News In English

Somalia: Daesh imposes tax on local businesses

A militant group associated with Daesh in Syria and Iraq has started levying taxes on businesses in Somalia. "The traders and businesses in Bosaso city continue to work in fear after being asked huge sums of money by Islamic State [Daesh] branch in the region," a local businessman said anonymously.…

High-profile prosecutions alone won't solve Kenya's corruption problem

Kenya's president has lost friends and allies in recent weeks—many, many of them. Uhuru Kenyatta recently said his administration's war on corruption cost him supporters but vowed nonetheless to continue efforts to stamp out graft. In the last few weeks, the public prosecutor has ordered the…

President Farmajo expected to travel to Djbouti

President Farmajo is preparing for an official state visit to neighbouring Djibouti on Thursday for bilateral talks with Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh. The trip was confirmed by President Farmajo's Director of Communications and comes at a sensitive time for the two horn of Africa leaders.…

Jose Mourinho tells Manchester United star Paul Pogba to hand in transfer request in stunning bust-up

Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho are no longer on speaking terms after the Manchester United boss told the Frenchman to hand in a transfer request if he wanted to leave the club 'again'. The pair clashed this week at United's training ground following Pogba's controversial comments after…

How Ilhan Omar won over hearts in Minnesota's Fifth

Most coverage of Ilhan Omar, the thirty-five-year-old state legislator who won the Democratic primary in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District last night, has focussed on her identity. She was born in Somalia, and she came to the United States when she was twelve, knowing only two phrases of…

AMISOM Force Commander concludes tour of Forward Operating Bases in south central Somalia

Lt. Gen. Jim Beesigye Owoyesigire, the Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), has concluded a weeklong extensive tour of Forward Operating Bases in all the six sectors where AU troops operate. The Force Commander who assessed the security situation and civil-military projects…

Here's What You Need To Know Before You Cross The Canadian Border

Canada Border Services Agency officers have the authority to charge a traveler with a criminal offence for refusing to provide the password to their device. At the beginning of this year, I discussed the issue of border searches of electronic devices performed by United States Customs and Border Protection.…

President Farmajo announces major security reshuffle

President Farmajo has announced a major shake-up to the security sector on Thursday with changes made to the Villa Somalia, SNA, Somali Police Force. The major development of Thursday's reshuffle is undoubtedly Fahad Yasin's - political insider and right-hand-man to President Farmajo - move…

Qatari emir vows $15bn investment in Turkey after Erdogan meeting

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has said Qatar is standing by its "brothers in Turkey" as he announced a $15bn investment into the country's financial markets and banks. The emir's comments on Wednesday came after holding talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara,…

Israeli Airport Detention of Prominent U.S. Jew Prompts Uproar

Israeli airport security, long extolled for its success in preventing terrorism, seems to have another target recently: critics of Israel. On Sunday, officers at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport pulled aside Peter Beinart, a liberal American Jewish journalist, after he landed and interrogated…

Ilhan Omar one step closer to Congress after clinching Democratic nod

Ilhan Omar (D), the nation's first Somali-American legislator is one step closer to being the first Somali-American in Congress after winning the Democratic Party nomination for Minnesota's safely blue 5th Congressional District. The seat was held by Rep. Keith Ellison (D), who also won his…

US denies China policy change after Tsai Ing-wen's speech in LA

President Donald Trump's administration denied Tuesday any change to its "One-China" policy after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen made a political speech in the US, the first time in 15 years a Taiwanese leader has done so. Beijing said that it had lodged an official protest with the United…

French ports 'ready to welcome migrant rescue ship'

The port of Sète in Hérault and Corsica both say they are ready to welcome the ship Aquarius, which is carrying 141 Africans rescued from the Mediterranean – however this would depend on the French government's go-ahead. The ship is currently waiting in the sea between Italy and Malta, after…

UN says favorable weather improves food security in Somalia

Favorable weather conditions experienced during the main (Gu) rainy season combined with a large-scale humanitarian assistance have improved the food security situation in Somalia, the UN said on Tuesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the April-June rains started…

In a Minnesota race full of progressive 'firsts,' identity, experience sets candidates apart

Three progressive women lead Tuesday's race to succeed Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison – the first Muslim elected to Congress – in the primary for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, and each has achieved a "first" of her own. In the crowded Democratic primary, state senator Patricia…

Four al Shabaab returnees hiding in Malindi for fear of elimination

Four al Shabaab recruits, all women, have returned from Somalia but are hiding in Malindi for fear that the Anti-Terror Police Unit will eliminate them. They crossed to Somalia more than a year ago after being promised house-help jobs in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The point of departure was Lamu but they…

Ethiopia: Exploiting the Gulf's scramble for the Horn of Africa

Ethiopia's so far managed to stay neutral and balance its relationships with opposing Gulf partners. But it's engaged in an unpredictable game. For the past two months, Ethiopians and Eritreans have been trying to make sense of their governments' sudden declaration of peace. After 20 years…

The EU Dropped Plans To Release A Statement Backing Canada In Its Diplomatic Fight With Saudi Arabia

A senior EU official said the absence of a public statement backing Canada was "sad." European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini welcomes Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir ahead of a meeting in Brussels in February 2018.

Ethiopia PM says 'fake news' fuelling Somali regional crisis, urges calm

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stressed that the security situation in Ethiopia's Somali region was going to be resolved through peaceful consultations. His latest comments came after he paid a visit to the head of Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahdo Church, His Holiness Abuna Merkorios on Saturday. According…

Somalia's army asked to comply with International Humanitarian Law during military operations

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Somali National Army (SNA), Maj. Gen. Abdiweli Jama Hussein 'Gorod', has instructed his troops to ensure compliance with the International Humanitarian Law, when conducting military operations in the country. The CDF warned that soldiers who disregard…