ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia summoned Sudan’s ambassador on Wednesday to protest comments by Sudan’s acting foreign minister suggesting possible war with Ethiopia if disagreements over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are not resolved. Acting Foreign Minister Ali Youssif said in a recent television interview that Sudan could side with Egypt if talks on the GERD fail and that the option of war remained open if an agreement ensuring the water rights of all three countries was not reached. Ethiopia’s foreign ministry expressed “displeasure” with Youssif’s remarks to Ambassador Al-Zein Ibrahim, emphasizing its commitment to strong relations with Sudan. Diplomatic sources told Sudan Tribune that Youssif himself is expected to visit Addis Ababa soon, possibly to clarify his statements. However, these sources also noted that Ibrahim has yet to present his credentials to the Ethiopian president formally. Foreign ministry spokesperson Nebiat Getachew downplayed the incident at a press briefing on...

Friday November 15, 2024 Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Minister of Interior Ali Yusuf Ali-Hoosh met with a Finnish delegation on Thursday to discuss ongoing military operations against al-Shabab and stabilization efforts across Somalia. The delegation, led by Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola, included senior officials from Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighting Finland’s support for Somalia’s development and security initiatives. “Our partnership with Finland is crucial in addressing the multifaceted challenges we face,” said Minister Hoosh, expressing gratitude for Finland’s support. “Together, we can work towards a more stable and prosperous Somalia.” Ambassador Tapiola commended the Somali government’s anti-terrorism efforts and reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to Somalia’s peacebuilding goals. “Finland stands with Somalia in its journey towards peace and development. We are committed to supporting your efforts in every possible way,” he said. The meeting covered various collaborative areas, including electoral support, counterterrorism, and regional stabilization. Finnish officials expressed a willingness to expand...

By Mohamed Olad Hassan People queue to cast their votes during the 2024 Somaliland presidential election at a polling station in Hargeisa, Somaliland, Nov. 13, 2024. washington — Polls have closed across Somaliland after presidential elections, and it appears Wednesday’s voting across the breakaway region has gone smoothly. The Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) said polls closed across the region at 6 p.m. local time. More than 1 million people were registered to vote across some 2,000 polling stations in Somalia’s breakaway region. In the evening, vote counting was underway, according to the electoral agency. “It will start from polling centers level, then passes to district, and the regional before we announce the result,” said NEC Chairman Muse Hassan Yusuf. “We have successfully solved minor technical issues reported in some polling stations,” he said. He said the NEC would announce the result of the election by November 21. General Mohamed Adan Saqadhi,...

Thursday November 14, 2024By Maya Rao Concerns about the Israel-Gaza war, the economy, and not feeling heard contributed to shifting political tide. Mohamoud Mohamed, center, was part of a group of Somali volunteers who wanted to connect members of the Muslim community with people from the Republican party at a rally because of their shared values July 27, 2024 St. Cloud, Minn. Thousands of people lined up around Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud hours before Donald Trump was scheduled to speak there. (Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Once a reliable Democratic voting bloc, Somali Americans increasingly turned away from the party in last week’s presidential election. Support for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, who won Minnesota but much more narrowly than President Joe Biden did in 2020, dropped in three Minneapolis precincts with large East African populations. While Harris won each precinct, she did so by far...

Amid escalating regional tensions, voters in the self-declared state of Somaliland will vote on Wednesday in its fourth general election since its 1991 break from Somalia. While Somaliland now has its own government, parliament, currency, passports and other features of an independent country, however, its sovereignty remains unrecognised internationally as Somalia continues to view it as part of its territory. In the capital city of Hargeisa, supporters of the ruling Kulmiye (Peace, Unity and Development) Party crowded the streets in green-and-yellow-coloured shirts, chanting victory songs, with women ululating as the campaigning ended last week. Supporters of the ruling Kulmiye Party chant slogans from a car following a final campaign rally in Hargeisa on November 9, 2024 [Luis Tato/AFP] Incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi is seeking a renewed five-year mandate in the election, delayed by two years because of time and financial constraints, according to authorities. His main challenger is former parliament speaker and...

Thursday November 14, 2024 Hassan Mahamud Salah, a 50-year-old clan elder, sits in a Jubaland military court after being sentenced to five years in prison for collaborating with the militant group Al-Shabaab. The court ruled that Salah’s actions supported the group’s operations, marking a continued effort by Jubaland authorities to combat Al-Shabaab’s influence in the region. Kismayo (HOL)  — A Jubaland military court on Monday sentenced clan elder Hassan Mahamud Salah to five years in prison, ruling that he collaborated with the militant group Al-Shabaab. Colonel Abdullahi Mahamud Ibrahim, who presided over the trial in Kismayo, announced the sentence, noting that Salah’s affiliation with Al-Shabaab warranted a significant penalty. “This is a warning to anyone who thinks they can support terrorist groups without facing justice,” he said, emphasizing the court’s strict stance on those linked to Al-Shabaab. According to court officials, sentences for such crimes typically range from three to...

By Abdullahi A. Nor Mogadishu, as the capital of Somalia, holds a symbolic place in the hearts of all Somalis. It is meant to be a space of unity, safety, and equality. However, for citizens of South West State, this ideal has been increasingly undermined by discrimination and systemic harassment. In 2024, a series of incidents has escalated the sense of exclusion felt by South West State citizens in Mogadishu, and these actions appear to be part of a broader pattern of marginalization. Celebrations Met with Discrimination SWS citizens celebratory gatherings in Mogadishu, met with hostility Nov, 2024. While celebrations in Mogadishu have often been an opportunity for people from different federal member states to showcase their cultural ties to the capital, South West State citizens have found their flag day celebratory gatherings met with hostility. In Nov 12, 2024, a peaceful celebration by young people from South West State...

Thursday November 14, 2024 Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre met with a Kenyan delegation in Mogadishu on Tuesday, marking the start of mediation efforts to ease the political standoff between the federal government and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe over the upcoming electoral process. The Kenyan delegation, consisting of senior political figures including former Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretary General Mahbub Moalim, former IGAD Special Envoy for Somalia Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey, and Wajir County Senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan Olow, previously held talks with Madobe in Kismayo. While details of that discussion remain undisclosed, Jubbaland Presidential Palace confirmed that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had personally requested Kenyan assistance to mediate the ongoing conflict. During the meeting with Barre, discussions focused on strengthening ties between Kenya and Somalia, particularly in security, politics, and trade. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Kenya’s ongoing support for Somalia’s state-building...

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Ethiopian authorities to implement crucial recommendations to enhance press freedom and ensure journalists’ safety on Monday. In the report, the CPJ concludes five years of research and details significant challenges faced by media professionals in Ethiopia, including arbitrary arrests, physical attacks, and restrictive legal measures. It details instances of physical attacks on media personnel, including the unsolved death of two journalists, Dawit Kebede Araya and Sisay Fida. The CPJ’s submission outlines a pattern of arbitrary detentions and legal threats against journalists, particularly during the Tigray civil conflict from 2020 to 2022. According to the report, dozens of journalists were detained, often without formal charges or access to legal counsel. Many were held in unofficial detention sites, such as the Awash Arba military camp, where detainees reported harsh conditions and limited access to family or legal representation. The report also highlights concerns over Ethiopia’s legal framework, particularly regarding the Media Proclamation and anti-terrorism laws. While Ethiopia has...

Wednesday November 13, 2024By CHINEDU ASADU FILE- A screen shows live footage of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speech during a news program in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, file) ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — African leaders may have been quick to congratulate Donald Trump on his election, professing a desire for mutually beneficial partnerships, but there are meager expectations that his presidency will change things for this continent of over 1.4 billion people. In the wake of Trump’s win, Kenya’s William Ruto said his country “stands ready” to deepen its ties with Washington. Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu spoke of a second Trump administration ushering in an era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal” cooperation. Still, observers say African countries — once described by Trump as “shithole countries” — are definitely not going to be high on his to-do list. Low priority or not even a concern? U.S. foreign...