Sudanese army says it has control of presidential palace in Khartoum

Source: REuters, By Khalid Abdelaziz, Jana Choukeir and Nafisa Eltahir
Friday March 21, 2025

Sudanese army members film themselves inside the presidential palace, after, according to the Sudanese army, they took the control of the presidential palace, in Khartoum, Sudan, March 21, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Social Media via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights

The Sudanese army seized full control of the Presidential Palace in downtown Khartoum on Friday, it said in a statement, in one of the most symbolic gains in a two-year-old conflict with a rival armed group that has threatened to partition the country.

The army had long been on the backfoot but has recently been making gains and has retaken territory in the centre of the country from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Meanwhile the RSF has consolidated control in the west, hardening battle lines and moving the country towards de facto partition. The RSF is working to set up a parallel government in areas it controls, although that is not expected to receive widespread international recognition.

The army said it had also taken control of ministries and other key buildings in central Khartoum. Military sources said RSF fighters had withdrawn about 400 metres away.

The RSF had rapidly seized the palace in Khartoum, along with the rest of the city, after war broke out in April 2023 over the paramilitary’s integration into the armed forces.

The army shared videos of soldiers cheering in the palace, its glass windows shattered and walls pockmarked with bullet holes.

The RSF did not immediately comment on the retaking of the palace and the army’s advances in Khartoum.

Late on Thursday the group said it had seized a key base from the army in North Darfur, a region in the west of the country.

Many Sudanese welcomed news the army had control of the palace.

“The liberation of the palace is the best news I’ve heard since the start of the war, because it means the start of the army controlling the rest of Khartoum,” said 55-year-old Khartoum resident Mohamed Ibrahim.

“We want to be safe again and live without fear or hunger,” he said.

The conflict has led to what the U.N. calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, spreading famine in several locations and disease across the country of 50 million people.

Both sides have been accused of war crimes, while the RSF has also been charged with genocide. Both sides deny the charges.

GUNFIRE IN KHARTOUM

Intermittent gunfire could be heard in Khartoum on Friday, and bloody fighting was expected as the army seeks to corner the RSF, which still occupies swathes of the territory to the south of the palace in the city.

“We are moving forward along all fighting axes until victory is complete by cleansing every inch of our country from the filth of this militia and its collaborators,” the army statement said.

The war erupted two years ago as the country was planning a transition to democratic rule.

The army and RSF had joined forces after ousting Omar al-Bashir from power in 2019 and later to oust civilian leadership.

But they had long been at odds, as Bashir developed the RSF, which has its roots in Darfur’s janjaweed militias, and leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as a counterweight to the army, led by career officer Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz and Jana Choukeir Writing by Jana Choukeir and Nafisa Eltahir Editing by Himani Sarkar, Michael Georgy, Saad Sayeed and Frances Kerry

Al-Shabaab’s Ramadan offensive in Somalia exposes critical security gaps

Source: Hiiraan Online, Friday March 21, 2025

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud greets military commanders during a visit to frontline troops in central Somalia amid ongoing operations against Al-Shabaab militants. (Photo courtesy of Somali Presidential Press Office)Mogadishu (HOL)  — Al-Shabaab’s large-scale offensive, initiated in February with more than 3,000 militants mobilized from Middle Jubba to retake the strategic Middle Shabelle region, has stumbled but continues to expose critical weaknesses in Somalia’s security framework.

Despite significant setbacks faced by the militant group, including fierce resistance from Somali and partner forces, Al-Shabaab’s continued resilience and capacity for coordinated, deadly attacks have cast a troubling shadow over Mogadishu’s fragile security gains.

In the boldest attack to date, militants targeted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy with a powerful improvised explosive device near Mogadishu airport on March 18. Mohamud survived unharmed, but the blast killed four people, highlighting the militants’ audacity and ability to strike high-level targets.

Days prior, Al-Shabaab conducted coordinated assaults on Somali military positions in Awdhiigle and Hawo Abdi, locations dangerously close to Mogadishu’s administrative boundaries. Although the Somali government reported successfully repelling these attacks, Al-Shabaab claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties, reportedly killing at least 30 Somali soldiers. Alarmingly, militants openly occupied and patrolled neighbourhoods on Mogadishu’s outskirts overnight on March 15 and 16, showcasing serious gaps in local security.

Central to Al-Shabaab’s strategic objectives is recapturing vital economic corridors, particularly the critical highway linking Mogadishu to Ethiopia through Middle Shabelle and Hiraan. This route, previously cleared during Somalia’s successful 2022 anti-insurgency offensive, serves as a significant economic lifeline. Control of the road allows lucrative taxation opportunities for Al-Shabaab and local entities, underscoring why the insurgents are fiercely contesting this area.

Further complicating the situation, local clan tensions and the political isolation of President Mohamud have provided fertile ground for Al-Shabaab to strengthen its foothold. Recent disputes between the Hawiye clans in Middle Shabelle over resource sharing and political representation have intensified rivalries. During Ramadan, these divisions have become particularly pronounced, creating vulnerabilities the militants have strategically exploited.

In a notable assault on March 11, militants targeted prominent local elders in a sophisticated hotel siege in Beledweyne, marking their most significant attack in the Hiraan capital since 2022. Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab militants briefly overran the Bal’ad district, releasing imprisoned fighters, highlighting their ability to infiltrate and retake previously cleared zones like the ‘Adale district, signalling a concerted strategy to reconnect their fragmented strongholds.

The Somali government and its international partners have increased drone strikes in response, more than doubling their rate compared to the entirety of 2024. Yet, these measures have not significantly reduced Al-Shabaab’s operational capability. Recent propaganda by the militant group, explicitly calling its followers to prepare for a “new stage of war,” indicates a potentially more aggressive phase of conflict.

President Mohamud has actively sought to bolster local resistance, travelling personally to strategic locations like Adan Yabal, a town of critical strategic importance due to its former role as Al-Shabaab’s administrative headquarters in central Somalia and its position controlling vital supply routes. Once, Al-Shabaab’s central administrative town rallied clan militia support. Nevertheless, Somalia’s regional security partners, including Ethiopia, Uganda, Egypt, and the United States, have not significantly escalated their troop presence, indicating either uncertainty or possible underestimation of the immediacy of the Al-Shabaab threat.

News|Sudan war

UAE denies Sudan’s accusations of ‘complicity in genocide’ at the ICJ

Source: Aljazeera, Sudan alleges the UAE is ‘complicit in the genocide on the Masalit’ by supporting the Rapid Support Forces.

By Al Jazeera Staff

Published On 6 Mar 20256 Mar 2025

The United Arab Emirates has slammed a Sudanese move to file a case against it at the top United Nations court, calling it  “nothing more than a cynical publicity stunt” and saying it would seek the “immediate dismissal” of the case.

Sudan has filed a case at the International Court of Justice, accusing the UAE of breaching the Genocide Convention by giving “direct support” to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), implicating it in genocidal acts allegedly perpetrated by the RSF against the Masalit people of Darfur.

Al-Shabaab attacks Somali President’s convoy in Mogadishu, killing four

Source: HiiraAN oNLINE, Tuesday March 18, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) – Al-Shabaab militants targeted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy at El-Gab junction in Mogadishu on Tuesday as he was en route to the airport for a visit to the frontlines in Middle Shabelle. 

Two senior government and military officials confirmed that President Mohamud was unharmed. Presidential adviser Zakariye Hussein wrote in a post on X that he was “good and well on his way to the front lines.”

The attack, which affected one of the vehicles in the convoy, killed at least four people, including journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabashe, who was inside a nearby building that collapsed due to the explosion. 

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its Telegram channel, saying, “Our fighters targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as they were leaving the presidential palace and heading to the airport.” 

Despite the attack, President Mohamud arrived hours later in Aden Yabaal district in Middle Shabelle, where he is expected to stay for several days to oversee the ongoing military campaign against Al-Shabaab, receive updates from field commanders, and boost troop morale. 

The UK embassy in Mogadishu condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly” act. 

“We condemn today’s cowardly attack on the President’s convoy in Mogadishu – our condolences are with all who lost a loved one & the wounded. The UK remains a steadfast partner to the Somali Government as they fight the violent extremists behind this despicable attack,” the embassy said in a statement.

Ethiopia-Djibouti railway boosts trade efficiency, strengthens logistics sector

Source: Xinhua, Tuesday March 18, 2025

The Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is streamlining Ethiopia’s logistics sector, serving as a “crucial artery” for the country’s import-export trade, senior Ethiopian officials have said.


Photo taken on Sept. 5, 2020, shows a passenger train at Furi-Lebu railway station at the outskirts of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

The Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is streamlining Ethiopia’s logistics sector, serving as a “crucial artery” for the country’s import-export trade, senior Ethiopian officials have said.

The officials made the remarks during a meeting on Saturday with stakeholders engaged in Ethiopia’s transport and import-export logistics sector.

Addressing the meeting, Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime said the East African country is working hard to modernize its transport and logistics sector as part of a national ambition to transform import-export trade.

The 752-km Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is injecting much-needed momentum into this national ambition, he said, noting the importance of enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of transport and logistics services, with a particular focus on the railway network.

Experts and policymakers in the import-export sector at the meeting said that the Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, as a multimodal logistics operator, has significantly improved service speed and reliability since it became operational in January 2018.

Takele Uma, chief executive officer of the Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company (EDR), said the electrified railway is fast becoming a preferred mode of transport for businesses engaged in import-export trade, contributing to the socio-economic development of both countries.

Underscoring the railway’s critical role in facilitating import-export trade, the EDR chief said it is “a crucial artery for our trade,” making inland-to-overseas trade smoother, faster and more efficient.

Unveiling a platform to connect exporters and importers with seamless logistics solutions, from inland shipping to ports in Djibouti and global destinations, Uma said EDR’s newly launched capabilities include multinational operations, freight forwarding and customs clearance and documentation services.

Since its launch in 2018, the railway has continued to develop its freight market and expand its service offerings, including high-quality services such as cold-chain transportation, commuter trains for villagers, and special trains for automobile transportation.

Somaliland says ties with U.S. are in the early stages, focusing on mutual interests

Source: Hiiraan ONline, Tuesday March 18, 2025

Hargeisa (HOL) – Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden has stated that the relationship between Somaliland and the United States is in its early stages, emphasizing that any engagement will be based on mutual interests, particularly Somaliland’s long-standing pursuit of sovereignty. 

Minister Aden expressed optimism about growing ties with Washington in an interview with BBC Somali on Monday.

“We are very interested in and welcome the relationship between us and the United States. Right now, it is an initial relationship, and the most important thing is that the interests of Somaliland and the interests of the United States are compatible,” he said.

“It is important for us that any relationship we establish is based on the interests of Somaliland and the identity of Somaliland,” he added. 

However, the minister declined to comment on reports suggesting Somaliland could exchange recognition for hosting a U.S. military base in Berbera. He also dismissed speculation that Somaliland had been approached about resettling Palestinians displaced from Gaza. 

Both Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland have categorically rejected any proposals from the United States or Israel regarding Palestinian resettlement.

Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi previously affirmed Somalia’s position, stating that “any proposal or initiative, from any party, that would undermine the Palestinian people’s right to live peacefully on their ancestral land” would be rejected. 

Regarding Somaliland’s ties with Ethiopia, Minister Aden reaffirmed that relations remain strong and unchanged. This comes as Somalia continues to reject Somaliland’s claims to independence, maintaining that its sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

Turkey deploys advanced Akinci drones to boost Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab

Source: Hiiraan Online, Tuesday March 18, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) – Turkey has deployed advanced Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to Somalia, delivering on a long-anticipated military commitment to enhance the country’s counterterrorism operations.

The Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday morning as part of Turkey’s ongoing military assistance to Somalia. These drones are expected to enhance the Somali National Army’s (SNA) operational capabilities in targeting Al-Shabaab. Compared to the previously deployed Bayraktar TB2 drones, the Akinci boasts greater endurance, advanced surveillance systems, and the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms, allowing it to carry an array of munitions, including SOM cruise missiles, Gökdoğan air-to-air missiles, Bozok guided bombs, and MK-82 bombs.Somalia’s outgoing Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, hailed the deployment as “unprecedented military aid,” emphasizing Turkey’s unwavering commitment to supporting Somalia’s security efforts. The drones are expected to enhance the SNA’s ability to conduct precision airstrikes and disrupt militant operations, a critical development in the country’s ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab.

Turkey has been a key ally of Somalia in recent years, providing military training, infrastructure support, and defence equipment to strengthen the country’s security forces. The deployment of the Akinci drones marks a significant step in deepening this military partnership while reinforcing Turkey’s strategic influence in the Horn of Africa.

Analysts say the addition of these advanced UCAVs will not only improve the effectiveness of Somali military operations but also contribute to the broader goal of stabilizing the country by curbing Al-Shabaab’s territorial ambitions.

More Concern Over a Possible Ethiopia-Eritrea Conflict

 Source: Foreign Policy published on 12 March 2025 an analysis titled “Stop the Next Ethiopia-Eritrea War Before It Begins” by Payton Knopf and Alexander Rondos.

The deterioration of the political and security situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region is dry tinder waiting for a match that could ignite a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Addis Ababa accuses Asmara of undermining the Pretoria Agreement that ended the war in Tigray Region and of supporting insurgent groups elsewhere in Ethiopia.  Asmara perceives landlocked Ethiopia’s calls for access to the Red Sea as a casus belli and forerunner for efforts to return Eritrea to Ethiopian sovereignty.

Looming Civil War in Ethiopia

Source: AEI’s Critical Threats Africa File published on 13 March 2025 an analysis titled “Looming Civil War in Africa.”

A battle for legitimacy between the Tigray People’s Liberation Movement (TPLF) and the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) threatens to ignite a war in Tigray Region that could escalate into a proxy or regional war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Resettle Gazans in Horn of Africa? Really Bad Idea

 Source: Reuters published on 14 March 2025 an article titled “Somalia and Somaliland Say No Talks on Resettling Palestinians from Gaza.”

The Associated Press quoted US and Israeli officials as saying their governments had contacted officials from Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland to discuss their reaction to resettling Palestinians from Gaza.  Sudanese and Somali officials responded they were unaware of any such contact but quickly rejected any such proposal.  Somaliland officials also were unaware of any contact about resettlement.  

Comment:  Whether contact was or was not made, this is a really bad idea.  War-torn Sudan and al-Shabaab-threatened Somalia are no place to go. Resettling Gazans in Somaliland would further complicate the fraught relationship between Somalia and Somaliland.  And what about the Gazans?  They do not appear to have any interest in being forcibly moved to the Horn of Africa. 

Podcast on Rising Tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea

 Source: The International Crisis Group posted on 14 March 2025 a 37-minute podcast titled “Ethiopia and Eritrea, On a Collision Course” with Alan Boswell and Michael Woldemariam, University of Maryland.

They discuss the rising tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the political crisis in Tigray Region, and whether another war can be averted.  A split in the once united Tigray People’s Liberation Front with one faction potentially willing to side with Eritrea and the other with Abiy Ahmed’s central government is the proximate cause of the current crisis.

What happens in Tigray Region, which has a long border with Eritrea, will likely determine whether conflict breaks out between Ethiopia and Eritrea.  The best way to deescalate the crisis is to encourage Tigrayan reconciliation.  

Why has Mogadishu become a safe haven for many Sudanese doctors?

Source: BBC, Monday March 17, 2025



LISTEN HERE: 

“This is a payment of debt. Definitely we are trying our best to show our gratitude and also to stand by our brothers and the nation of Sudan.”

After three decades of civil war in Somalia, the healthcare system in the country was a mess and many people had to travel to neighbouring countries for treatment – if they could afford it.

And so, in 2014, a group of Somali businessmen founded the Somali-Sudanese Hospital in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to respond to the challenge.

It followed years of Somali medical students going to Sudan for training – and the hospital became a place for them to use their expertise on their return.

But then in 2022 war broke out in Sudan – and the hospital became a refuge for Sudanese doctors fleeing the war, thanks to that long-established relationship.

The Sudanese medics are also offering crucial specialist services the hospital could not provide before.

In this episode of Africa Daily, Peter Musembi talks to Prof Helmi Daoud who was the first doctor to flee to Somalia with his whole family three months after the start of the war.

He also hears from Dr Abdilqadir Yusuf, the hospital’s Research and Development manager on how the arrival of the Sudanese doctors has transformed services there.

More Concern Over a Possible Ethiopia-Eritrea Conflict

 Source: Foreign Policy published on 12 March 2025 an analysis titled “Stop the Next Ethiopia-Eritrea War Before It Begins” by Payton Knopf and Alexander Rondos.

The deterioration of the political and security situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region is dry tinder waiting for a match that could ignite a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Addis Ababa accuses Asmara of undermining the Pretoria Agreement that ended the war in Tigray Region and of supporting insurgent groups elsewhere in Ethiopia.  Asmara perceives landlocked Ethiopia’s calls for access to the Red Sea as a casus belli and forerunner for efforts to return Eritrea to Ethiopian sovereignty.

Ethiopia’s Somali and Afar leaders hold iftar to end territorial dispute

Source: Hiiraan Online, Thursday March 13, 2025

Somali and Afar regional leaders, accompanied by religious figures, walk together in a show of unity during a reconciliation event in Jigjiga. Mogadishu (HOL) — Ethiopian authorities from the Somali and Afar regions have launched a new reconciliation push to end one of the country’s most protracted and violent territorial disputes.

Leaders from both regions, whose armed forces have repeatedly clashed over contested land, gathered for a communal iftar—an attempt at diplomacy amid a conflict that has killed hundreds, displaced thousands, and turned stretches of Ethiopia’s Sitti Zone into a no-man’s land.

For the first time in months, 65 Afar officials travelled to Jigjiga to share a Ramadan meal with their Somali counterparts, while Somali leaders are set to attend a similar event in the Afar region. The hope is that a shared table can do what ceasefire agreements and federal interventions have repeatedly failed to accomplish: end the war over the border.

“In past years, Ramadan has often seen an increase in violence, but this time, we are using it to bring people together,” Abdiqadir Rashid Duale, security chief for the Somali regional government, told the BBC Somali Service.

The next step, he added, is facilitating the return of displaced residents, after which land ownership disputes and other legal claims will be addressed through formal mechanisms.

For decades, the Somali Issa clan and Afar communities have fought over land along their jagged border. The three contested kebeles—Adaytu, Undufo, and Gedamaytu—are home to ethnic Somalis who insist they belong to the Somali region, while Afar authorities claim the land as their own.

The disputed areas sit on a lifeline of trade and survival—a corridor linking Addis Ababa to Djibouti, Ethiopia’s main export route. The Awash River runs through it and is essential for both Somali pastoralists and Afar herders. Whoever controls the land controls the water, the roads, and the economy.

Despite multiple peace efforts, violent clashes have continued.

In April 2024, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council brokered a ceasefire. By June, fighting had resumed—heavy clashes in the Sitti Zone and Afar’s Yangudi district left scores dead. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission pleaded for calm, warning that the tit-for-tat violence was spiralling out of control.

The attacks prompted Somali Regional President Mustafa Mohammed Omar Agjar to travel to Sitti Zone in mid-August, where he visited victims of the clashes in Undufo and Danlahelay, surveying the devastation firsthand.By September 2024, the federal government stepped in again. Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh’s National Committee declared a “cessation of hostilities,” deployed troops, and took control of conflict zones. For now, the guns are quiet.

The Somali-Afar conflict is deepened by Ethiopia’s ethnic federalism, a system that gave both regions autonomy—but also deepened competition over borders.

In 2014, the federal government struck a deal: the contested towns would be part of the Afar region but granted special status for Somali residents. The Somali leadership withdrew the agreement in 2019, saying it was unconstitutional. The result? A political vacuum filled with bullets.

In April 2023, the Ethiopian government tried another approach—disbanding regional special forces and integrating them into national security forces. The move was meant to curb the influence of ethnic militias, but in actuality, it left both regions to rely on informal fighters, tribal elders, and armed civilian groups.

While local officials hail the recent iftar diplomacy as a step toward reconciliation, analysts warn that peace in the Somali-Afar borderlands will require more than symbolic gestures. Economic investment in the disputed territories is essential to stabilize communities and reduce reliance on resources that have fueled tensions for decades. A formal arbitration process must follow, resolving land ownership disputes through legal mechanisms rather than sporadic ceasefires that collapse under renewed violence.

Horn of Africa countries greatly in need Peace, Stability and Development

International mass media predict possible war again soon between Ethiopia-Eritrea countries.  Why? There is no acceptable reason the world can accept! If this happens, the United Nations Security Council, and African Union have to take strong action!!! Horn of Africa countries greatly needs peace, tranquillity, rule law and regional development.

Abdillahi Jama,

Somali International Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC), www.sirclund.se

South Sudan Facing New Outbreak of Conflict

 Source: The International Crisis Group published a statement dated 7 March 2025 titled “South Sudan on the Precipice of Renewed Full-blown War.”

Tensions are rising quickly between the forces that support President Salva Kiir and those who back Vice President Riek Machar.  The civil war raging in neighboring Sudan is contributing to the tension in South Sudan, where violence is likely to escalate.  South Sudan could easily slip back into full scale conflict and ethnic bloodletting.

Three wanted over murder of Scottish man in Kenya

Source: BBC, Saturday March 8, 2025

Samuel Musembi Kamitu, left, Benard Mbunga Mbusu, centre, and Alphonse Munyao Kilewa, right, are wanted by Kenyan police in connection with Mr Scott’s death

Police in Kenya have named three men wanted in connection with the murder of a Scottish businessman whose body was found in a sack of pineapples.

Campbell Scott was found dead in a forest 60 miles (96.5km) from Nairobi after he went missing from his hotel on 16 February.

The country’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has released images of the men, who they believe are linked to the “brutal murder” of the 58-year-old.

They have been named as Benard Mbunga Mbusu, Samuel Musembi Kamitu and Alphonse Munyao Kilewa, also known as “Edu”.

The DCI posted a statement on X asking for anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact them.

Two other men appeared in court accused of using Mr Scott’s bank cards to withdraw money on Saturday.

Mr Scott, from Dunfermline in Fife, was a senior director at the credit scoring firm Fico and had been attending a conference at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi.

He went missing after failing to meet colleagues to deliver a presentation having visited a nightclub.

His body was found in Makongo Forest with his hands bound.

A number of arrests have been made in connection with the investigation.

Police initially arrested two men – a taxi driver and a nightclub waiter – who are believed to have been among the last to see him alive.

Then on Saturday two other men were arrested in Mombasa, 301 miles (485km) from Nairobi on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast.

Officers believe Mr Scott visited a house belonging to one of the men, where he was killed.

They allege that the same man withdrew money from Mr Scott’s account at three different locations, working with the second suspect.

A court in Nairobi agreed that police could hold the men for 21 days while the investigation into his death continues.

A post-mortem examination into his death proved “inconclusive”.

Pathologists said samples would be submitted for toxicology testing after it was determined the injuries sustained by Mr Scott were “too minor” to have caused his death.

The DCI has asked Interpol to help track Mr Scott’s mobile phone and debit and credit card transactions.

Two dead, 186 missing after four boats sink off Yemen and Djibouti: UN

Source: Aljazeera, Saturday March 8, 2025

Despite a nearly decadelong civil war, Yemen remains a major route for tens of thousands of migrants, mostly from Ethiopia, trying to reach Gulf countries for work [File: Fawaz Salman/Reuters]

Four boats carrying migrants from Africa have capsized in waters off Yemen and Djibouti, leaving at least two people dead and 186 missing, according to the United Nations migration agency.

A spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday that two of the boats capsized off Yemen late on Thursday.

Tamim Eleian said two crew members were rescued, but 181 migrants and five Yemeni crew remain missing.

The IOM chief of mission in Yemen said the majority of those onboard were believed to be Ethiopian migrants and five were thought to be Yemeni crew members. At least 57, from both boats, were women.

“We are working with authorities to see if we can find any survivors, but I’m afraid we may not have any,” Abdusattor Esoev told the AFP news agency.

Two other boats capsized off the tiny African nation of Djibouti about the same time, Eleian  said. Two bodies of migrants were recovered, and all others on board were rescued.

Despite a nearly decadelong civil war, Yemen remains a major route for migrants and refugees from East Africa and the Horn of Africa trying to reach Gulf countries for work. Hundreds of thousands of people attempt the crossing each year.

To reach Yemen, people are taken by smugglers on often dangerous, overcrowded boats across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden.

The numbers of people making it to Yemen reached 97,200 in 2023 – triple the number in 2021.

But last year, the number dropped to just under 61,000 amid increased patrols of the waters, according to an IOM report this month.

The IOM said 558 people died along the route in 2024.

In January, 20 Ethiopians were killed when their boat capsized off Yemen.

Over the past decade, at least 2,082 people have disappeared along the route, including 693 known to have drowned, according to the IOM.

About 380,000 migrants are currently in Yemen.

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies

Oil Production Resumes in South Sudan, But Economy and Chinese Oil Companies Struggle

 Source: The South China Morning Post published on 2 March 2025 an article titled “How Chinese Firms Are Holding Out Hope for South Sudan’s Oil Lifeline” by Jevans Nyabiage.

After a year of interrupted oil production, which provides 90 percent of South Sudan’s revenue, it resumed early this year.  While this is an important boost to South Sudan’s economy, inflation rages and production will not return to pre-shutdown levels.  Chinese companies with significant stakes in the oil sector are hoping they can return to profitability.

Democracy Index 2024 and Africa

Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit has just released its “Democracy Index 2024.”   The index provides a snapshot of the state of democracy in 165 independent states and two territories.  The index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.  Each country is classified as one of four types of regime: full democracy (25 countries), flawed democracy (46), hybrid regime (36), or authoritarian regime (60).

The index ranks 50 African countries.  The only one in the full democracy category is Mauritius (#20).  Six are flawed democracies: Botswana (#35), Cabo Verde (#37), South Africa (#43), Namibia (#58), Ghana (#65), and Lesotho (#70).  Sixteen are hybrid regimes and 27 are authoritarian regimes.  In Africa, the Central African Republic (#164) is at the bottom and Sudan is not much better (#162).

By comparison, the United States is a flawed democracy at number 28 and China is an authoritarian regime at number 145.