#US launches 'powerful strikes' against Islamic State in #Nigeria, says Trump
President Donald Trump has said the US launched a "powerful and deadly strike" against the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria.
The US leader described IS as " terrorist scum", accusing the group of "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians".
Trump said the US military "executed numerous perfect strikes", while the US Africa Command (Africom) later reported that Thursday's attack was carried out in co-ordination with Nigeria in the Sokoto state.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a "joint operation" targeting "terrorists", and it "has nothing to do with a particular religion".
Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, saying this depended on "decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries".
In his post on Truth Social late on Thursday, Trump said that "under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper".
In November, Trump ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups.
He did not say at the time which killings he was referring to - but claims of a genocide against Nigeria's Christians have been circulating in recent months in some right-wing US circles.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj69j8l918do
President Donald Trump has said the US launched a "powerful and deadly strike" against the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria.
The US leader described IS as " terrorist scum", accusing the group of "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians".
Trump said the US military "executed numerous perfect strikes", while the US Africa Command (Africom) later reported that Thursday's attack was carried out in co-ordination with Nigeria in the Sokoto state.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a "joint operation" targeting "terrorists", and it "has nothing to do with a particular religion".
Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, saying this depended on "decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries".
In his post on Truth Social late on Thursday, Trump said that "under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper".
In November, Trump ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups.
He did not say at the time which killings he was referring to - but claims of a genocide against Nigeria's Christians have been circulating in recent months in some right-wing US circles.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj69j8l918do
Bbc
US launches 'powerful strikes' against Islamic State in Nigeria, says Trump
The US president says IS targets were attacked in north-western Nigeria, accusing the group of killing Christians.
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News: #Election Board requests #Tigray assessment on feasibility of elections; Interim Administration pledges prompt response
The National Election Board of #Ethiopia (#NEBE) says it is awaiting an official security assessment from the Tigray Interim Administration (#TIA) before determining whether conditions are suitable to conduct elections in the region.
NEBE told Addis Standard that it has formally requested an assessment from the Interim Administration, which would categorize constituencies into green, yellow, and red zones. The Board said that without this information, it cannot make further determinations on the feasibility of elections in Tigray.
The Tigray Interim Administration has confirmed receipt of the request and said it will provide a response shortly.
TIA President Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede said the administration is consulting stakeholders, including the regional cabinet and federal authorities, before submitting an official ....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54312
The National Election Board of #Ethiopia (#NEBE) says it is awaiting an official security assessment from the Tigray Interim Administration (#TIA) before determining whether conditions are suitable to conduct elections in the region.
NEBE told Addis Standard that it has formally requested an assessment from the Interim Administration, which would categorize constituencies into green, yellow, and red zones. The Board said that without this information, it cannot make further determinations on the feasibility of elections in Tigray.
The Tigray Interim Administration has confirmed receipt of the request and said it will provide a response shortly.
TIA President Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede said the administration is consulting stakeholders, including the regional cabinet and federal authorities, before submitting an official ....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54312
#Ethiopia: Tigray civilians “used as political tools” and punished through hunger by #TPLF, says Disaster Risk Commissioner
The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission has accused #TPLF of once again using civilians in Tigray as political tools and punishing them through hunger.
Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemariam (PhD) said recent reports from the #Hitsats displacement shelter show that humanitarian aid—provided by the federal government through shelters and the Productive Safety Net Program—is being diverted, preventing it from reaching the people who need it most.
Speaking to ENA, Shiferaw described the alleged practice as part of a long-standing pattern. “This is not a new phenomenon, but a defining characteristic of the group,” he said, adding that the TPLF has reportedly used aid intended for displaced persons to stage “dramatic propaganda” aimed at drawing international attention
The TPLF has not responded publicly to the Commission’s allegations..
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54315
The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission has accused #TPLF of once again using civilians in Tigray as political tools and punishing them through hunger.
Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemariam (PhD) said recent reports from the #Hitsats displacement shelter show that humanitarian aid—provided by the federal government through shelters and the Productive Safety Net Program—is being diverted, preventing it from reaching the people who need it most.
Speaking to ENA, Shiferaw described the alleged practice as part of a long-standing pattern. “This is not a new phenomenon, but a defining characteristic of the group,” he said, adding that the TPLF has reportedly used aid intended for displaced persons to stage “dramatic propaganda” aimed at drawing international attention
The TPLF has not responded publicly to the Commission’s allegations..
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54315
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News: #IOM reports 26% rise in cross-border movements from #Ethiopia in October
Cross-border population movements from Ethiopia increased sharply in October 2025, with 45,150 movements recorded across six Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs), marking a 26% rise in the daily average compared to September, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM data shows that outgoing movements accounted for 78.3% of the total, involving 35,341 individuals, while incoming movements stood at 21.7%, or 9,809 individuals, continuing a long-standing pattern of higher outflows than inflows. The increase was linked to heightened tensions in areas of origin and seasonal factors, with the most significant rise observed at the #Metema FMP along the Sudan border.
More than half of all outgoing movements (53.2%) were recorded through #Galafi, #Dawale, and #Tog_Wochale FMPs along routes toward #Djibouti and #Somalia, where economic pressures and conflict were ...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54319
Cross-border population movements from Ethiopia increased sharply in October 2025, with 45,150 movements recorded across six Flow Monitoring Points (FMPs), marking a 26% rise in the daily average compared to September, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM data shows that outgoing movements accounted for 78.3% of the total, involving 35,341 individuals, while incoming movements stood at 21.7%, or 9,809 individuals, continuing a long-standing pattern of higher outflows than inflows. The increase was linked to heightened tensions in areas of origin and seasonal factors, with the most significant rise observed at the #Metema FMP along the Sudan border.
More than half of all outgoing movements (53.2%) were recorded through #Galafi, #Dawale, and #Tog_Wochale FMPs along routes toward #Djibouti and #Somalia, where economic pressures and conflict were ...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54319
News: #Ethiopia reiterates commitment to #Djibouti ties amid Egypt’s agreement to develop strategic seaports in Djibouti
Addis Abeba — Ethiopia has reiterated its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Djibouti, as regional attention remains focused on reports that #Egypt has agreed to develop strategic seaports in the neighboring country.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hadera Abera on Thursday received Djibouti’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdi Mahmoud Ibe, at his office, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry said discussions centered on advancing cooperation in key areas, including trade, transport, logistics, energy, and regional integration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose whether Egypt’s port development agreements in Djibouti were raised during the meeting between Ambassador Hadera and the Djiboutian ...
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02yG1hVa8K6y6iB4HPHNTRfE2kVfhG84nNWhZwJ79zS3RG3tAXPtfoNR1ParGjxWEhl
Addis Abeba — Ethiopia has reiterated its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Djibouti, as regional attention remains focused on reports that #Egypt has agreed to develop strategic seaports in the neighboring country.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hadera Abera on Thursday received Djibouti’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdi Mahmoud Ibe, at his office, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry said discussions centered on advancing cooperation in key areas, including trade, transport, logistics, energy, and regional integration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose whether Egypt’s port development agreements in Djibouti were raised during the meeting between Ambassador Hadera and the Djiboutian ...
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02yG1hVa8K6y6iB4HPHNTRfE2kVfhG84nNWhZwJ79zS3RG3tAXPtfoNR1ParGjxWEhl
News: Amid starvation death reports in #Tigray, federal disaster commissioner warns against ‘unauthorized aid,’ as interim admin cites widespread, unmet humanitarian needs
#Ethiopia’s Disaster Risk Management Commission (#DRMC) has warned that any humanitarian assistance delivered outside the government’s established system is “unacceptable and legally punishable,” even as the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray says acute food shortages and gaps in aid coverage persist across displacement sites in the region.
Speaking to Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), DRMC Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemariam (PhD) said all support to beneficiaries must be channeled exclusively through the government’s disaster management framework, as mandated by the newly approved Disaster Risk Management Proclamation.
He stressed that institutions, associations, private actors, or individuals—including those mobilizing support via social media platforms such as TikTok or YouTube—must ...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54322
#Ethiopia’s Disaster Risk Management Commission (#DRMC) has warned that any humanitarian assistance delivered outside the government’s established system is “unacceptable and legally punishable,” even as the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray says acute food shortages and gaps in aid coverage persist across displacement sites in the region.
Speaking to Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), DRMC Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemariam (PhD) said all support to beneficiaries must be channeled exclusively through the government’s disaster management framework, as mandated by the newly approved Disaster Risk Management Proclamation.
He stressed that institutions, associations, private actors, or individuals—including those mobilizing support via social media platforms such as TikTok or YouTube—must ...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54322
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#Sudan's Al Burhan holds talks with #Turkey's Erdogan in #Ankara
Sudan's Armed Forces chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, the latest in a series of foreign visits amid mounting calls for a ceasefire in his country.
During talks at the Presidential Complex, Erdogan said the war had resulted in one of the worst humanitarian crises worldwide, and that “actions amounting to crimes against humanity have been occurring”, reported the government's communications agency.
Erdogan said that co-operation would be “further advanced across numerous areas, including trade and agriculture, defence industry and mining”.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and more than 12 million have been displaced. Half the population − around 25 million − are facing hunger, with pockets of famine surfacing in parts of the country.
Both sides have been accused of atrocities. Gen Al Burhan has been placed under sanction by the US and accused of allowing his troops to use chemical weapons and block aid to specific regions. The RSF has been accused of war crimes in Al Fasher and Zamzam Camp.
Erdogan said Turkey wanted peace, stability, and the preservation of the territorial integrity of Sudan, and “expressed the goal of establishing lasting peace among the Sudanese people by achieving a ceasefire”, said the government statement.
Attempts by the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt − known as the Quad − to broker a humanitarian truce have not succeeded so far.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/12/25/sudans-army-chief-hold-talks-with-turkeys-president-erdogan-in-ankara/
Sudan's Armed Forces chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, the latest in a series of foreign visits amid mounting calls for a ceasefire in his country.
During talks at the Presidential Complex, Erdogan said the war had resulted in one of the worst humanitarian crises worldwide, and that “actions amounting to crimes against humanity have been occurring”, reported the government's communications agency.
Erdogan said that co-operation would be “further advanced across numerous areas, including trade and agriculture, defence industry and mining”.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and more than 12 million have been displaced. Half the population − around 25 million − are facing hunger, with pockets of famine surfacing in parts of the country.
Both sides have been accused of atrocities. Gen Al Burhan has been placed under sanction by the US and accused of allowing his troops to use chemical weapons and block aid to specific regions. The RSF has been accused of war crimes in Al Fasher and Zamzam Camp.
Erdogan said Turkey wanted peace, stability, and the preservation of the territorial integrity of Sudan, and “expressed the goal of establishing lasting peace among the Sudanese people by achieving a ceasefire”, said the government statement.
Attempts by the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt − known as the Quad − to broker a humanitarian truce have not succeeded so far.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/12/25/sudans-army-chief-hold-talks-with-turkeys-president-erdogan-in-ankara/
The National
Sudan's Al Burhan holds talks with Turkey's Erdogan in Ankara | The National
Turkish leader says his country wants peace in Sudan and to preserve its 'territorial integrity'
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News: Inside #Ethiopia’s TikTok detentions: law, culture, freedom of expression, and what’s at stake for young creators
Ethiopian authorities say recent detentions of #TikTok creators are intended to protect cultural values & young audiences, but TikTok creators & a legal expert warn that the measures are already reshaping online expression and raise unresolved constitutional questions.
TikTok creators who spoke to Addis Standard, requesting anonymity, said the detentions have changed how they assess risk.
Similarly, another emerging TikToker with lifestyle-focused content, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said he now avoids sensitive topics that ‘do not align with the regime,’ limiting himself to issues already covered by mainstream outlets.
A lawyer who spoke to Addis Standard said these responses reflect a broader chilling effect when enforcement is unpredictable. “People do not .....
Prime Minister #Abiy Ahmed echoed this rationale on ....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54329
Ethiopian authorities say recent detentions of #TikTok creators are intended to protect cultural values & young audiences, but TikTok creators & a legal expert warn that the measures are already reshaping online expression and raise unresolved constitutional questions.
TikTok creators who spoke to Addis Standard, requesting anonymity, said the detentions have changed how they assess risk.
Similarly, another emerging TikToker with lifestyle-focused content, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said he now avoids sensitive topics that ‘do not align with the regime,’ limiting himself to issues already covered by mainstream outlets.
A lawyer who spoke to Addis Standard said these responses reflect a broader chilling effect when enforcement is unpredictable. “People do not .....
Prime Minister #Abiy Ahmed echoed this rationale on ....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54329
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#Israel announces official recognition of #Somaliland as independent state
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel has officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, marking a significant diplomatic development in the Horn of Africa.
In a statement released on Thursday, Netanyahu said the recognition was formalized through a “joint and mutual declaration” signed together with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. He described the declaration as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” which were signed under the initiative of US President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu said he congratulated President Abdirahman on what he described as a “historic declaration,” praising his leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1KJoAcPYSc/
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel has officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, marking a significant diplomatic development in the Horn of Africa.
In a statement released on Thursday, Netanyahu said the recognition was formalized through a “joint and mutual declaration” signed together with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. He described the declaration as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” which were signed under the initiative of US President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu said he congratulated President Abdirahman on what he described as a “historic declaration,” praising his leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1KJoAcPYSc/
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#Editorial: In #Tigray, starvation has replaced shells as a weapon of #war. This ruin must end!
The deaths now reported from Tigray’s internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are neither sudden nor unforeseeable. They are the cumulative result of political failure, economic collapse, and the deliberate neglect, by both federal and regional authorities, of repeated early warnings, long after the guns fell silent.
Hundreds have died since July 2024 alone, collapsing after days without food, medicine, or care. Elderly people, women, and children are bearing the brunt.
This is starvation in plain sight.
But this starvation ravaging Tigray’s IDP camps is not simply a shortage of food. It is the consequence of a systemic, deeper collapse: livelihoods destroyed by war, markets left to wither, and community support systems, once the first responders in times of crisis, systematically dismantled.
https://addisstandard.com/editorial-in-tigray-starvation-has-replaced-shells-as-a-weapon-of-war-this-ruin-must-end/
The deaths now reported from Tigray’s internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are neither sudden nor unforeseeable. They are the cumulative result of political failure, economic collapse, and the deliberate neglect, by both federal and regional authorities, of repeated early warnings, long after the guns fell silent.
Hundreds have died since July 2024 alone, collapsing after days without food, medicine, or care. Elderly people, women, and children are bearing the brunt.
This is starvation in plain sight.
But this starvation ravaging Tigray’s IDP camps is not simply a shortage of food. It is the consequence of a systemic, deeper collapse: livelihoods destroyed by war, markets left to wither, and community support systems, once the first responders in times of crisis, systematically dismantled.
https://addisstandard.com/editorial-in-tigray-starvation-has-replaced-shells-as-a-weapon-of-war-this-ruin-must-end/
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Update: #Egypt, #Somalia, #Turkey, and #Djibouti reject #Israel’s official recognition of #Somaliland
Egypt, Somalia, Turkey, and Djibouti have jointly rejected and condemned Israel’s reported recognition of Somaliland, reaffirming their support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.
In a statement released on Friday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the four countries’ foreign ministers held consultations in which they expressed their “total rejection and condemnation” of Israel’s move, stressing their “full support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
“They also underscored their complete rejection of any unilateral measures that could undermine Somali sovereignty or erode the foundations of stability in the country.”
Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2004603572596441272?s=46&t=ofAzVW8-64dDK-xsjodCGA
Egypt, Somalia, Turkey, and Djibouti have jointly rejected and condemned Israel’s reported recognition of Somaliland, reaffirming their support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.
In a statement released on Friday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the four countries’ foreign ministers held consultations in which they expressed their “total rejection and condemnation” of Israel’s move, stressing their “full support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
“They also underscored their complete rejection of any unilateral measures that could undermine Somali sovereignty or erode the foundations of stability in the country.”
Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2004603572596441272?s=46&t=ofAzVW8-64dDK-xsjodCGA
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#In_Pictures: Pictures emerging from #Somaliland’s capital #Hargeisa show scenes of public celebration following Israel’s announced recognition of Somaliland.
Crowds gathered along major streets and in public squares, many waving Somaliland’s green, white, and red tricolour, some draped over shoulders.
Photos: Via Abdirashid Ibrahim
Crowds gathered along major streets and in public squares, many waving Somaliland’s green, white, and red tricolour, some draped over shoulders.
Photos: Via Abdirashid Ibrahim
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#Breaking- #AU rejects recognition of #Somaliland, reaffirms “unwavering commitment to #Somalia’s unity and sovereignty”
The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has rejected any move to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, and reaffirmed the AU’s “unwavering commitment to the unity and sovereignty” of Somalia.
In a statement issued in response to what he described as “recent developments relating to Somaliland,” Youssouf said the African Union “unequivocally reaffirms the longstanding and consistent position of the African Union,” which it said is anchored in the principles of its Constitutive Act.
Read more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Em8Vxxbma/?mibextid=wwXIfr
The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has rejected any move to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, and reaffirmed the AU’s “unwavering commitment to the unity and sovereignty” of Somalia.
In a statement issued in response to what he described as “recent developments relating to Somaliland,” Youssouf said the African Union “unequivocally reaffirms the longstanding and consistent position of the African Union,” which it said is anchored in the principles of its Constitutive Act.
Read more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Em8Vxxbma/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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#Tigray Interim Administration President Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede on #IDP situation
Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede highlighted that the current conditions in Tigray’s IDP camps, while primarily a humanitarian crisis, also carry the risk of a relapse into conflict.
“There are calls for peace, but sustaining it requires addressing these urgent issues,” he said, cautioning that what begins as a humanitarian crisis could escalate into a broader security threat, not only for Tigray but for the entire region.
Watch
Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede highlighted that the current conditions in Tigray’s IDP camps, while primarily a humanitarian crisis, also carry the risk of a relapse into conflict.
“There are calls for peace, but sustaining it requires addressing these urgent issues,” he said, cautioning that what begins as a humanitarian crisis could escalate into a broader security threat, not only for Tigray but for the entire region.
Watch
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