Author: Abdihakim Kalale

AU Consultation on Climate Change, Peace, and Security Concludes in Nairobi The African Union Commission (AUC) successfully concluded a three-day consultation in Nairobi, Kenya, on the Common African Position on Climate Change, Peace, and Security. The event aimed to address policy gaps, enhance decision-making processes, secure funding, and strengthen technical capacities to address the intersection of climate change, peace, and security. The consultation provided a platform for discussing the impact of climate change on security and peace, identifying opportunities for engagement, and proposing solutions for both current and future challenges. Participants dedicated significant effort over the three days to refining…

UN Allocates $15 Million to Ethiopia for Emergency Relief The United Nations has allocated $15 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to Ethiopia to provide urgent assistance to millions of people affected by disease outbreaks, hunger, displacement, and climate-related disasters. This funding will support critical interventions such as food aid, shelter, health services, and protection efforts, particularly in regions severely impacted by natural disasters and violence. Ethiopia ranks as the second-largest recipient of this funding round, following Yemen, which is set to receive $20 million. The $15 million for Ethiopia is part of a broader $100 million package…

Ethiopian Airlines Cancels Asmara Flights in Response to Today’s Announcement of an Eritrean Government Directive, With effect from September 3, 2024, Ethiopian Airlines has halted all flights to and from Asmara, a noteworthy occurrence that has sparked concerns throughout the area. The airline’s activities have been suspended due to a government decree, which has exacerbated the growing operating difficulties in Eritrea. The suspension was formally announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Eritrea’s Civil Aviation Authority in an article that appeared in the official state daily Hadas Eritrea on July 24. Serious accusations have been made against Ethiopian…

Security officials have announced that Egypt and Somalia would be participating in combined military drills this month that will involve land, aviation, and marine forces. This comes after Egypt just signed a new cooperation deal to send troops and military hardware to Somalia. According to a regional security official, “the drills will send a clear and loud message about our firm commitment to cooperate and protect Somalia.” The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is the source of escalating tensions between Ethiopia and the United States. Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty of Egypt has written to the UN Security Council to…

An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded inside a teashop in Buloburde, a town in central Somalia, on Saturday, injuring 13 people and killing at least three civilians, according to local officials.The teashop where the explosion happened was well-known for serving as a gathering place for Ma’awisley clan militia combatants, town security personnel, and townspeople. The crowded city center was purportedly the site of the device’s placement because of its frequent meetings.Authorities believe that Al-Shabaab was responsible for the attack, intending to sabotage the tranquility and subtly attack security personnel. Security personnel are looking into the event; Al-Shabaab or any other…

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, has accused Ethiopia of attempting to “annex Somali territories” in spite of Ethiopia’s request for a reduction in hostile rhetoric and the escalating tensions. He has stated that Somalia will use “legal and extra-legal means” to maintain its sovereignty.According to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Ethiopia took Somali territory—a claim that is still pending—and now has aspirations to acquire more.He went on to say that Somalia will not permit Ethiopia to occupy its coastline, according to local media, which cited official media.Additionally, the president stated that Somalia will oppose any plans Ethiopia has to…

Following the Fano militia’s seizure of the nearby Ethiopian town of Metemma, authorities in Sudan’s eastern Al-Qadarif state blocked the Gallabat border crossing with Ethiopia on Sunday, sources told Sudan Tribune. Following the federal government’s 2020 signing of a peace agreement with Tigrayan troops, there have been repeated battles between Fano and government forces in the Amhara area, which borders Gederaf. According to the sources, when Ethiopian federal police and army members were disarmed, the Sudanese authorities permitted them to enter the country. Fano granted permission for Sudanese who were stuck at the border to enter Ethiopia in exchange. Thousands…

According to South Sudan’s Ministry of Transport, $25.3 million is needed to finish taking over the air traffic control system.South Sudan’s airspace has been governed by Sudan since the country’s independence in 2011.The resolution was the result of a request for funding for the functioning of the Juba airspace control made to the cabinet by Madut Biar Yel, the minister of transportation. After China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) completed the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS), the Council of Ministers decided that South Sudan will take control of its sovereign airspace from neighboring Sudan, according to Deputy Information Minister Jacob Maiju…

In Kenya, robot waiters are making waves and raising questions about the future of human labor. At a bustling restaurant in Nairobi, young adults film robots delivering freshly cooked meals on built-in trays, while children watch and laugh. Nairobi, often dubbed the “Silicon Savanna,” is a tech hub in East Africa with a vibrant technology sector. Here, in what is believed to be the first Robot Cafe in Nairobi and East Africa, three robots navigate among human waiters, serving meals to intrigued patrons. These preconfigured robots were purchased for their novelty. Mohammed Abbas, the cafe owner, decided to invest in…

Ethiopia Faces Surge in Malaria Cases Amidst Ongoing Health Crises According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ethiopia has experienced a dramatic increase in malaria cases between January and August 2024. During this period, there were 918 reported deaths and nearly 4.7 million new malaria cases. Alarmingly, the number of cases in 2024 has already surpassed the total for the previous year. The WHO reports that, despite intensified efforts by the Ministry of Health to combat the disease, the number of malaria cases and deaths continues to rise at an alarming rate. Southwest Ethiopia has the highest incidence rate per…

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, arrives in Ethiopia for the first time since the epidemic began on September 1, 2024. This is a momentous visit. The purpose of this tour is to deepen collaborations with regional grantees and organizations that are committed to helping the Ethiopian people’s economic prospects and urgent health issues. In this exclusive interview with local media conducted ahead of his trip, Gates provided insights into the foundation’s long-standing commitment to Ethiopia, the obstacles the nation faces in its development, and the significance of teamwork in fostering a healthier, more prosperous future.…

A significant deal to improve the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara) is about to be signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, and President Xi Jinping of China.The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024 Summit is scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Beijing and will include a signing ceremony.Along with a number of other African leaders, President Hassan left Dar es Salaam on Monday to attend the high-profile three-day meeting. The crucial infrastructure upgrades for Tazara, a vital train link connecting the two countries, are anticipated to be covered under the deal that…

Teachers’ Strike Forces Schools to Send Students Home Amid Ongoing Dispute As the teachers’ strike enters its second week on Monday, several secondary school heads have opted to send their students home. According to a spot check by Kenyan media, schools in Machakos, Nakuru, Meru, and Kirinyaga Counties have dismissed students amid the ongoing strike. Sosten Bellat, Chairperson of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) branch, has urged parents to withdraw their children from school as teachers continue their strike until their demands are met. Bellat made this statement during a media briefing in Uasin Gishu County.…

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by China and South Sudan to increase agricultural production has been approved by the National Cabinet. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Lily Albino Akol delivered the letter, which has two main points of emphasis: raising agricultural output and enhancing animal health services.Promoting agricultural research and innovation is one of the main areas of collaboration included in the Memorandum of Understanding, according to Deputy Information Minister Jacob Korok.Others are enhancing animal health services to increase livestock output and bolstering agricultural extension services to assist farmers. “According to Korok, the letter seeks to advance…

The Sudanese foreign ministry claimed on Saturday that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their country had been called a “rebel force” by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), marking the first time the name has been used by an international organization. The OIC Council of Foreign Ministers designated the position in a decision that was adopted following their meeting in Cameroon, according to the ministry.Since April 2023, the RSF and the Sudanese army have been engaged in combat that has resulted in thousands of deaths and over 4 million displaced persons.When asked for a response, the RSF did…

Egypt dismisses Ethiopia’s “unilateral policies” on the Gerd project, which claims they jeopardize regional stability.Egypt, which views Ethiopia’s construction of a massive Nile dam as a threat to its essential share of the river’s waters, announced on Sunday that it has written to the UN Security Council to express its disapproval of what it refers to as Ethiopia’s unilateral activities. Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty’s letter stated that Cairo opposes Ethiopia’s plans to proceed with dam building and reservoir filling without first discussing Egypt downstream. It further stated that Addis Ababa’s stance jeopardizes the stability of the region.For 13 years,…