Author name: fatih

Somali army kills 16 al-Shabaab terrorists

Africa /

The Somali army on Tuesday killed 16 al-Shabab terrorists in an operation in the eastern part of Hiiraan region, according to state media.
 The army alongside local forces intensified a large-scale operation in the Hiiraan region aimed at eliminating the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist group, the Somali news agency SONNA reported. It said Somali security forces effectively captured several strategic locations, including Beera Yabaal, Buur Abooto, Eega Galmaay, Jidcilaan, and Cadow Gureey. The army said its ongoing operation aims to fully liberate Somalia from extremist groups and ensure lasting peace and security for Somali citizens. The Horn of Africa country has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh (ISIS) terror groups. Since 2007, al-Shabaab has been fighting the Somali government and African Union peacekeepers stationed in the country.

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Belgium summons Rwandan envoy

Africa /

Belgium said Tuesday that it had summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Rwandan Embassy in Brussels, days after M23 rebels claimed to have captured the city of Goma in the restive eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. “Belgium reiterated its firm position, including calling for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to support for the M23,” the Foreign Ministry said on X. In response, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said the chargé d’affaires “reiterated Rwanda’s firm position towards Belgium, namely its own responsibility in this crisis and its bias against our country.” Nduhungirehe said Belgium’s biases against Rwanda are manifested by “its deafening silence and inaction” in the face of the numerous bellicose speeches of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi against Rwanda and the continued collaboration between Congolese forces and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group operating in eastern Congo and sanctioned by the UN. Belgium described the M23’s advance as an “unacceptable violation of the ceasefire” with a disastrous humanitarian impact. Violent demonstrations erupted Tuesday in Congo’s capital Kinshasa in front of several embassies, including that of Belgian, where a gate was set on fire. Congo and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group. Rwanda, however, denies the allegations. The M23 says it is defending the interests of minority Congolese Tutsis, who say they are discriminated against for their ethnic links to Rwanda’s Tutsi community.

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59 passengers escape death as Nigerian airliner crash lands in Kano state

Africa /

A commercial plane in Nigeria with 59 passengers on board from Lagos crash have landed at an airport in the Kano state. The Max Air Boeing 737 flight lost its nose landing gear tire while landing on Tuesday night, according to several passengers. The airplane tire then burst, and the plane skidded to a halt on the runway. Kano Max Air Manager Bello Ramadan confirmed the incident but said there was no casualty.

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William Ruto: Diplomacy the only solution to DRC conflict

Africa /

Kenya’s president, William Ruto, on Monday described the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo as “very complicated” and said it could only be solved diplomatically. “We do not see, from where I sit, a possibility of a military solution to the challenges that face the eastern DRC,” he told reporters during a briefing. “It was, it is, and am sure it will continue to be the case that engagement, dialogue, consultations is the only viable way out of the situation in DRC.” His comments came as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claimed to have captured Congo’s largest city, Goma, as fighting escalated despite calls from the UN Security Council for the insurgents to withdraw. Gunshots rang out across Goma overnight before dozens of rebels in military uniform early Monday morning marched into the capital of North Kivu province, which sits on the border with Rwanda. The volatile region is rich in minerals that are critical to much of the world’s technology. Kinshasa said the rebel advance amounted to a “declaration of war”. Amid the escalating conflict, Ruto, who is also chairman of the East African Community, said he has called an emergency meeting for member states on Wednesday. He said Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi were due to attend the meeting. Congo late Saturday broke off relations with Rwanda, which has denied backing the M23 despite evidence collected by UN experts and others. The eastern DRC has been a tinderbox for decades and the United Nations has warned that this latest M23 offensive risks spiralling into a regional war.

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US agency reports 956 arrests in immigration crackdown on Sunday

World /

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials announced Sunday that 956 illegal immigrants were arrested in various cities nationwide, aligning with President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to pursue large-scale deportations after taking office. Tom Homan, Trump’s newly appointed border czar, said several detainees had been convicted of serious offenses, including murder and sex crimes. He added that collateral arrests were made during the detention of undocumented immigrants without criminal records who were present at the raid locations. Homan said Sunday’s operation in Chicago, Illinois, resulted in the arrests of six individuals convicted of serious sex offenses, several gang members, and two others previously convicted of murder and aggravated sexual battery. “We’ve got to put America’s safety first,” Homan, who oversaw the sting operations in Chicago, told NBC News. In a statement, ICE officials explained that the agency’s enhanced operations under the Trump administration aim to “enforce US immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.” Since Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, ICE has made a total of 2,681 arrests, including 956 on Sunday. However, officials did not disclose how many detainees had criminal histories or convictions. According to sources quoted by The Washington Post, Trump officials directed ICE to target between 1,200 and 1,500 arrests daily. Homan said enforcement actions would also occur in previously designated safe zones, such as churches and schools, following Trump’s revocation of long-standing guidance protecting such locations. “Decisions to enter those spaces would be made on a ‘case-by-case basis,’” he said, adding that the objective was to “get as many criminals as possible.” “I don’t have a quota,” Homan said. “My instructions to them: Arrest as many as you can.” Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson said the city’s police department did not assist in the Chicago raid.  Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker expressed mixed feelings about the federal operation. Speaking to CNN, Pritzker said he supports deporting individuals convicted of violent crimes but opposes the detention of non-criminal immigrants. “Why are we going after them? These are not people who are causing problems in our country, and what we need is a path to citizenship for them,” said Pritzker. “We need to secure our border. We need to get rid of the violent criminals, but we also need to protect people—at least the residents of Illinois and all across the nation—who are just doing what we hope immigrants will do,” he added. Similar immigration raids were carried out in Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, New York, and Washington.

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600 escape detention in South Sudan amid unrest

Africa /

The South Sudanese police reported that 600 individuals, detained on charges of “violence and looting,” escaped from a military detention center in the capital, Juba. Police spokesperson John Kassara Koang Nhial stated in a press release yesterday that 600 suspects fled the detention center in Juba and that 410 of them have been recaptured following operations. Nhial added that the police fired warning shots into the air and are continuing efforts to locate and arrest the remaining escapees. Unrest in the Country Since January 16 Since January 16, disturbances have been ongoing in the country, particularly in the capital, Juba, where shops owned by Sudanese nationals were looted and vandalized, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals. Several Sudanese homes were also set on fire during the violence. In response to these events, the South Sudanese government imposed a curfew on January 17, restricting movement nationwide between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The Sudanese army described the incidents in Wad Madani as isolated events and announced the launch of an investigation into the situation. These developments have raised concerns about the safety of the hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees who fled the conflict and sought refuge in South Sudan. South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Sudanese Ambassador last week regarding the alleged incidents, while President Salva Kiir Mayardit called for calm and restraint.

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76 Killed in devastating hotel fire at Turkish ski resort

Turkey /

A devastating fire broke out early Tuesday at the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel in northwestern Turkey, killing at least 76 people, including two who jumped to escape the flames, officials said. The blaze, which occurred during a school holiday at the popular ski resort of Kartalkaya in Bolu province, also left 51 others injured. The fire broke out around 3:27 a.m. at the hotel, which was packed with guests during the start of the two-week winter school break. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that 45 of the victims had been identified, with recovery efforts continuing for the remaining bodies. “We are heartbroken. Those responsible will face justice,” Yerlikaya said. Survivors described scenes of chaos, with guests on the upper floors attempting to escape, some using sheets to climb down or jumping from windows. “People were screaming, some tried to jump,” said Atakan Yelkovan, a guest on the third floor. The hotel had 238 registered guests at the time. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu reported that one person was in serious condition, while 17 others were treated and released. Emergency teams are set to conduct a final search for victims.

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Sahel trio to form 5,000-strong joint force

Africa /

Three junta-led countries in Africa’s Sahel region—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—are set to collaborate on forming a 5,000-strong military unit to combat the ongoing jihadist violence that has plagued the area for years, officials announced on Tuesday. According to Niger’s Defence Minister Salifou Mody, the three nations will establish a “unified force” within the next few weeks. These countries, all former French colonies, experienced military coups between 2020 and 2023, which ousted civilian governments. In the wake of these coups, the three nations distanced themselves from France and last year formed a new confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). “Within this shared framework, our forces will be able to intervene collectively,” Mody stated in a televised interview, noting that the force—comprising both ground troops and intelligence capabilities—was “almost ready” to be deployed. The joint force will be equipped with personnel, aerial support, ground units, and intelligence resources, along with a coordination system designed to streamline operations. Mody added that the force is expected to be operational in a matter of weeks. The combined territories of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger span over 2.8 million square kilometers (1.1 million square miles)—about four times the size of France—and are situated in the Sahel, a semi-arid region that lies between the Sahara Desert to the north and the savannas to the south. For nearly a decade, these nations have faced relentless attacks from jihadist groups aligned with either Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Despite previous assistance from French forces, the violence has proven difficult to suppress. “We face the same threats—particularly from criminal groups—and we must unite our efforts,” Mody emphasized. “This initiative is a new and unique approach that will enhance the security of our territories and our people.” While the three countries have already conducted joint anti-jihadist operations, particularly in the border areas where attacks are most frequent, the new force will strengthen their coordination and response capabilities. Following the coups, the three nations expelled French troops that had been supporting their fight against jihadists, withdrew from the ECOWAS regional bloc—which they considered ineffective—and have sought new alliances, notably with Russia, which is looking to expand its influence in the region.

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Guterres calls for action on conflicts, climate, inequality, at UN assembly

Africa /

Guterres Outlines Key Priorities at UN Assembly: Conflict Resolution, Climate Action, and Ethical AI This year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has committed to addressing four critical global challenges: escalating conflicts, rampant inequalities, the climate crisis, and the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Guterres emphasized the urgent need for the UN to prioritize conflict resolution, highlighting ongoing crises in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti, as a ceasefire in Gaza is set to take effect. He also stressed the failure to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, warning that $4 trillion are still needed to meet the targets with just five years remaining until the deadline. In response to the escalating climate crisis, Guterres called for a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 and a decrease in fossil fuel production to prevent further environmental damage. Finally, he urged the international community to manage the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, ensuring that its development benefits humanity, promotes equality, and upholds dignity.

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