At least 34 #Colombian soldiers kidnapped after clashes with #FARC dissidents

At least 34 government soldiers have been kidnapped by armed civilians in a jungle in southeastern Colombia after clashes that killed 11 fighters, including a commander of a dissident faction of the former FARC rebel group, Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez says.

The fighting occurred on Sunday in a rural part of the El Retorno municipality in the province of Guaviare and involved members of the Central General Staff (EMC), a group of former fighters with the left-wing FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, who rejected a 2016 peace deal with the government.

Sanchez said on Tuesday that the soldiers were taken as they were evacuating the area after a military operation that killed an EMC commander and 10 other rebels.

“This is an illegal, criminal action by people in civilian clothing,” Sanchez told reporters. “This is a kidnapping.”

The jungle region is considered a strategic corridor for drug trafficking and is known for its extensive coca crops, the main ingredient used to produce cocaine.

It followed a similar abduction in June when the army said 57 soldiers were seized by civilians in a southwestern mountainous area, a key zone for cocaine production and one of the most tense in the country’s ongoing security crisis.

Last week, at least 18 people were killed and dozens injured in two attacks attributed to dissident FARC factions.

In Cali, the country’s third most populous city, a vehicle packed with explosives detonated on Thursday near a military aviation school, killing six people and injuring 71, according to the mayor’s office.

Hours earlier, a National Police Black Hawk helicopter participating in a coca crop eradication operation was downed by a drone in the municipality of Amalfi in the department of Antioquia, killing 12 police officers.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/26/at-least-34-colombian-soldiers-kidnapped-after-clashes-with-farc-dissidents

#Kenya seeks to broker talks between #Villa_Somalia and #Jubbaland state leadership

Kenya has launched an effort to mediate between Somalia’s federal government and the semi-autonomous Jubbaland administration as tensions escalate over constitutional changes and electoral reforms, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

The initiative aims to bring Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe to the negotiating table for a face-to-face meeting, sources told Hiiraan Online on condition of anonymity.

The push follows weeks of political friction that has fueled clashes between federal troops and Jubbaland forces in Raskamboni and Beled Hawo, both near the Kenya-Somalia border. Fighting has spilled over, affecting Kenyan border towns.

Officials in Kismayo confirmed Nairobi’s interest in mediating but said they had not received a formal agreement from Villa Somalia.

Jubbaland authorities accused the presidency of spreading “misleading information” after Mogadishu dismissed reports of a recent phone call between Mohamud and Madobe as “fake.”

The crisis comes amid sharp divisions over proposed amendments to Somalia’s constitution and electoral process, with analysts warning the dispute could destabilize the fragile federal system.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/Aug/202686/kenya_seeks_to_broker_talks_between_villa_somalia_and_jubbaland_state_leadership.aspx

Civil Aviation Authority to launch international flights from regional airports as of next #Ethiopian calendar

Addis Abeba – The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) said it will begin handling international flights from selected regional airports starting in the Ethiopian calendar year, which will begin in September 2025.

Endeshaw Yigezu, Advisor for Air Transport and International Affairs at the authority, told local media that discussions are underway with private airline companies to provide the services. He said enabling international flights from cities such as #Bahir Dar, #Mekelle, and #Dire Dawa is expected to bolster exports, investment, agriculture, and industrial development.

The plan also includes establishing direct connections between regional airports to boost tourism and ease travel for passengers. Proposed routes include Mizan Teferi to #Jimma, #Gambella, ......

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02acFp7jDTDFtjeimh86C9urGwL3KBDNEYZHeSNsESEVxygtyZfBM64z6HacfTKUGtl

#Ethiopia says it is ‘neither threatened nor comfortable’ with #Egyptian military presence in #Somalia

Ethiopia is “neither threatened nor comfortable” with the presence of Egyptian forces in Somalia, Ethiopia’s ambassador to Somalia, Suleiman Dedefo, said in an interview with Somali media.

While acknowledging Ethiopia’s unease, the ambassador stressed that Addis Abeba does not consider Egypt’s presence a direct threat “as long as they don’t try to challenge our forces.”

Somali TV also quoted Suleiman as saying, “If they [Egyptians] are to be of any use, it would be in neighboring countries such as #Palestine, #Libya, or #Sudan.”

His comments were given a day after the news that Egyptian troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) completed their first training program as part of the preparations for deployment.

#Kenya hires #US lobbying firm ahead of #Ruto-#Trump meeting in #Washington

The Government of Kenya has contracted a U.S.-based lobbying firm, Continental Strategy LLC, to provide government relations and advocacy services in preparation for President William Ruto’s upcoming state visit to the United States, where he is expected to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Details of the agreement, dated August 6, 2025, are outlined in documents filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) with the United States Department of Justice.

The filing confirms that the firm will support the Kenyan government with federal-level lobbying, dissemination of informational materials, and strategic engagement with key U.S. policymakers.

https://www.citizen.digital/news/kenya-hires-us-lobbying-firm-ahead-of-ruto-trump-meeting-in-washington-n368624

#EU provides 200 million birr grant for projects aimed at improving livelihoods of 80,000 households in #Tigray

The European Union (EU) has provided a 200 million birr grant to support projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of 80,000 households in Tigray.

The Tigray Disaster Preparedness Commission has announced that it will use the funds to implement projects in three districts of the region. Gebrehiwot G/Egzabher (PhD), Commissioner of the Tigray Disaster Preparedness Commission, said the support is intended to improve the lives of vulnerable citizens.

Gebrehiwot was quoted saying, “The projects, which will be implemented over the next four years, include programs in agriculture, education, and drinking water supply.” He specified that the projects will be carried out in the districts of Hintalo, Atsbi, and Endaba Tsahma.

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid07xw8uCceDWH6ZSJyGsgsJStjbAvN5TkFiVcmosfKx6hwpsUXRQs6zPn7iNA2GR7ol

#Ethiopian journalists caught between severe safety #threats, political pressure and #ethical dilemmas - new study

A new research by the Fojo Media Institute, authored by researcher Terje Skjerdal, has revealed Ethiopia as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, with high levels of political interference and threats to professional autonomy.

Journalists from both state and private outlets reported strong pressure from government officials, with Ethiopia ranking second only to Turkey in perceived government interference. “Political pressure is felt across all positions in the newsroom,” the report states, adding that censorship and influence by the military have also increased since the previous survey published in 2017 on data collected between March 2013 and September 2015.

The watchdog role was rated weak overall, but outlets such as Addis Standard and Mekelle FM 104.4 were singled out in the study as placing greater emphasis on monitoring and scrutinizing those in power. In contrast, state-owned outlets such as The Ethiopian Herald and Ethiopian News Agency were identified as prioritizing the promotion of government policy.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52120

#US #Military Assists #Puntland in Ongoing Fight Against #ISIS

The US Africa Command has yet again confirmed airstrikes in Puntland state, following a two-week joint operation with the Puntland Counter-Terrorism Forces targeting the ISIS commanders believed to be hiding in the Al-Miskad mountains.

Since December 2024, the US Africa Command has been working closely with the Puntland state troops, flushing the ISIS militants from several caves in the Bari region. In February 2025, President Donald Trump confirmed one of the airstrikes that left senior commanders dead.

And the latent operations, the US army said, focused on safe havens of senior commanders who are said to be hiding in Al-Miskad Mountains at times referred to as Al-Miskad Mountains in the Bari region near the coastal strip.

"U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, concluded a two-week operation targeting ISIS-Somalia in the Puntland region. Strikes focused on leadership safe havens in the Al-Miskad Mountains," the statement read.

"These lethal strikes demonstrate our resolve and commitment to ensuring Americans and our partners remain safe from the threat of global terrorism."-Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Commander, U.S. Africa Command.

https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-u-s-military-assists-puntland-in-ongoing-fight-against-isis

#Opinion: #Somalia’s Leadership Dilemma: Between political ambition, national survival

Upon his return to power in 2022, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged to lead a peaceful and unified Somalia. However, Isaac Muhammad, the author of this opinion piece, argues that "in the midst of his fourth and final year of his mandate," Somalia is "more divided now than when he took office." He further contends that the federal government of Somalia is currently grappling with a profound "erosion of trust" and "a dangerous lack of focus," consistently prioritizing "political self-interest over national survival."

The author highlights the deteriorating security situation, noting that the fight against #Al_Shabaab is faltering as the militant group is “recapturing key towns.” Meanwhile, he states that “resources are being used to incite hostility and have the Somali army fight against each other in #Gedo region, all to realize President Mohamud's desire to stay in power.” Furthermore, Muhammad draws attention to the existing rift between the federal government and member states, citing that three have missed their election deadlines while the federal government “is in practical conflict with the other two states that held elections—#Puntland and #Jubaland.”

The article also contends that foreign policy under President Mohamud has been erratic, stating that “These fragmented transactional engagements…diminished Somalia’s diplomatic credibility” and alienated traditional allies. Attempts to court #Egypt while seeking closer ties with #Ethiopia and to balance partnerships with #Turkey, the #UAE, the #US, and #China appear “not a deliberate exercise in strategic hedging but rather an incoherent and volatile foreign policy.” The consequence has been a “loss of trust abroad and weakened leverage in a volatile region.”

The author emphasizes that with neighboring states consolidating strength and #Somaliland gaining momentum abroad, Somalia’s federal government stands “on the edge of a dangerous precipice.” He cautions that if the central government maintains its current trajectory, it risks further “instability, isolation, and a deeper fragmentation” of the nation.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52116

#Ethiopia: New South #Tigray Zone administrator takes office amid pushbacks

Zenabu Gebremedhin has officially assumed office as Chief Administrator of South Tigray after being appointed by Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, local media reported.

Upon commencing his official duties on Sunday, 26 August 2025, Zenabu pledged to serve the people of South Tigray with “integrity and commitment,” adding that his cabinet would hold “continuous public dialogues to build consensus.”

Addressing the new appointment, outgoing administrator Haftu Kiros told Addis Standard the decision was “completely wrong and unacceptable,” accusing Lt. Gen. Tadesse of breaking his pledge to respect the people’s will.

Lt. Gen. Tadesse has defended the reshuffles as constitutional and legitimate. “We are merely fulfilling our responsibilities. There should be no misunderstanding,” he said.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52123

#Sudan: Children in Sudan’s el-Fasher ‘starving’ after 500 days of siege:UNICEF

The city of el-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur has become an “epicentre of child suffering”, with starvation, mass displacement, and relentless violence taking a catastrophic toll following nearly 17 months under siege, the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) has warned.

At least 600,000 people – half of them children – have been forced to flee el-Fasher and surrounding camps in recent months amid the ongoing siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the agency. The RSF has been fighting government forces since the civil war broke out in April of 2023.

An estimated 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, remain trapped inside el-Fasher, cut off from aid for more than 16 months, the agency said.

“We are witnessing a devastating tragedy – children in el-Fasher are starving while UNICEF’s lifesaving nutrition services are being blocked,” UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said. “Blocking humanitarian access is a grave violation of children’s rights, and the lives of children are hanging in the balance.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/27/children-in-sudans-el-fasher-starving-after-500-days-of-siege-unicef

News Analysis: New report by Commission of Inquiry on #Tigray Genocide reveals mounting protection, security risks facing IDPs in Tigray

A new report by the Commission of Inquiry on Tigray Genocide (CITG) reveals mounting insecurity and deprivation facing #IDPs in Tigray, despite the Pretoria peace deal. Based on a survey of 3,380 participants, the study documented 1,748 deaths, 915 enforced disappearances, and 1,656 injuries among displaced populations.

The Commission warned that “killings emerged as the most widespread form of victimization,” while disappearances leave families in “uncertainty and trauma, compounding the humanitarian crisis.” Vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, face heightened risks such as sexual violence, trafficking, and lack of access to aid and medicine.

Prospects for safe return remain blocked, particularly in Western Tigray....

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52128

#Ethiopia, #Dangote Group ink $2.5 billion deal to build fertilizer complex in Gode, #Somali region

Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the government’s strategic investment arm, and Dangote Group have signed a landmark shareholders’ agreement to develop and operate a $2.5 billion urea fertilizer production complex in Gode, Somali Regional State.

According to a statement released today, EIH will hold a 40% equity stake, while Dangote Group will retain 60% ownership. The facility, with a planned capacity of three million metric tons of urea annually, will be among the top five largest urea production complexes globally and the single largest in Ethiopia’s history.

Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, described the agreement as “a pivotal moment in our shared vision to industrialize Africa and achieve food security.” He added that Ethiopia’s location and gas reserves make Gode an ideal site for what will become “one of the world’s largest fertilizer complexes.”

Brook Taye (PhD), CEO of Ethiopian Investment Holdings, called the deal “a significant milestone in Ethiopia’s journey toward industrial self-sufficiency and agricultural modernization.” He stressed that the utilization of domestic gas reserves would ensure “energy security and cost competitiveness for decades to come.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52136

News: #Ethiopian, #Pakistani Air Forces pledge stronger cooperation following talks in Islamabad

The Ethiopian and Pakistani Air Forces have pledged stronger cooperation following talks between Lt. Gen. Yilma Merdassa, Commander of the Ethiopian Air Force, and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), in #Islamabad on 27 August.

Upon his arrival at Air Headquarters, Lt. Gen. Yilma was received with a guard of honor. The two commanders discussed areas of professional interest and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral military ties, according to Pakistan Radio.

Last year, Ethiopia and India agreed to finalize a defense cooperation agreement, pending India’s general elections, aimed at boosting Ethiopia’s military capabilities through training and financial support. The cooperation is “part of India’s broader strategy to expand defense partnerships across Africa,” according to Indian Defense media dispatch.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52135