye, the UAE, and the UK—emphasized the urgency of securing financial and logistical backing for AUSSOM. The…

The Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti has confirmed that all 48 victims of the fatal migrant incident off Djibouti’s coast were Ethiopian nationals. The tragedy occurred on October 1, 2024, when two overloaded boats, carrying a total of 320 migrants from Yemen, capsized in the waters near Djibouti. A statement from the embassy revealed that a team sent to the scene confirmed the identity of all deceased as Ethiopian citizens. Of the 320 passengers, 197 were rescued and transferred to a refugee camp in Obock, Djibouti, while 75 remain missing, according to officials. Expressing profound grief over the disaster, the embassy…

Heavy combat erupted on Thursday in the Jabal Moya region of southeast Sennar state between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Following the clash, both sides declared victory. Army officers claimed to have retaken the strategic peak, which overlooks critical roadways connecting Sennar to neighboring states. However, the RSF disputed the claim, stating that it inflicted heavy casualties and repelled the army’s offensive.“Our forces took complete control of the Jabal Moya al-Mahatta area,” an army source told Sudanese Journal. He added that the army had established “major checkpoints” about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the main…

A Turkish ship is scheduled to explore for hydrocarbons off the coast of Somalia. Türkiye’s seismic research vessel, Oruç Reis, is set to visit Somalia this coming weekend, according to Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar. During a conference held on October 2 in the capital city of Ankara, the minister announced the deployment. This follows an agreement made between Turkey and Somalia to explore hydrocarbons in three specified offshore blocks. As per the July agreement, Türkiye will have exclusive authority to investigate and extract hydrocarbons in these blocks, each covering an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometers.…

Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) announced on Wednesday that a major power outage has impacted towns in eastern Ethiopia, the Ethio-Djibouti railway, and parts of Djibouti. The outage was triggered by the theft of a power transmission tower along the 230-kilovolt Kokaa-Hurso power transmission line. The affected area includes Benti Village in the Awash Fentale district of the Afar Region, near a location known as Awash Park. According to a statement by Alemayehu Zeberga, Director of the Operations and Maintenance Directorate for the central regions, the theft caused significant damage to the power infrastructure, severely affecting the power supply to both…

On October 3, 1993, a tragic chapter in U.S. military history unfolded in Mogadishu, Somalia, when 18 American soldiers were killed in what would later be known as the Battle of Mogadishu. This event, which also left more than 70 soldiers wounded, became a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy, ultimately leading to the withdrawal of American forces from Somalia. Background: U.S. Mission in SomaliaIn the early 1990s, Somalia was gripped by civil war and widespread famine, which led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The international community, under the auspices of the United Nations, initiated a…

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassador to Kenya, Ali Gholampour, met with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations in light of significant regional developments. The talks primarily addressed critical geopolitical challenges while strengthening connections between the two countries, according to a statement from the Iranian Embassy in Kenya. The seriousness of the current regional tensions was underscored by the summit occurring just hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Israel. Both leaders emphasized the importance of fortifying their countries’ ties while navigating this complex environment. Although specifics of the talks were not disclosed, the Iranian…

At least 20 people were killed in a heavy weapon attack over the weekend near Gondar City in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. The attack occurred on September 29, 2024, according to residents of Ayemba Village in the Dembia district, who reported the incident to the media. Additionally, sources from the South Gondar Zone informed Ethiopian media that intense fighting has persisted between the Fano militia and government security forces, particularly in the Kimir Dingay district. A resident of Ayemba Village, speaking anonymously, described the situation: “The government security forces stationed at the Azezo camp were firing ZU-23, BM, and mortars.” The…

As tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, Kenya is carefully navigating its diplomatic relations in the region. Positioned strategically in East Africa, Kenya faces the challenge of balancing relationships with multiple stakeholders involved in the conflict. Despite security concerns from terrorism and extremist groups, Kenya has refrained from taking a stance on the ongoing situation. The government is mindful that any comment could further complicate matters and affect its foreign policy, which has long aimed at maintaining neutrality. Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for foreign affairs and prime minister, issued a statement expressing the government’s concern. In a message to…

Kenya’s parliament has initiated a move to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for alleged constitutional violations, following reports of growing tensions between him and President William Ruto. On Tuesday, supporters of President Ruto made a historic political move by officially beginning the process to impeach Gachagua. Since March, Kenya has faced political unrest marked by deadly protests over inflation, price hikes, and unpopular tax increases. Gachagua has been accused by lawmakers of stoking ethnic tensions and undermining the government. There are also allegations of a rift between him and Ruto, with Gachagua claiming he has been sidelined. He has also…

Fano forces in Ethiopia’s Amhara region released a statement on Monday, addressing the Ethiopian government’s ongoing military campaign in the region. The statement, written in Amharic, responded to what they described as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s “final large-scale military operation” targeting Fano troops in four key areas of the Amhara region. In their statement, Fano troops accused the government of committing atrocities against ethnic Amhara civilians and claimed that authorities were confiscating weapons from towns and cities under their control. They also alleged that the government was preparing for a significant military campaign and claimed to have completed their own…

Five members of Al-Shabaab were apprehended by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) during an operation in Mogadishu, successfully preventing a planned attack on the nation’s capital. In a statement, NISA confirmed the terrorists were captured with weapons and explosives intended to inflict harm on civilians. The operation was launched in response to prior intelligence and aimed at stopping the group from executing a series of strikes in Mogadishu. “Our agents apprehended five individuals who were planning violent acts in the city. During the arrests, we seized weapons and explosives intended to target civilians in Mogadishu,” NISA announced. The…

Kenya has now confirmed a total of nine Mpox cases, following the verification of one additional case. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has tested 227 samples, with 211 negative results and seven currently under testing, Health CS Deborah Barasa announced. The first case of Mpox in Kenya was identified on July 24, 2024, involving a male truck driver at the Taita-Taveta one-stop border point (OSBP). The latest case, according to CS Barasa, involves a 37-year-old male truck driver who had traveled to Rwanda and Uganda. “Our surveillance team in Nakuru county identified the case,” CS Barasa confirmed. The nine…

For five consecutive days, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese army, has commanded an offensive to regain Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Supported by air and artillery, the army launched a major ground offensive from Omdurman, gaining control of key districts such as Moqran and Halfaya. RSF forces retreated southward. Additionally, Burhan inspected front-line operations near the Khartoum oil refinery, aiming to secure supply routes and reinforce the army’s position across strategic fronts in the capital. Burhan also visited Shendi and Kadru military zones, reviewing operations of the 3rd Infantry Division. His first visit to…