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WPFD: Somali journalists subjected to threats, beating, arbitrary detention as authorities continue to deny journalists' access to information

MOGADISHU, Somalia 3 May 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is yet alarmed by the continued attacks including threats, beating, arbitrary detention, obstruction from reporting public interest stories, which further puts the journalists and media workers at risk to report certain issues…

East and Southern Africa: Attacks on journalists on the rise as authorities seek to suppress press freedom

Authorities across East and Southern Africa escalated their attacks against journalists and press freedom across the region to suppress reporting of corruption and human rights violations throughout 2022, the Media Institute of Southern Africa and Amnesty International said today to mark World Press…

UNHCR rapidly scaling up to assist people seeking safety in South Sudan following Sudan violence

Over 16,600 arrivals registered as of 28 April

Russia Urged To Adopt More Sustainable Development-Oriented Policies To Meet Contemporary Challenges Facing African Countries

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh For more than three decades, Russia has been trying to regain part of its Soviet-era economic influence in Africa, but such efforts have regularly hit stumbling blocks which policy experts attribute to pitfalls in its policy towards Africa. Now several reports have urged Russian…

WPFD2023: Facebook's mass reporting, community standards constantly used to censor and suppress Somali journalists

MOGADISHU, Somalia 2 May 2023 – On World Press Freedom Day, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is concerned about the increasing use of Facebook Community Standards and mass reporting to suppress and censor Somali journalists whose reporting is deemed critical to the Somali government which resulted…

Somalia evacuates 169 of its citizens stranded in Sudan

Mogadishu, Somalia (Horn Observer) Somalia on Monday said it evacuated 169 of its citizens from Sudan, amid fighting rages there, officials said.

OIC Holds Emergency Executive Committee Meeting to Discuss Developments in Sudan

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Horn Observer) -- At the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the current Chair of the Islamic Summit, and the OIC Executive Committee, the OIC Executive Committee will hold an emergency meeting, on Wednesday, 3 May 2023, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in…

Somalia: DRC provides integrated emergency support to families displaced by conflict in Laascaanood

Schools typically provide spaces and environments for learning, while public buildings host government offices to serve communities. However, in the Kalabayr and Taleex areas of the Sool region, as well as Buuhoodle of Togdheer, the situation is different. Schools and public buildings in these areas…

Sudan INGO Forum calls on conflict parties to ensure protection of civilians, including aid workers and assets, and allow for the immediate scale-up of life-saving humanitarian assistance

The ongoing and escalating violence across Sudan has directly impacted thousands of civilians, resulting in loss of life, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and complete disruption of basic services. Despite the announcement of consecutive 72-hour ceasefires and humanitarian pauses by…

Sudan: Plight of civilians amid hostilities

Delivered by Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani Two weeks after the fighting erupted between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) - imposing fear, deprivation, trauma and suffering on the civilian population -- the human rights…

Supported by ATMIS, journalists, civil society representatives in Hirshabelle train on Human Rights News reporting

Jowhar -A three-day training on Human Rights and the role of government has concluded in Jowhar, Hirshabelle State, to help the media and representatives of civil society understand news reporting on Human Rights.

Fatima Ismail Mohamed: "I saw too many girls suffering from FGM and knew I had to do something"

Mogadishu – One morning in 2011, Fatima Ismail Mohamed was seated in her 8th grade classroom in the Somali capital of Mogadishu waiting for the lesson to begin, when suddenly her friend seated next to her dropped to the ground, writhing in pain.

Nigerian justice minister misrepresents CPJ research on attacks on journalists

New York, April 28, 2023—Nigerian authorities should revise recent statements falsely characterizing CPJ's research on the press freedom situation in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.

ATMIS joins Sierra Leone to celebrate 62 years of Independence

MOGADISHU – As Sierra Leone marked 62 years of independence, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), has commended the country for its continued contributions to the ongoing peace efforts in Somalia and the continent. Sierra Leone attained independence from Britain on 27 April 1961.

Gunmen shot dead senior Ethiopian ruling party official

Addis Ababa (Horn Observer) – The Head of the Ethiopian ruling Prosperity Party's Amhara region branch, Girma Yeshitila has been shot dead in Amhara region, the local media reported.

IGAD Receives Update on President Salva Kiir's Sudan Ceasefire and Mediation Efforts

April 27, 2023 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan and the lead Intergovernmental Authority on Development's (IGAD) mediation team of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government yesterday evening (26 April 2023) shared a comprehensive update…

Safeguarding security gains emphasised ahead of ATMIS exit from Somalia

Kampala, 27 April 2023 – Defence and Foreign Affairs ministers from countries contributing troops to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and its partners have called for a deliberate and coordinated exit of African Union troops from Somalia, to avoid negating the security gains…

FIFA receives expressions of interest to host FIFA Women's World Cup 2027™

ZURICH, Switzerland, -- Four expressions of interest from member associations representing the same number of confederations received; FIFA implementing most robust and comprehensive bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women's World Cup™; FIFA Congress to appoint the host(s) on 17 May 2024.

Hirshabelle State of Somalia concerned about closed container believed to contain hazardous chemicals at on the beach of Adale District

Hirshabelle State, Somalia - The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Hirshabelle State is deeply concerned about the recent incident of a closed container, believed to contain hazardous chemicals, washing up on the beach front of Adale District.

ATMIS Deputy Force Commander visits troops in Baidoa to assess their welfare and ongoing military operations

Baidoa, –The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Deputy Force Commander in charge of Support and Logistics, Maj. Gen. Peter Kimani Muteti, on Tuesday, visited troops in Baidoa, Southwest State, to assess their welfare and the ongoing military operations in the region.