This month, UNHCR is reporting that more than 70,200 Somali refugees have been repatriated from Dadaab, and over 17,400 are registered as “willing to return” to Somalia. An interesting note in the report was that returns to Baidoa had been “suspended… Read More ›

kenya
Kenya Election Round-Up: Historic Results, Protests, and Anomalies
The tallying of votes after national elections in Kenya has kicked off, and the Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is posting updates live on its website. Local media outlets are providing breathless coverage, as well explanations of how the… Read More ›
Around the Horn: “Fake News” In Kenya Elections, AMISOM Challenges, and Al-Shabaab Tax on Refugees
Here is a brief overview of some of the inter-related stories in Kenya and Somalia the last week: AMISOM CHALLENGES IN SOMALIA Somalia’s Traffic Police Commissioner General Ali Hersi blamed AMISOM for being involved in approximately 500 traffic accidents and… Read More ›
Kenya Fails to Apply Lessons Learned from Last Al-Shabaab Mass Raid
In the aftermath of al-Shabaab’s latest mass raid attack against Kenyan troops, the government showed it had not effectively applied lessons learned from the January 2016 El Adde attack where over 140 soldiers were thought to have been killed. At around 5 AM last… Read More ›
Somalia and East Africa React to Donald Trump’s Election Victory
East African leaders have begun to speak publicly about their expectations for bilateral relations with the U.S. following Republican candidate Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the American presidential race. A statement from Ethiopia’s Prime Minister unsurprisingly did not veil its… Read More ›
Methodology or Misinformation: What’s Driving Dadaab Refugee Camp Numbers Down?
The population at Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp has plummeted by 60,000 people in the last two months, according to data provided by UNHCR, begging the question — what are the factors driving such a drastic reduction in the population could… Read More ›
Video, Transcript, and Highlights of Kenya and Somalia’s Maritime Border Battle in Court
On Monday, Kenya’s legal team kicked off arguments at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine whether the court will have jurisdiction in the case involving the disputed maritime boundary with Somalia. The Somali government has requested the ICJ adjudicate the matter, while… Read More ›
Analysis: Dadaab Refugees Stopped on Return to Somalia, Raising Repatriation Questions
On Monday, Jubaland regional authorities in Somalia stopped a convoy of refugees from transiting to their destination due to a lack of humanitarian assistance to support their return, raising further questions of how refugees can leave Kenya’s Dadaab camp safely and sustainably. VOA has the latest:… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›