Author Archives
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Stunt or Stand for Democracy? Villa Somalia’s Response to the Failed Coup in Turkey
After the attempted coup in Turkey was put down over the weekend, the Somali government ordered the dismissal of Turkish citizens working in schools, health care facilities, and development organizations linked to U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen — who Ankara alleged was… Read More ›
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Leaders Debate Technicalities, Women’s Rights, and Clan Issues for Somali Elections
After abandoning one person-one vote elections last year, Somalia’s National Leadership Forum (NLF) produced an important set of results in Baidoa to determine the technicalities of its alternative electoral process. Leaders agreed on members of the National Traditional Forum —… Read More ›
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Is Somalia’s Parliament Trying to Extend the Government’s Mandate?
Somalia’s parliament has paved the way to extend the government’s mandate amid concerns that the country will not hold elections scheduled for August and September 2016 on time. Goobjoog reports: Somali Federal Parliament has on this Wednesday made [a] crucial… Read More ›
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Can Kenya Make Electoral Reforms Without Violence?
Since late April, Kenya’s opposition has staged weekly protests across the country against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), whose leadership has been fighting off credibility concerns for years. At least three people allegedly have been shot dead by police in… Read More ›
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UNHCR Plans for 125,000 Refugee Returns to Somalia by End of 2017
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released the Kenya Comprehensive Refugee Programme 2016, which comes off the heels of the Kenyan government’s intention to close the largest refugee camp in the world at Dadaab. The objective of the document is to… Read More ›
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A Look at the Numbers: When Can Kenya Close Dadaab Refugee Camp?
The Kenyan government continues to step up claims that it intends to close Dadaab refugee camp and repatriate or resettle around 348,000 refugees due to the “heavy economic, security and environmental burden and Kenya’s national security interest.” Refugees continue to… Read More ›
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From “Terrorist” to “Hero”: Kenyan NGO Helps Draft Counter-Extremism Policy
Haki Africa, a human rights activist group in Kenya, is coordinating with the government to improve the country’s counter-extremism policy, one year after the government froze its account on accusations that it supported al-Shabaab. The organization’s director Hussein Khalid explained the consultation… Read More ›
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EU Says It Cut AMISOM Funding Due to Competing Priorities
In a 27 April press statement, the European Union (EU) stated it cut salaries to AMISOM by 20% due to “competing priorities in Africa and the world in general” but relayed its intent to continue supporting the mission’s efforts against al-Shabaab. As indicated… Read More ›
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Kenya Reaches ‘Deal’ with Somali Clan Leaders on Border Security
Kenya is attempting to address key border issues with Somalia after al-Shabaab’s mass raid attack at El Adde this past January. This week, Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery reached a cooperation agreement in Nairobi with a group of Marehan clan members, including ex-Somali prime… Read More ›
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As Foreign Minister Praised Twitter, Ethiopians Were Shut Out of Social Media
A senior Ethiopian official recently highlighted the importance of social media in a Twitter post all while the government failed to ensure access in areas of the country where there have been anti-government protests. On the occasion of Twitter’s 10th anniversary in March,… Read More ›
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VIDEO: Al-Shabaab Release Film of Mass Raid Attack on Kenyan Forces
The Daily Nation has a summary of al-Shabaab’s newest media release, which focuses on its mid-January mass raid on an AMISOM base in Somalia where the group claimed to kill over 100 Kenyan soldiers. Al-Shabaab has released a propaganda video… Read More ›
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More Pro-ISIS Militants Break from Al-Shabaab
Jahba East Africa has emerged as the newest pro-ISIS splinter group to break away from al-Qaida affiliated al-Shabaab, which has tried to stifle the growth of a pro-ISIS elements in Somalia. In a press statement, the group pledged loyalty to ISIS leader Abu… Read More ›
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Analysis: Puntland and the Somali Government Reach an Election Deal. What’s Next?
This week, the Somali government and Puntland agreed on a basic framework for elections. The deal comes after months of disagreement between the government and regional leaders on how Somalia could hold a transition process at the end of the… Read More ›
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