… s the definition of ‘terror merchants’ to include drug cartels, left-wing ‘anarchists.’ The US has directed its anti-terror operations in Africa mainly through the US Africa Command (Africom) based in Stuttgart, Germany, from which it has supported African Union forces in Somalia …
… The Black Stars have drawn Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia and Somalia for the qualifiers for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. …
The African Union Commission (AUC) has expressed concern following the conclusion of high-level negotiations between the Federal Government of Somalia and representatives of the Somali Future Council, held in Mogadishu from 13th to 15th May, 2026, which ended without reaching a c …
… The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says that in 2025, South Africa was hosting more than 167,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. …
… African leaders who attended the ceremony included Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Félix Tshisekedi, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. …
Local council and parliamentary elections began on the morning of Sunday, May 10, in several districts of Somalia’s South West State, as part of the direct electoral process based on the “one person, one vote” system, in what is being described as the first such step in more than …
… Essa Suleiman was born in Somalia, but came to the UK as a child in the early 1990s and is a British citizen The decision to raise the threat level to the second-highest threat level was taken by security and intelligence experts from the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) an …
Ghana will hold a state funeral for late former Foreign Affairs Minister James Victor Gbeho on July 31, 2026, at the State House in Accra. The diplomat served as Chief Director and Deputy Minister in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, UN Special Representative for Somalia, and President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Ghana will hold a state funeral for late former Foreign Affairs Minister James Victor Gbeho on July 31, 2026, at the State House in Accra. The diplomat served as Chief Director and Deputy Minister in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, UN Special Representative for Somalia, and President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Government has announced a state funeral for the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, to be held at the forecourt of Jubilee House on Friday, July 31, 2026, in recognition of his decades of service as a distinguished diplomat including roles as Ghana's Foreign Minister, UN Special Representative for Somalia, and President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Ghana will host the 28th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa from August 24 to 27, 2026, bringing together more than 300 health regulators, policymakers and medical professionals from across Africa to discuss responsive regulation for safer communities and better health outcomes.
Somalia's government told the BBC it is concerned about WhatsApp's planned username feature, saying it could make it harder to trace criminals and counter al-Shabab militants, and could enable financial fraud in a country reliant on mobile money. WhatsApp responded that the feature is not yet live, users still need a phone number to use the app, and it includes safeguards against scams.
Sports Minister Kofi Adams has confirmed that Black Starshead coach Carlos Queiroz earns $80,000 per month, contradicting earlier reports of a $100,000 monthly salary. Queiroz was appointed after Otto Addo's dismissal in March and led Ghana to the Round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers before a knockout-stage loss to Colombia.
Black Stars goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi expressed confidence that Ghana will secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, saying the squad has the quality and hunger needed. Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, Gambia, and Somalia, with qualifiers scheduled to begin in September.
The International Rescue Committee warns that millions of people across East Africa and Asia face severe flooding, drought, disease outbreaks and heatwaves as El Niño strengthens, with Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan among the most at-risk. The IRC estimates 4.8 million people in Somalia already require urgent humanitarian assistance, a figure expected to rise if heavy rains trigger widespread flooding.
Saudi Arabia dispatched a military delegation to Somali training camps in Galmudug, where it finances a programme involving 5,107 soldiers, as tensions escalate over the outgoing president's efforts to consolidate control in the region. The move has been viewed as support for the outgoing president's administration amid growing political disputes.
South Africa has experienced waves of xenophobic violence against foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia and Ghana, with frustrations rooted in high unemployment and economic inequality. The article argues that the real long-term employment threat may come not from migrants but from artificial intelligence, which represents a fundamentally different technological force than previous inventions.
Carlos Queiroz stepped down as Ghana head coach following the Black Stars' first-round knockout loss to Colombia at the World Cup after three months in charge. In a statement, he praised the team's restoration of "respect and credibility" to the Black Stars while acknowledging that success must begin off the pitch.
Libya's eastern-based government in Benghazi banned entry for nationals of Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia through all land, sea and air ports, citing a reorganisation of foreign nationals' entry, with exemptions for diplomats and certain professionals.
The CECAFA Kagame Cup tournament runs from July 18 to August 9 in Rwanda, offering clubs including Kenya's Gor Mahia an early-season test before CAF continental competition and domestic play resumes. The tournament features regional teams like APR, Rayon Sports, Vipers, Simba, Yanga, and Sudanese clubs.
Fifteen countries, including Ghana, adopted the Mombasa Declaration at the 11th Our Ocean Conference, committing to advance global fisheries transparency and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing through improved vessel information collection and fisheries data access.
James Victor Gbeho, a veteran Ghanaian diplomat who served for more than four decades in posts including Ghana's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1980–1990), UN Special Representative to Somalia, and Foreign Affairs Minister (1997–2001), has died at age 91. He was the son of Philip Gbeho, the composer of Ghana's national anthem, and later served as President of the ECOWAS Commission from February 2010.
According to a UNICEF report, almost all of the world's children are exposed to at least one climate hazard, with 1.8 billion endangered by droughts and 1.2 billion by extreme heat. The report warns that as many as 1.1 billion children face at least three overlapping climate risks, prompting calls for governments to urgently invest in infrastructure, adaptation, and disaster management capabilities.
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished Ghanaian statesman and career diplomat who served as President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ghana's Foreign Minister, and UN Special Representative for Somalia, passed away on June 13, 2026, at age 90. A book of condolence is open at his Accra residence from June 17 to July 8, 2026, with visiting hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Iran's national soccer team landed in Los Angeles on Sunday to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the same day Washington and Tehran announced a peace agreement ending a four-month war. The squad had previously been exiled to Mexico after U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran raised uncertainty about Iran's participation.
An opinion article argues that anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, driven by beliefs that foreign nationals displace local workers, threatens the informal traders, migrant entrepreneurs and township supply chains that sustain the country's economy.
The ECOWAS Commission has expressed condolences on the death of former Commission President Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, describing his passing as a major loss to Ghana, West Africa, and the international diplomatic community. Gbeho served as ECOWAS Commission President from February 2010 to March 2012 and held several high-profile positions including Ghana's Foreign Minister and UN Ambassador.
Four members of Iran's World Cup delegation have won appeals against US visa rejections, but 11 members of the party will not be allowed to travel to the US. Iran's team is based in Mexico after initially being denied visas for backroom staff members.
FIFA President Infantino said the organization cannot override government decisions on visa and immigration matters, addressing a case where a Somali referee was denied U.S. entry despite holding a valid visa. Infantino stressed that FIFA is working behind the scenes on outstanding issues but acknowledged that immigration decisions ultimately rest with national authorities.
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the US and barred from World Cup duty by American authorities, has been selected by UEFA to officiate the August 12 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, barred from the World Cup by US authorities despite holding a valid visa, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, following a cooperation agreement between European soccer's governing body and the Confederation of African Football.
Omar Artan, a Somali referee barred from entering the United States for World Cup duty due to visa and vetting concerns, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
A US official said 34-year-old Somali referee Omar Artan, Africa's referee of the year in 2025, was denied entry at Miami International Airport because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations." Artan was set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals but was turned away despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid US visa; he told the New York Times that border officials questioned him over links to Al Shabab and that he knows nothing about the group.
Omar Artan, a Somali referee selected for his first World Cup, was denied entry to the US by the Trump administration over alleged links to suspected members of terror organisations. He returned to Mogadishu on Wednesday and called the decision "unfortunate," saying he will attempt to officiate at the next tournament.
Omar Artan, a 34-year-old Somali referee and Africa's 2025 referee of the year, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport on Monday because of alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations," according to a Trump administration official. Artan, who held a diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa and was set to become the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was questioned about links to Al Shabab and told border officials he knew nothing about the group.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told journalists to "chill, relax" about controversies surrounding the 2026 World Cup, including a Somali referee's refusal of entry to the United States, an Iraqi player's questioning at Chicago airport, and Iran's forced base relocation and visa denials. Infantino described the referee's rejection as merely "unfortunate" and defended US President Donald Trump as essential to hosting the tournament.
Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from Somalia to referee at a World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the 2026 World Cup officials list, despite holding what he described as the "right papers" and "right visa." The US immigration authorities provided no reason for the denial, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by the Trump administration.
Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the 2026 World Cup officials list after an 11-hour immigration interview, despite holding valid papers and visa. No reason was issued by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by President Trump's administration.