Author name: yasir

Somalia strengthens security training to combat IED threat

Africa /

As Somalia progresses toward self-reliance and sustainability in national security, the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) remains significant. Over the past year, approximately 600 IEDs have caused around 1,500 casualties, severely impacting local communities and national armed forces. The Somali National Army (SNA), supported by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), is leading efforts to combat this persistent IED threat. “The seriousness of this threat is well understood here. The primary targets are your fellow SNA soldiers. It is vital that we find a solution,” stated James Swan, the UN Acting Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, during the launch of a month-long ‘train-the-trainer’ course aimed at enhancing the SNA’s capabilities in countering IEDs. Many attendees at the training have firsthand experience of the dangers faced by soldiers. “We faced numerous threats, including enemy blockades and remote-controlled IEDs, leading to the loss of many comrades,” recalled Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Mohamud Awale, reflecting on his operational experience in the Hiraan and Galgaduud regions. Colonel Faisal Ali Noor shared his haunting memories of IED incidents: “At times, IEDs detonated while we were digging, resulting in casualties. Our limited knowledge even led us to use fire to attempt to defuse them, which caused more fatalities.” The statistics are alarming: in 2023 alone, the SNA reported 378 deaths and 451 injuries due to IEDs, underscoring the ongoing risks faced by both military personnel and civilians. As Somalia strives to take full responsibility for its security, training initiatives like the one beginning today in Mogadishu aim to better equip national forces through comprehensive training, mentoring, and hands-on experience.

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3 injured in knife attack at Canadian mosque

World /

Three victims were injured while trying to disarm a knife-wielding man during Friday afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque.  A spokesperson for Chateauguay police told reporters that the victims received minor injuries, although one was taken to hospital.  Those injured were in their 50s, said police. They managed to restrain the suspect until police arrived.  About 100 men, women and children were inside the Centre Culturel Musulman in Chateauguay, Quebec, when administrator Richid Amane said a man acted suspiciously after entering the mosque, CTV News reported.  Several men approached the suspect and suffered cuts to their hands and one to his body. The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the largest non-profit Muslim organization in Canada, asked the community to wait for more facts before jumping to conclusions. “We are aware and greatly concerned,” NCCM wrote on X. “We are in touch with the local centre and will provide more information as it becomes available “However, we do not have information at this point to make a suggestion as to the motivation behind the incident, and we encourage our community not to speculate as the investigation continues,” it said. A suspect, 24, was arrested at the scene. Police said investigators are interrogating him. He is likely to be charged and it is expected he will appear in court Saturday.

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Kenyan court rules Meta can be sued over content moderator firings

Africa /

A Kenyan court of appeal declared Friday that Meta can be sued in Kenya over the firing of dozens of content moderators. The decision paves the way for a legal battle between the Facebook parent company and the aggrieved moderators, who allege wrongful termination. In a statement, their lawyer Mercy Mutemi applauded the ruling, saying: “The Court of Appeal has today upheld the Employment Court’s decision that Facebook can be sued in Kenya.” Noting that the cases by the content moderators could now proceed, he said Facebook had “argued it’s a foreign company that can’t be sued in Kenya.” The development follows an out-of-court settlement in August last year, where Meta reached an agreement with the group of content moderators who had previously sued the company over similar claims of unjust dismissal. The dispute originated from when 260 Kenyan-based content moderators employed by Sama, a company contracted by Meta for content moderation, were abruptly informed of their redundancy in March 2023. In response, the moderators filed a lawsuit against Meta, asserting that their terminations were unlawful and lacked valid justification. This incident was not the first legal challenge Meta has faced in Kenya. In December 2022, the company was sued for $2 billion over accusations of exacerbating ethnic violence in the East African country, as well as in neighboring Ethiopia.

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Gang violence spreading across Haiti 

World /

Gang violence is still spreading across Haiti, while the UN-backed mission to combat crime in the Caribbean country continues to lack sufficient funds to act, UN human rights expert William O’Neill warned on Friday. O’Neill, who concluded a visit to Haiti this week, said gangs are invading new territories as weapons and ammunition enter the country despite an international embargo. “Areas previously not impacted by gang violence are now directly impacted, with galloping inflation, lack of basic goods and flows of internally displaced people,” O’Neill warned at a news conference in Port-au-Prince. “The human rights and humanitarian consequences are dramatic.” He warned that the UN-backed mission, led by 400 Kenyan police officers who arrived in Haiti at the end of June, has deployed less than one-quarter of the promised contingent and has less than two weeks left in their initial one-year mandate. “The equipment it has received is inadequate, and its resources are insufficient,” he said. At least 2,900 troops were promised by countries including Antigua, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Chad, Bahamas and Jamaica to help Haitian police. More than 1,379 people were killed or injured in Haiti, and 428 kidnapped from April to June, according to the UN. “The solutions are there, and they already exist. But efforts must be redoubled immediately,” said O’Neill. He pointed out that the population continues to suffer from sexual violence, displacement and children are being forcibly recruited into gangs. The children, he said, are “being used to carry out attacks against public institutions and police operations.” “Youth are losing hope of a better future,” he said. Less than one-third of Haiti’s health services are functioning normally, and almost 5 million people are suffering from hunger.

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Maiduguri faces crisis as devastating floods hit West Africa

Africa /

Torrential rains across Central and West Africa have caused devastating floods, with Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno state—already struggling with an ongoing insurgency—bearing the brunt of the disaster. This year alone, the floods have claimed over 1,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands in countries like Chad, Nigeria, Mali, and Niger. The United Nations reports that more than four million people have been affected in West Africa, a dramatic increase from last year. As rescue operations continue, the exact death toll remains uncertain, but preliminary figures indicate at least 230 deaths in Nigeria, 265 in Niger, 487 in Chad, and 55 in Mali, which has seen its worst flooding since the 1960s. Despite contributing only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa is highly vulnerable to extreme weather, with adaptation costs projected to reach $30-50 billion annually over the next decade. Maiduguri is in crisis, as the region has faced a relentless wave of attacks from Boko Haram, resulting in over 35,000 deaths in the past decade. Local resident Saleh Bukar recalled being awakened by neighbors’ urgent cries for help as floodwaters surged. Many older adults and those with disabilities were unable to escape in time, leading to tragic losses. With over 600,000 people displaced in Borno state alone, the local government struggles to cope. Recent floods have devastated wildlife, destroyed vital infrastructure, and caused significant structural damage, including the collapse of key bridges and a dam that released vast amounts of water into the city. Governor Babagana Zulum has called for urgent international aid, emphasizing that local resources are overwhelmed. The World Food Program is providing food assistance, but many survivors report feeling abandoned. In Niger, floods have affected over 841,000 people, with single mother Harira Adamou lamenting the loss of her home and the absence of state support. She and her children are now living in a temporary shelter, fearing more rains. As Maiduguri remains partially submerged, forecasts suggest further rain, prompting warnings of additional flooding. Bukar, displaced and living in a shelter with thousands, has taken it upon himself to help others while grappling with his own loss. “I am volunteering to help, but I am also a victim,” he said, highlighting the resilience of the community amid profound suffering.

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Somali army apprehends senior al-Shabaab ringleader

Africa /

 Somalia announced on Wednesday that it has apprehended a senior member of the terrorist organization al-Shahaab in the central Galgadud region. The Somali National Army (SNA) apprehended Ali Geelle, a senior al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab ringleader, during a military operation in the central region of Galgadud, the country’s Defense Ministry said in a brief statement. “The arrest, carried out in Galhareeri district, Galgaduud region, also led to the seizure of a vehicle, a firearm, and ammunition,” the ministry stated on X, adding that Geelle was responsible for extortion and the abhorrent practice of recruiting children for the terror outfit. The Somali National Army, backed by local militias, has been fighting al-Shabaab in south-central provinces for the past two and a half years, liberating large swaths of territory, including the strategic coastal town of Haradhere in the Mudug region. Somalia 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 the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) — a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council. The terror group has stepped up attacks since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an “all-out war” on the group.

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NDC protests across Ghana, demands voter roll audit

Africa /

Ghana’s largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), held nationwide protests on Tuesday, demanding an audit of the voter roll ahead of the December general elections. Millions of supporters participated in demonstrations across all 16 regional capitals, including the capital, Accra, according to NDC member of parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah emphasized the party’s demand for free and fair elections, stating, “We are not asking for a big favor from the electoral commission.” The NDC claims to have identified nearly 300,000 irregularities, including unauthorized transfers and removals of voters’ names. Omane Boamah, the NDC’s director of elections, called for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to facilitate an independent audit, suggesting that the electoral commission may be hiding something. Ghana has a strong history of peaceful and transparent elections, but recent allegations of voter roll irregularities have raised concerns about potential democratic backsliding. The electoral commission has dismissed the NDC’s call for a forensic audit as “misguided.” Asiedu-Nketiah urged immediate action to prevent any threats to democracy, warning that complacency could lead to conflict. The protests culminated in a petition delivered to parliament and the electoral commission, demanding a bipartisan inquiry into the electoral commission’s conduct and an independent forensic audit of the voter register, with the immediate publication of the findings. This year’s elections, set for December 7, will be the ninth since Ghana’s return to multi-party democracy in 1992, with former President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC challenging Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

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WMO Issues ‘red alert’ on climate change, points to tech solutions

Discover /

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) delivers mostly grim news about climate change, reporting that greenhouse gas concentrations have reached record levels, contributing to rising temperatures. Their new “United in Science” report issues a “red alert for the planet.” Despite the challenges, there is some hope from emerging technologies. Professor Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, emphasizes that advances in natural and social sciences, alongside innovation, could transform our approach to climate change, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development. Artificial intelligence (AI) is highlighted as a promising tool in this fight. WMO scientific coordinator Lauren Stuart notes that AI and machine learning are revolutionizing weather forecasting, making it cheaper and more accessible for developing countries. The report stresses the importance of strong global governance to ensure that AI benefits everyone. Additionally, advancements in space-based Earth observations offer optimism. Satellite technology enhances our ability to forecast extreme weather and monitor greenhouse gas emissions, critical for meeting Paris Agreement goals. However, the WMO insists that more international collaboration, governance frameworks, and financing are needed to effectively support these space-based efforts. The report also points to the potential of immersive technologies like virtual reality, which can simulate climate-related events and predict environmental changes. Despite these technological advancements, the authors caution that they are insufficient on their own to mitigate climate change’s impacts. officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

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Guinea’s most wanted man arrested in Liberia

Africa /

Guinea’s most wanted fugitive, who had fled the West African country after a prison break in the capital Conakry last November, has been arrested in Liberia, his lawyer said Wednesday. Colonel Jean-Claude Pivi was arrested Tuesday by security forces in a village on the border between Liberia and Guinea, Abdourahamane Dabo told reporters. “He was arrested during a routine security swoop in Liberia. Even when the information is yet to be officially communicated in Guinea, our sources told us of the arrest,” he said. Photos of his arrest circulated Wednesday on several Guinean social networks and media sites showed Pivi in a striped polo shirt, shorts and looking visibly weak. Pivi was arrested along with his son, Verny, who is believed to be the mastermind of his father’s escape from the central prison of Conakry, according to local media reports. In July, Jean-Claude Pivi was found guilty of crimes against humanity in connection with a massacre that occurred in 2009 in Conakry and sentenced to life imprisonment. At least 156 people were killed in the massacre at the Conakry stadium, with hundreds of others injured in a crackdown on an opposition rally. Pivi’s extradition plans are yet to be clear. After his escape, the military junta in Guinea offered a bounty of €50,000 ($55,558) for information leading to his arrest. He served as the presidential security minister during the rule of Guinea’s military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who was also sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the 2009 stadium massacre. Pivi remained influential in Guinea after Camara’s successor, Alpha Conde, kept him in his presidential security position.

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Botswana awards 1st manganese mining license

Africa /

 Botswana has granted Giyani Metals its first manganese mining license, the company announced Wednesday. The government granted the license for 15 years in the manganese-rich region of K. Hill, the Giyani Metals said in a statement. “The next step is production of battery-grade manganese from our demonstration plant, which is under construction in Johannesburg, South Africa,” Giyani Metals’ CEO Charles FitzRoy said in the same statement. Manganese is a key component in battery production, particularly those used in electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage systems. The K. Hill region is located on the outskirts of Gaborone, Botswana’s capital city, along the Gaborone-Lobatse highway, about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the city center. The Botswana government has emphasized its commitment to sustainable mining practices and ensuring that the project benefits local communities. The global manganese market has grown as countries move toward decarbonization and electric vehicle adoption. Botswana’s economy has historically relied on diamond mining, which has played a pivotal role in the country’s development since the precious stones were discovered in the late 1960s.

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