East Africa

In Mogadishu, Somalia, on 14 April 2024, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the sabotage and privacy breaches that have affected its bank accounts, aimed at disrupting the organization's activities. On Saturday, 13 April 2024, SJS received an email from the local bank notifying them that their bank accounts were frozen following a court order from the Banadir Regional Court for an investigation into their financial transactions. Despite their attempts to seek clarification, both in writing and orally,…

Amsterdam (AX) — Abdi Nageeye, a Dutch Olympic silver medalist, clinched victory in a thrilling manner, breaking his national record with a time of 2:04:45, surpassing his previous best by 11 seconds. The competition remained close until the end, with Nageeye narrowly beating Ethiopia's Amedework Walelegn by five seconds. Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia secured third place with a time of 2:05:16. The marathon kicked off in perfect conditions, with the leading group closely tailing the pacemakers. The race intensified near…

Somalia recently resolved a $4.5 billion debt with international lenders, paving the way for new investments and increased borrowing opportunities. Mogadishu is focusing on rebuilding institutions instead of accumulating more debt. Last week, a financial agreement with IFAD will provide up to $31.22 million for programs aimed at enhancing food security in rural areas. This funding will support the Rural Livelihood Resilience Programme to boost food security and resilience. It marks IFAD's first direct investment since…

ADDIS ABABA - The TPLF has reached a preliminary agreement with Abiy Ahmed's party, ending a long-standing conflict in Ethiopia. Discussions between the Property Party and TPLF marked a significant step towards peace in line with previous agreements. Representatives have laid the groundwork for further discussions on important issues between the two parties. The meeting in Mekelle was a significant milestone in complying with the November 2022 CoHA to address the root causes of the conflict. Key officials from both parties…

The details of Somalia's upcoming security force after the African Union peacekeeping mission departs are still unclear. Somalia missed its deadline to submit a plan to the UNSC due to consultations with the AU. The new force is set to start operations in 2025 to replace Atmis. The AU is committed to maintaining the progress made in Somalia against Al Shabaab. However, concerns remain about Somalia's ability to generate enough troops. International partners want a cost-effective mission to support Somali security forces.…

Somali pirates recently freed the hijacked ship, MV Abdullah, along with its 23 crew members, following a ransom payment of $US5 million ($A7.7 million). One of the pirates mentioned that they received the money two nights ago and carefully examined it to ensure its authenticity before splitting it up and departing to evade government forces. The ship was released on a Sunday, with all crew members accounted for. The Somalia government officials have not issued any comment on the matter. The MV Abdullah, a Bangladesh-flagged…

An alarming study published in Current Biology warns that flamingos in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia are threatened by the consequences of climate change. Algae and bacteria, which are their main food sources, are rapidly declining in the region. This area is home to three-quarters of the world's population of lesser flamingos, a species already listed as endangered.

Somali troops, aided by global allies, carried out an airstrike near Buulaburte in Hiiran, eliminating multiple al-Shabab militants on Saturday. Drones targeted militants in Jicibow, resulting in unspecified casualties confirmed by officials from the group. Last week, a joint air and ground offensive in Jicibow and Helabanan, 25 kilometers from Buulaburte, led to the deaths of several militants. The Hiiran region has been a key focus for anti-al-Shabab operations in recent years, despite political disputes…

Arrests Made in Northeastern State for MV Abdullah Hijacking by Pirates In Northeastern State, at least 8 pirates were captured after a Bangladeshi ship was released from their grasp. Somalia has recently grappled with piracy, with pirates cooperating with Al-Shabaab militants in their criminal activities. Law enforcement in Northeastern State disclosed the arrest of the pirates responsible for hijacking the Bangladeshi-flagged ship MV Abdullah. An anonymous Northeastern State police officer warned that paying ransom could…

The sailors have maintained good health and contact with families via diplomatic video calls. After nine days of captivity, negotiations led to the crew's release following a ransom agreement. The saga began in March during a voyage from Maputo to UAE with coal. Negotiations for release gained momentum as Eid-ul-Fitr approached, with hopes for resolution before the holiday. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud committed to crew safety and progress in negotiations. Shipowner Kabir Group chose negotiation over force to ensure crew…