Top U.S. diplomat Blinken heads for Niger after Ethiopia visit

Top U.S. diplomat Blinken heads for Niger after Ethiopia visit

Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States has announced US$331 million in new funding for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia, where he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other leaders on Wednesday as part of an African tour that continues through the end of the week. Blinken said…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Death toll rises to 21 in Mogadishu hotel attack

Death toll rises to 21 in Mogadishu hotel attack

The death toll in Saturday’s attack on the Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu has risen to 21 people, but Somali officials have released few other details about the attack. Gen. Abdi Hassan Mohamed Hijar, head of Somalia’s police force, confirmed that the 30-hour siege had ended early Sunday and that 106…

U.S. troops to return to Somalia as Farmaajo loses election

The United States plans to reestablish its troop presence in Somalia, reversing a policy decision to remove U.S. forces made by former president Donald Trump. A small force of several hundred military personnel is expected to be deployed following the decision by President Joe Biden, announced Monday by the U.S….

3 African nations lose UN vote over member dues

Three African nations have had their voting rights suspended by the United Nations because of their failure to pay the required financial contributions for member states. Sudan and Congo-Brazzaville, along with the Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros, are among 10 nations that have failed to pay their dues in…

Turkey-Africa Summit takes leaders to Istanbul

African leaders are in Turkey this weekend, as they take part in the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The summit is meant to promote and deepen ties between Istanbul and African nations, with some 40 countries participating in the talks. They’re meant to lead to…

Kenyan firm offers farmers AI-based locust monitoring tech

East Africans are now using an early warning tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to help farmers fight off locusts that have devastated crops and communities across the past year. The new tool from Selina Wamucii, a platform that connects farmers and markets across Africa, is called Kuzi, the Swahili…

AFRICOM airstrike in Somalia claims 5 lives

Five al-Shabaab members have died in an airstrike in Somalia, according to the United States Africa Command. The U.S. strike targeted al-Shabaab leaders near Saaxa Weyne, AFRICOM said. No civilians were injured or killed during the operation. “This strike targeted known al-Shabaab leaders who facilitated finance, weapons, fighters, and explosives….

Honeymoon could soon be over for Erdogan’s Turkey in Africa

In the nearly ten years since Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his famous visit to Mogadishu in August 2011, Turkey has rapidly become one of Somalia’s most important (and generous) international benefactors. After Erdogan became the first head of state from outside of Africa to visit Somalia since the country’s disastrous…

New locust outbreak adds to southern Africa’s woes

Another locust outbreak is threatening southern Africa, this time with the potential to affect some 7 million people in four more countries. Botswana has seen smallholder farmers lose entire crops, with the growing region of Pandamatenga and its key sorghum crops at risk as the country seeks to step up…