Source, AP, European leaders laud tougher migration policies but more people die on treacherous sea crossings

1 of 2 | 

FILE – Migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, are stopped by Tunisian Maritime National Guard at sea during an attempt to get to Italy, near the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. The bodies of 19 people were recovered Tuesday, April 23, 2024, off the coast of Tunisia, one of the primary points of departure for those seeking to traverse the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. More than 49,000 people have come to Europe by sea this year, including more than 7,000 from Tunisia to Italy. (AP Photo, File)Read More

2 of 2 | 

FILE – Migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, are stopped by Tunisian Maritime National Guard at sea during an attempt to get to Italy, near the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. The bodies of 19 people were recovered Tuesday, April 23, 2024, off the coast of Tunisia, one of the primary points of departure for those seeking to traverse the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. More than 49,000 people have come to Europe by sea this year, including more than 7,000 from Tunisia to Italy. (AP Photo, File)Read More

BY SAM METZ AND BARBARA SURKUpdated 6:53 PM GMT+2, April 24, 2024Share

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Children dead in the English Channel. Morgues full of migrants reaching capacity in Tunisia. Police in Cyprus patrolling off the island nation’s eastern coast to thwart boats loaded with Syrian refugees.

With pivotal June elections for the European Parliament getting closer, such scenes of despair and tragedy are complicating efforts to open a new chapter in Europe’s migration policy. As the European Union and countries across the 27-member bloc adopt tougher measures on migrants, politicians largely focus their rhetoric on the need to police human trafficking and smuggling — rather than the human drama playing out at sea.

Human rights organizations have for years warned that tougher policies and police crackdowns are not deterring migration but driving desperate people to attempt life-threatening journeys across treacherous waters. Thousands have paid with their lives.

On Tuesday, Tunisia’s Coast Guard recovered 19 bodies near a section of the country’s coastline known as a primary point of departure for boats taking off for Italy. Separately, five smugglers were arrested on human trafficking charges, authorities said. Tunisia has already intercepted about 21,000 migrants trying to cross the sea to Europe this year.

READ MORE

Source: DW, Wednesday April 24, 2024


It is the latest tragedy on a route that has become popular among thousands of migrants trying to reach Gulf countries from the Horn of Africa.



At least 16 people have died after a boat they were traveling in from Yemen capsized off the coast of Djibouti, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the IOM wrote that “Tragedy as boat capsizes off Djibouti coast with 77 migrants on board including children,” adding that at least 28 people were missing.

The Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti Berhanu Tsegaye, wrote, on X that 33 people survived the disaster. Local authorities were assisting IOM with search and rescue operations.

Tsegaye wrote the boat was carrying Ethiopian migrants from Yemen and that the accident occurred on Monday night off Godoria in northeastern Djibouti.

Accident two weeks after a similar incident that killed 38 migrants
Monday’s accident came some two weeks after another boat, also carrying a majority of Ethiopian migrants, also capsized off Djibouti.  

At least 38 migrants died in a boat carrying 66 migrants.

The IOM says every year, tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Somalia, leave the continent via Djibouti in the hope of finding work in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations.

However, many are unsuccessful, and thousands are stranded in Yemen where they experience extremely harsh conditions.

According to IOM figures, around 100,000 people, almost half of them women and children, made the dangerous journey across the coast from Djibouti to Yemen in 2023.

The IOM says the route is dangerous as traffickers target migrants, and they face kidnap, arbitrary arrest, and forced recruitment into warring groups, particularly in Yemen.

Somali President attends ceremony marking implementation of Turkey-Somalia defense agreement

Source: Hiiraan Online, Wednesday April 24, 2024

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accompanied by ministers and the Turkish Ambassador, participated in a ceremony aboard Türkiye’s domestically produced TCG Kınalıada Corvette, which docked at Mogadishu Port on Tuesday in honour of Türkiye’s National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.

President Mohamud highlighted the strategic partnership between Türkiye and Somalia, focusing on humanitarian aid, security, defense, and economic development.

He emphasized the historical significance of the warship’s visit to Somalia’s territorial waters, stating it symbolized the enduring fraternal relations between the two nations and marked a new era for Somalia’s maritime security.

He remarked, “The government of our brothers in Turkey, with whom this agreement is made, is a country and people we know, who have shown us support many times. It is a friendly and brotherly country in which we can trust this important cooperation for the defense of our nationalism and territorial unity.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s unwavering support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He emphasized the deep historical ties between the two nations, stating on his X (formerly Twitter), “The historical relations between our two countries now point to a unity of destiny.”

President Mohamud thanked Türkiye for its support in safeguarding Somalia’s territorial waters under the recently signed Defense and Economic Cooperation agreement.

Days ago, the Director General of the Somali Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mohamed Hashi Abdi’ Arabey, confirmed that Turkey will begin drilling oil off the country’s massive coastline from next year.

Somalia signed a new oil and gas deal with Turkey in early March, which officials said would aid cooperation in the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons.

Turkey’s first warship arrives in Mogadishu Port under defense deal

Source: Hiiraan Online, Tuesday April 23, 2024

Mogadishu (HOL) – Turkish Navy Ship Kınalıada F514 docked at Mogadishu Sea Port on Tuesday following the signing of a defense and economic agreement between Somalia and Turkey in February 2024.

Somali government leaders are expected to participate in a high-level event aboard the ship to commemorate the 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey.

advertisements

According to the Somali National News Agency, this marks the arrival of Turkey’s first warship at Mogadishu Port, symbolizing the commencement of the 10-year agreement with Somalia.

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre addressed members of the cabinet in February and said that under the agreement, Turkey will build, train, and equip the Somali navy.

He described Turkey as a “true and reliable brother.”

Source:: 23 April 2024, Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner condemns Rwanda bill

N says heavy rains to affect about 770,000 people in Somalia

Source: Xinhuanet, Tuesday April 23, 2024

The upcoming heavier than normal Gu rains and floods in 22 districts of Somalia are expected to affect some 770,000 people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Sunday.


Photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023, shows makeshift structures for internally displaced persons (IDPs) submerged in floodwater at Berdale, Southwest State of Somalia. (Photo by Abdi/Xinhua)

The upcoming heavier than normal Gu rains and floods in 22 districts of Somalia are expected to affect some 770,000 people, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Sunday.

OCHA said the April-to-June Gu rains have started in most regions of the country, with heavy rains in some areas, though no flash or riverine flooding has been reported yet.

advertisements

“Humanitarians have developed a plan to mitigate the anticipated impact of the Gu rains, but require urgent resources to ensure timely response,” OCHA said in its latest humanitarian update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

According to the UN agency, 51 boats are available to evacuate people and deliver assistance in priority locations along the Shabelle and Juba rivers, and to deliver assistance to areas that may be cut off, or evacuate people who may be marooned.

“In various hotspot locations, partners are conducting gap analysis and engaging in early warning and community awareness activities, especially in evacuation sites,” OCHA said.

However, it said, the rains have brought relief to pastoralists and agro-pastoralists across the country, regenerating pasture and filling up water points.

In late 2023, heavy Deyr (October to December) rains and flooding displaced 1.6 million people from their homes, according to the UN.

Last month, OCHA warned that the heavy rains are also expected to trigger cholera outbreaks in areas where the disease has not been observed in years.

OCHA said it has teamed up with its partners and the Somalian health authorities to step up response and preparedness activities, guided by a six-month plan of action that requires 5.9 million U.S. dollars to implement. 

Sudan Is Not a Lost Cause

 Source_ Foreign Policy published on 17 April 2024 a commentary titled “Sudan Is Not a Lost Cause” by Suha Musa, a Sudan researcher.  

The author argues that discussion of Sudan as a lost cause discourages international attention and assistance, allowing apathy to set in.  There needs to be more support for community and grassroots organizations, which remain committed to a peaceful country.  

US Special Envoy for Sudan Discusses Prospects for Peace

 Source: The International Crisis Group posted on 15 April 2024 a 38-minute podcast titled “New U.S. Envoy on Ending Sudan’s War” with Tom Perriello, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, and Alan Boswell.  

Perriello said the immediate goal is to resume talks in Jeddah hosted by Saudi Arabia and the United States with key actors in the dispute and to seek agreement for an end to the fighting and eventually a return to establishing a civilian government in Sudan.  The talks need to be inclusive and consolidate earlier peace processes.

A split or divided Sudan would not be a good outcome.  The major challenge to peace is the lack of trust among the belligerents and ensuring that Sudan’s civil society is part of the process.  Perriello is hopeful the sharply deteriorated humanitarian situation will serve as an incentive for all actors to make a more concentrated effort to end the fighting.

Source: Hiiraan Online, Somaliland advances new port construction in Lughaya amid Ethiopia agreement talks

Source: Hiiraan Online, Friday April 19, 2024

An aerial view of Lughaya Beach, showcasing the vibrant coastal town against the backdrop of the serene blue waters of the Gulf of Aden—a historic site in the Awdal region where Ethiopia and Somaliland have agreed to build a port as part of their contentious New Year’s Day MoU. (CREDIT/ Wikicommons)

Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous region, is advancing the construction of a new port in Lughaya, a historic city in the Awdal region, amid ongoing discussions about its strategic agreements with Ethiopia. The government has allocated $1 million to this project, a sum given to former President Dahir Riyale Kaahin, with additional funding expected from local business leaders and elders.

The project’s commencement date remains unannounced, though preliminary financial planning has been disclosed. The total projected cost for the construction has yet to be determined.

The port’s development was a key campaign promise of President Muse Bihi in 2017 and is gaining traction as elections approach. According to Abdi Nasir Buuni, Somaliland’s Minister of Council Relations and Constitutional Affairs, the necessary preparations are complete, and construction is expected to begin shortly. “The economy is our foremost concern, and President Bihi’s administration has supplied the necessary technical resources,” Buuni said. The port is expected to boost trade and create job opportunities, contributing to the region’s economic growth. An official announcement regarding the start of construction is anticipated soon, marking an end to the period of anticipation.

Former Somaliland President Dahir Riyale Kahin. He was President of Somaliland from 2002 to 2010. He also was Vice President of Somaliland from 1997 to 2002.

This development follows early-year reports of a leasing agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland that included provisions for a landing port and a military base on the Red Sea. However, specifics of the deal, including the port’s exact location, were not publicly confirmed until Ridwan Hussein, a former national security advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, identified Lughaya as the location in a January interview.

Despite Somaliland’s lack of international recognition, it has engaged in multiple international agreements concerning port development, as defended by Hussein. Buuni also emphasized that the Lughaya project is purely for development and has no plans related to acquiring equipment for the port. “There’s no connection; it’s solely a development project now. Once the port is operational, it will fulfill its intended functions,” Buuni explained to the BBC.

Lughaya is located 50 km south of Djibouti and 200 km north of Berbera. It is an important regional center in the northwest of the Awdal region, governed by Somaliland. The population is primarily composed of herders and fishermen. The area spans 10,421 square kilometres and supports a total population of 182,706.

Turkey and Somalia to begin offshore oil drilling in 2025 following energy deal

Source: Turkish Energy and Natural Resources, Friday April 19, 2024


Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar – (CREDIT: NTV)

Mogadishu (HOL) — Türkiye is poised to embark on a significant offshore oil exploration venture in Somalia, planning to commence deep-sea drilling in 2025, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Friday. This initiative follows a strategic bilateral agreement to bolster their partnership through energy development.

Building on last month’s offshore oil and natural gas agreement, Türkiye and Somalia are now poised to develop Somalia’s abundant oil reserves. The deal includes the exploration, exploitation, development and production of oil on “Somalia’s onshore and offshore blocks.” Minister Bayraktar outlined a clear timeline, stating, “We will commence seismic work next year, and our aim is to conduct deep-sea drilling by 2025.” 

The relationship between the two nations has strengthened significantly, highlighted by a defence pact and increased trade, with bilateral trade volume reaching $250.85 million in 2019. Turkish firms also manage significant infrastructure in Somalia, such as Mogadishu International Airport and Mogadishu Sea Port, showcasing their deepening ties.

The energy and security agreements were signed against the backdrop of Somalia’s dispute with Somaliland and Ethiopia, and they are intended to deter Ethiopia’s efforts to secure access to the sea via the breakaway Somaliland.

In addition to its plans in Somalia, Türkiye continues to expand its domestic energy capabilities. “This year, we plan to drill 140 wells in areas including Hakkari and Van,” Bayraktar revealed. The minister hoped these efforts would yield new reserves, bolstering Türkiye’s energy independence.

Turkey has been a significant partner of Somalia since 2011, when then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited during a deadly famine. Since then, Turkey has provided Somalia with humanitarian aid and budgetary assistance. 

In September 2017, Turkey established a large military facility to train Somali security forces. 

UN falls short of billion-dollar pledge to tackle Ethiopia’s hunger crisis

UN, Thursday April 18, 2024

A UN donor conference held in Geneva had hoped to raise significant pledges towards a $1 billion target (€940 million) to address the “critical” humanitarian situation in Ethiopia over the next three months. However pledges fell short at €570 million.



Internally displaced women wait during a food distribution organised by the World Food Program in the village of Adlale, near the city of Gode, Ethiopia. AFP – EDUARDO SOTERAS

More than 21 million people need urgent aid in Ethiopia, where a food crisis is deepening.

Organisers said ahead of the conference they did not expect to raise the full amount by Tuesday, but rather to begin closing the gap between needs and funding.

“We understand this is just the beginning, and we hope for continued and increased support throughout the year,” UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya said in a statement.

Twenty countries made new pledges, with Ethiopia’s top donor – the United States – saying it had pledged an additional €145 million.

Britain, which co-hosted Tuesday’s conference, pledged over €117 million, while the European Union said that with member states it had pledged more than €131 million.

Funding gap

Ethiopians are facing ongoing internal conflicts amid economic and climate shocks and an increasingly dire food and malnutrition crisis.

The UN has said over €3 billion is needed this year alone, including to assist some four million internally displaced people.

But before Tuesday’s event, that rescue plan was less than 5 percent funded.

“The gap remains very wide … We have really to act before it is too late,” Shiferaw Teklemariam, commissioner of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission, told reporters in Geneva before the start of the conference.

The UN said an initial billion-dollar sum was needed for an urgent aid response through to the end of June.

It is also needed to prepare for the so-called “lean season” from July to September, when around 11 million people are projected to be critically food insecure.

‘Very fragile’

“The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia is critical – but there is a window to act right now to break the downward spiral,” the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA said.

Britain’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Mitchell said the situation was “extremely worrying”, but added the international community, working closely with the Ethiopian government, was “in a position to head it off”.

Washington also stressed the need for rapid action.

“We have millions and millions of people in Ethiopia facing very severe food insecurity,” USAID deputy administrator Isobel Coleman said ahead of the conference, warning “the humanitarian situation in the country remains very, very fragile”.

Without more aid “the consequences could be very dire”, she said.

‘Not enough aid to distribute’

Coleman also stressed that strong measures would be needed to ensure the aid reaches its intended destination.

Last year, USAID and the UN’s World Food Programme temporarily halted all food aid to Ethiopia, alleging a “widespread and coordinated” campaign to divert donated supplies – something Ethiopia’s government denied.

Authorities in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region warned last December it was on the brink of famine. 

“So much of this food insecurity is being driven by conflict,” Coleman said.

“Until we have peace and security in the country, which allows full access for humanitarian players we’re really not going to be able to get a full handle on this humanitarian crisis.” 

Interview with Ambassador David Shinn

Source: by Ahmed Hirsi – Freelance Writer
Sunday, September 27, 2015

David H. Shinn is an American diplomat and professor. He is an Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

Ahmed Hirsi:  Mr Ambassador is it technically possible that free and fair elections could be implemented in Somalia given that Somalia is a fragmented and feudal society, with no voter’s register in existence, there are no institutions to both plan, manage and the constitution that does exist today is both ambiguous and provisional and to make things worse there is no official or credible census that could be used during elections?

David Shinn:  It is possible for Somalia to experience free and fair elections.  Somalia had a history of reasonably good elections in the 1960s before the takeover of the government by Siad Barre.  As you suggest, it will take a long time to create the institutions, census, and registration of voters that permit free and fair elections.  But it is possible.

AH: If the International Community is serious and committed about the Al-Shabaab menace how come, the Somali armed forces are not trained and equipped in large numbers apart from  the few thousands from one or two regions in Somalia,  that have been trained in neighbouring countries ?

DSH: The problem in creating a Somali national army has less to do with the international community and more to do with clan and regional loyalties of Somalis. Too many Somalis still give their loyalty to a clan or region and not to the national government.  Until this situation changes, it will be difficult to create a large and effective national army.

AH : There have been so many scandals involving various small or new companies that have singed various oil explorations deals with either regional or the central government. Do you think any deals entered with a weak government are legally binding?

DSH: I don’t know the details of the agreements reached between foreign energy companies and Somali authorities. My impression is that some of these deals have been signed with regional authorities. This raises serious questions about their validity.  Even those signed with the federal government are highly suspect because of the manner in which they were negotiated.  Once there is a functional national government, all of these agreements will need to be reviewed.

AH: What is your take on the notion of federalism that is taking root in Somalia, well knowing that Somalia is clan-ridden society .Do you think federalism could prevent misuse of power by few people and those who argue federalism will bring services and the government closer to the people are they right ?

DSH:  Over the short-term, federalism in Somalia seems to be a fact of life.  I doubt there is a viable alternative.  Once confidence is established in a national government, however, it might be possible to shift more responsibility to the national level.  Federalism can play a useful role.  Ultimately, it is up to the Somali people to determine how much federalism it wants and how and when to transfer more authority to the national government.

AH: You have worked in Ethiopia for many years and you seem to be an expert on that country. As we all know Ethiopia has made great developmental strides and its economy is booming. Could you please share with us the secrets behind the Ethiopian economic success story?

DSH: The Ethiopian economy has functioned well because the government has an intelligent plan (largely established by Meles Zenawi) that it has pursued vigorously.  It has an educated and committed leadership.  It has managed to minimize corruption.  It has attracted a great deal of financial support from the outside: China, EU, US, India, Turkey, World Bank, etc. In recent years, it has managed to avoid serious internal conflict and, except for Eritrea, has had cordial relations with its neighbors.  There are, however, some clouds on the horizon.  Individual freedoms have been suppressed and most of the growth has been led by the state.  At some point soon, Ethiopia must do  more to open political space and allow the private sector to thrive.

AH: How long do you think the International Community is prepared to fund the AMISOM operations in Somalia?

DSH: The international community is prepared to fund AMISOM for the foreseeable future.  There is no alternative.  If AMISOM sustains significant setbacks and/or the Somali federal government fails to make significant progress in implementing a government acceptable to most Somalis, there may be pressure to reduce support for AMISOM.

AH : Finally what do you think could be done to revive the Somali economy , since no big investors will risk investing their money in  Somalia and  the few that come to Somalia main aim is to take advantage of the  weak structures that are in place ?

DSH: The only thing that will truly revive the Somali economy beyond building of structures or establishment of services that make a fast dollar is the establishment of security throughout the country and a widely accepted government that is capable of delivering services either at the national or federal level.  Anything short of this will fail to revive the economy.

Thank you very much for your time Mr Ambassador.

Tanzania to host field training for over 600 senior police officers from 14 African countries

Source: Xinhuanet, Tuesday April 16, 2024




FILE – The 24th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs was held in December 2022 in Addis Ababa

DAR ES SALAAM (Xinhua) — Tanzania will host a week-long field training exercise for 670 senior police officers from the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), a regional police body whose membership consists of chiefs of police from 14 African countries.

David Misime, spokesperson for the Tanzania Police Force, host of the training, told Xinhua on Saturday that the training was aimed at strengthening the fight against transnational crime, including terrorism, money laundering, and human and drug trafficking.

He said the training, to be held at the Moshi Police Academy in the Kilimanjaro Region from April 13 to 18, will also equip the trainees to exchange intelligence reports among EAPCCO member countries.

The 670 senior police officers come from EAPCCO member countries of Burundi, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Europe pledges to boost aid to Sudan on unwelcome war anniversary

Source Alazeera: Germany promises $260m as European diplomats meet in Paris to mark the first anniversary of the conflict.

Video Duration 03 minutes 30 seconds03:30

Published On 15 Apr 202415 Apr 2024

Germany will provide 244 million euros ($260m) in humanitarian aid to Sudan, one year after the country plunged into war, as other European countries are also expected to pledge more funds.

European diplomats met in France on Monday to mark the anniversary of the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 8.5 million since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last April.

Sudan Talks Falter and War Expands

 Source: Atlas News published on 12 April 2024 an article titled “Sudan Talks Pushed Back as War Expands” by Sebastien Gray.

The proposed 18 April date for the resumption of peace talks between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Saudi Arabia has been pushed back to a time that has not yet been agreed upon.  A collection of militias in north Darfur known as the Joint Force has aligned with the SAF against the RSF, which controls most of Darfur.

Source; Ajazera,

News|Conflict

After a year of war in Sudan, what is the situation now?

Peacemaking efforts and attempts at ceasefire have all collapsed since fighting broke out in Khartoum last year.

By Areesha Lodhi

Published On 11 Apr 202411 Apr 2024

It has been nearly one year since war broke out in Sudan, causing a devastating humanitarian crisis and bringing long-existing political and ethnic tensions into sharp focus.

The two warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have continued a longstanding struggle for power. Over the past year, violent clashes have killed nearly 16,000 people and displaced millions.

KEEP READING

list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3

Sudan crisis one of the ‘worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory’: UN

list 2 of 3

Are Sudan’s civil society activists being targeted by both warring sides?

list 3 of 3

First UN food aid in months arrives in Sudan’s Darfur as famine looms

end of list

Thousands of desperate people are still fleeing the country daily “as if the emergency had started yesterday”, the United Nations reported on Tuesday this week.

Diplomatic efforts have failed to put an end to the crisis, which experts have said was partially triggered by an internationally backed plan to merge the RSF into the army.

Here’s what you need to know about Sudan’s war, the peacemaking efforts which have been undertaken since it broke out and what the humanitarian situation is now.

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.633.0_en.html#goog_460039255Play Video

Video Duration 02 minutes 02 seconds02:02

Why is there a war in Sudan?

The war in Sudan broke out on April 15, 2023, when a power struggle between the army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo reached a tipping point.

After Sudan’s ruler for nearly 30 years, President Omar al-Bashir, was toppled by a popular uprising in 2019, a fragile transition to civilian-led democracy was blown apart when al-Burhan and Hemedti staged a coup in 2021.

Sign up for Al Jazeera

Weekly Newsletter

The latest news from around the world. Timely. Accurate. Fair.Subscribe

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy

protected by reCAPTCHA

The army and the RSF initially shared power but an ensuing power struggle between the two was exacerbated by an internationally backed Framework Agreement in December 2022. This attempted to integrate the RSF into the army as part of a wider reform of the security sector and the transition to democracy.

While Western countries pressured the two sides to reach a deal quickly, promising aid and debt relief as incentives, each side feared ceding too much control to the other in a new political order.

“The Framework Agreement … brought to the fore key existential issues for both forces and their leaderships, such as [RSF] integration into a single army, military divestment from lucrative sectors of the economy and the prospect of [soldiers] facing justice for past abuses,” Jonas Horner, an independent researcher on Sudan, told Al Jazeera.

“Most of all … the two forces feared being left weaker than the other.”

Tensions between the two military forces reached boiling point in Khartoum on April 15 last year, when both forces sent armoured vehicles into the streets and they opened fire on each other.

Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf enters AUC Chair race against Kenya, Somalia

Hiiraan online, Wednesday April 10, 2024




Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf
Mogadishu (HOL) – Djibouti has nominated Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, its seasoned Foreign Affairs Minister, as its contender for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, joining Kenya and Somalia in a competitive race for this key position.

Djibouti’s presidency, which announced Youssouf’s candidacy on Tuesday, highlighted his over two decades of diplomatic experience. Youssouf is set to compete against Somalia’s Fawzia Yusuf Adam and Kenya’s Raila Odinga for the chairpersonship, succeeding Moussa Faki, who has been in office since 2017.

“Djibouti expresses its faith in Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf’s seasoned diplomacy and in-depth knowledge of the Continental Organization,” the Djibouti presidency stated, endorsing him as a candidate capable of revitalizing the Pan-African Organization.

As the February 2025 elections approach, Kenya has garnered endorsements from Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Ghana, reflecting President William Ruto’s intensive campaign for Odinga. 

The AUC Chairperson election is part of the African Union’s broader reforms aimed at improving leadership selection transparency, regional representation, and gender parity. The Eastern Africa region has been designated to nominate candidates for the next Chairperson, a decision ratified by the African Union’s Executive Council.

Candidates for the AUC Chairperson position who will serve a four-year renewable term are expected to have substantial expertise and advanced degrees in law, international relations, or political science. The Chairperson acts as the Union’s Chief Executive Officer and legal representative.

Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adan, who announced her candidacy in early March, is a trailblazer in Somali politics. She previously served as Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister from November 2012 to January 2014, becoming the first Somali woman to be nominated for this prestigious position.

Somalia, a founding member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, has never held the top position within the organization, making Adan’s candidacy a watershed moment for the country.

In late March, Somalia formed an eight-member committee led by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to prepare for the African Union Commission (AUC) election campaign

Why is a ‘French Foreign Legion’ for the UAE problematic?

Source: DW, Wednesday April 10, 2024


The UAE is a hub for mercenaries in Africa and the Middle East. Now the Emirates want their own version of the French Foreign Legion. That may change how secret, private armies work in a legal grey zone.

The proliferation of PMSCs started with the US, which used companies like Blackwater (pictured) in Iraq and Afghanistan / Image: Chris Curry/dpa/picture alliance

The job advertisement intrigued a lot more people than it was meant to, possibly because it sounded like the start of an action movie.

“Foreign Legion operator” wanted, it read. Must be under 50, highly disciplined, physically fit, with at least five years of military experience and able to deal with “high stress conditions.” Pay would start at around $2,000 a month but would increase once deployed outside of the United Arab Emirates, to Yemen or Somalia.

The ad was first discovered by French industry publication, Intelligence Online, who said it had been circulated by former French special forces soldiers. Further investigation traced the ad back to a security consultancy, the Manar Military Company, or MMC, based in Abu Dhabi. The company is run by a former French special forces officer and is financially connected to a wealthy, politically influential Abu Dhabi family.

UK announces full debt cancellation for Somalia, boosting economic growth

Source: Hiiraan Online, Wednesday April 10, 2024

2024-04-09, British Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia- The United Kingdom has fully cancelled Somalia’s historic debt through the completion of the HIPC Initiative, which aims to assist the Horn of the African country in attracting investment, fostering economic growth, and building a secure and stable Somalia.

Deputy Ambassador Sam Thomas made the announcement during his meeting with Minister of Finance Bihi Iman Egeh in Mogadishu on Tuesday.

“Today I confirmed to Finance Minister Bihi that the UK has cancelled 100% of Somalia’s historic debts. As Somalia’s debt relief champion, we are committed to helping attract investment and grow the Somali economy,” the UK embassy in Mogadishu posted on its X (formerly Twitter).

The Minister of Finance described the decision as remarkable and building on the progress made during last month’s Paris Club discussions.

Last month, Paris Club, a collection of some of the world’s wealthiest creditor nations, canceled 99% of Somalia’s debt, a major boost as the country continues its fragile economic recovery from an ongoing three-decade conflict.

In a statement released by the Paris Club, which is run by senior officials from the French Treasury, Somalia’s creditors, including the US, UK, Russia, Norway, and Japan, announced the cancellation of $2bn owed to club members as of January 2023.

UN says 38 dead, including children, as migrant boat sinks off Djibouti

Source: Aljazeera, Tuesday April 9, 2024

Rescuers search for survivors on the beach after two boats carrying migrants and refugees capsized off the shore near Godoria, in northeast Djibouti, in January 2019 [International Organization for Migration via AP]

At least 38 migrants and refugees, including children, have died after their boat sank off the coast of Djibouti, the United Nations migration agency has said, after their bodies were recovered.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a post on X on Tuesday that at least six others are missing and presumed dead, and that 22 survivors are being assisted by its representatives in the East African country, along with local officials.

This adds to nearly 1,000 people who have been recorded to have died or gone missing after embarking on the “Eastern Route” since 2014, the IOM said.

The treacherous journey on the infamous route takes migrants from Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa through Yemen to other Arab countries in the region.

The route continues to see an increase in migrant journeys despite the dangers, with people seeking better livelihoods and with larger numbers of women and children travelling alone, according to the IOM.

In February, the agency reported that nearly 400,000 migrant movements were recorded across the Eastern Route in 2023.

Another route from the Horn of Africa to the south of the continent, particularly to South Africa, which is also identified by the UN as a highly dangerous and complex route, saw 80,000 movements in the same period.

At least 698 people, including women and children, died in 2023 while trying to cross the Gulf of Aden from Djibouti to Yemen in hopes of reaching Saudi Arabia, the IOM said in a report, adding that it provides assistance to more than 1.4 million migrants and host communities in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Southern Africa.

Migrants and refugees leave home in search of better jobs, to escape conflict and insecurity, and the adverse effects of climate change. In addition to facing the threat of drowning in shipwrecks, they can also be exposed to starvation, health risks, and exploitation by traffickers.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA