Features

ICC Prosecutor says court must ensure a measure of justice for GBV victims

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (HORN OBSERVER) On the occasion of this year's Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I join the calls for a world free of violence against women and children.

Amid stalemate on elections, foreign diplomats call Somali leaders to seek consensus

GAROWE (HORN OBSERVER) On their third group visit to Somalia's Federal Member States (FMSs), representatives from some of the country's main partners today emphasized the need for Somali leaders to remain in dialogue with one another, as well as continue in the spirit of consensus which has…

Small-scale traders should be at the heart of Africa's post COVID-19 investment efforts

ABIDJAN (HORN OBSERVER) Industry experts meeting this week for a virtual discussion focused on resetting, retooling and restarting regional integration in Africa in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, underscored the importance of putting small scale traders at the heart of any initiatives.

Mogadishu mayor threatens to 'seize and kill relentlessly' opposition politicians

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Following a weeklong political conference by key Somali opposition figures, that ended with a strong communique demanding the resignation of National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) chief and dissolution of the disputed electoral committee, the Mayor of Mogadishu Omar…

SJS calls Somali govt, opposition to respect independent election coverage and stop threatening journalists

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses its concern about the increasing intimidation, censorship and threats against independent journalists and media in Somalia ahead of the country's general elections.

Six months on, Somalia govt investigations have not resulted in arrests or prosecutions as Gololey victims' relatives await justice

NAIROBI (HORN OBSERVER) – Authorities in Somalia should intensify their investigation into the abduction and apparent summary execution of seven health workers and a pharmacist in May 2020, Human Rights Watch said today. Six months on, government investigations have not resulted in arrests or prosecutions,…

African bank to shore up Sudan's health system to contain COVID-19 pandemic

ABIDJAN (HORN OBSERVER) The Board of the African Development Fund on Wednesday approved grants worth $28.233 million to Sudan to shore up the country's health system to effectively respond and contain the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigate its social and economic impacts and build resilience to future…

Price of guns rises in Mogadishu amid fears of election violence in Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) At a black market, in Mogadishu, a group of men negotiated the price of two AK-47 rifles on Saturday. The buyer, who only shared his initial as Ahmed, said the price was much higher than it was sold five months ago.

Somalia election: A vicious cycle marred by corruption, lack of oversight

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) When the prime minister of Somalia announced last week the members of the Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT), the nation got an early glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming parliamentary and presidential election: a return to the widespread irregularities seen…

Ethiopia: Investigation reveals evidence that scores of civilians were killed in massacre in Tigray state

NAIROBI (HORN OBSERVER) Amnesty International can today confirm the that scores, and likely hundreds, of people were stabbed or hacked to death in Mai-Kadra (May Cadera) town in the South West Zone of Ethiopia's Tigray Region on the night of 9 November.

Astaan TV CEO handed down with 'politically motivated verdict' in Somaliland, 2 journalists briefly detained in Gedo

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) strongly condemn the politically-motivated decision by the Marodi-Jeh Regional Court in Hargeisa against the subscription-based television cable service Astaan TV and its CEO, Abdimanan Yusuf on Wednesday…

Somalia: Rallying to vaccinate every child against polio

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Fahima Ahmed Hassan is a 25-year-old community mobilizer who goes the extra mile to ensure parents of children under the age of five are well informed of the polio vaccination campaign and ready to vaccinate their children.

On IDEI, Somali journalists and their unions call for urgent end of impunity

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) In a joint commemoration held in Mogadishu on the International Day to End Impunity for the Crimes Against Journalists on 2nd November, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Media Women Network (MWN) called for an urgent action to end the culture…

CAJ Calls on Governments to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in Africa

NAIROBI (HORN OBSERVER) The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has today called on African Governments to end the impunity for crimes perpetrated against journalists in the course of their work.

African Development Bank builds a pool of 80 climate change experts

ABIDJAN (HORN OBSERVER) The African Development Bank has designated representatives from 80 government institutions, civil society organizations and universities for training as experts in developing climate financing proposals.

Two humanitarian workers killed in Somalia, UN condemns it

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The United Nations in Somalia strongly condemns the murder of two humanitarian workers, who were reportedly killed yesterday in the capital, Mogadishu, by suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists.

A notorious rights violator picked as a member of Somalia's Hirshabelle Parliament

JOWHAR (HORN OBSERVER) On Tuesday night, Somalia's Hirshabelle State has announced its second Regional Assembly (Parliament) comprising 90 members from the clans in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions.

African countries convene at UN FAO conference to plan way out of hunger crisis

ACCRA/HARARE (HORN OBSERVER) The COVID-19 pandemic, rising levels of hunger and malnutrition, and growing swarms of locusts are the backdrop for the 31st Session of the Regional Conference for Africa, starting today, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Somali PM hails community collaboration to restore security to Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has hailed the collaboration between the community and security agencies during a tour of key Mogadishu road that was reopened following a recent directive by the Prime Minister.

How a community driven approach is achieving peace at a Somali town with USAID support

MARKA (HORN OBSERVER) Marka town is an ancient port city in the Lower Shebelle province of Somalia and approximately 90km to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. But this town has been the best example to think when one has to describe the impact of Somalia's protracted conflict.