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Museveni Backs Raila Odinga for AU Top Job Amidst Intense Competition

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has endorsed ODM leader Raila Odinga for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC). During his state visit to Kenya, Museveni reaffirmed his support, emphasizing the shared vision of a united East African Community (EAC).

Despite backing from EAC member countries, Odinga faces significant competition. Somalia has nominated former Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam, garnering substantial support from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Additionally, Seychelles supports former Vice President Vincent Meriton. Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, is also in the race.

Raila Odinga, endorsed by EAC countries, aims to succeed the current AUC chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, whose term ends in February 2025. Odinga, known for his long-standing political influence in Kenya, seeks to bring his vision of unity and progress to the continental stage.

Somalia’s candidate, Fawzia Yusuf Adam, has secured over half the total support from African nations, thanks to backing from the OIC. Her candidature introduces a significant challenge to Odinga, highlighting the intense competition for the AUC chairmanship.

Somalia’s candidate, Fawzia Yusuf Adam

Seychelles has put forward Vincent Meriton, a seasoned diplomat with a focus on improving executive decision implementation at the AU. His entry further complicates the race, showcasing the diverse array of experienced candidates vying for the position.

In conclusion, the race for the AUC chairmanship is heating up, with strong candidates from across the continent. Museveni’s endorsement of Odinga signifies a strategic alignment within the EAC, but the competition remains fierce with significant support for candidates from Somalia and Seychelles.

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US agency scrambles to rehire nuclear safety staff it fired on Trump’s order

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Trump’s cost-cutting purge backfires as US nuclear safety agency scrambles to rehire fired experts amid security crisis.

The Trump administration’s aggressive purge of federal workers has backfired spectacularly, forcing the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) into a desperate scramble to rehire nuclear safety personnel it just fired. Among those axed were specialists overseeing America’s nuclear warhead stockpile, stationed at top-secret facilities. The layoffs, part of Trump’s broader cost-cutting drive, now pose a direct threat to US national security.

The chaos erupted after termination letters went out, axing key personnel from nuclear labs in Los Alamos, Livermore, and the Pantex Plant—critical sites for warhead development and maintenance. The NNSA, now struggling to contact and rehire these employees, admitted in an internal memo that they have “no good way” to reach them.

The firings stem from Trump’s push to gut the federal workforce, with over 10,000 layoffs last week alone. Energy officials warned of potential gaps in nuclear oversight, but the cuts proceeded anyway, adding to Trump’s growing list of controversial national security moves.

While Trump claims to want a global denuclearization push, his decision to cripple America’s nuclear security infrastructure is raising alarms. The fallout is already underway: a nuclear watchdog crisis, an embarrassed energy department, and a White House scrambling to contain yet another self-inflicted disaster. With nuclear safety on the line, America can’t afford another misstep.

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EU Naval Forces Crush Somali Pirate Threat, Rescue Hijacked Yemeni Fishing Boat

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EUNAVFOR Atalanta successfully recovers Yemeni vessel Al Najma after Somali pirates hijack the boat off the coast of Eyl.

The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Atalanta swiftly responded to a pirate hijacking off the Somali coast, successfully recovering the Yemeni fishing vessel Al Najma. The attack, which took place in the Eyl district of the Nugal region, was described as an armed robbery at sea, marking a resurgence of piracy in the region.

Somali Piracy Resurfaces: Armed Raiders Seize Fishing Boat Off Horn of Africa

Atalanta’s rapid naval and air deployment led to the successful seizure of the vessel, ensuring the safety of all 12 crew members. According to official reports, the pirates abandoned the ship after looting valuables, leaving the crew unharmed but shaken.

With piracy in the Horn of Africa resurging amid regional instability, this latest incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by criminal networks operating in Somali waters. Despite years of international naval patrols suppressing large-scale piracy, the collapse of security structures onshore has allowed rogue elements to reemerge, threatening commercial and fishing vessels.

EUNAVFOR Atalanta continues to conduct operations to deter maritime threats, gathering intelligence on the latest attack. As instability in the Red Sea intensifies due to regional conflicts, the fight against piracy is once again at the forefront of global security concerns. The successful rescue of Al Najma signals Europe’s continued commitment to protecting international waters and ensuring the safety of maritime trade routes.

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Zimbabwe to Compensate Foreign White Farmers, But Local Displaced Farmers Still Left Waiting

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Harare begins paying $146 million to foreign investors under land reform agreements, but Zimbabwean white farmers remain uncompensated.

Zimbabwe’s government has begun paying $146 million in compensation to foreign investors whose land was seized during the controversial land reforms of the early 2000s. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube confirmed that 94 farmers from countries like Switzerland, Denmark, and Germany will receive payments, with $20 million allocated from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets. The move, linked to Zimbabwe’s efforts to rebuild international financial credibility, aims to clear the entire debt by 2028.

However, the decision has sparked outrage among displaced white Zimbabwean farmers, who were promised $3.5 billion under a 2020 compensation agreement that remains largely unpaid. Critics argue that the government’s selective payouts undermine trust and discourage foreign investment. Meanwhile, resettled black farmers will soon receive title deeds, raising concerns about overlapping claims on land still legally owned by its original titleholders.

As Zimbabwe seeks debt relief and economic revival, the land issue remains a political and financial powder keg. Without a comprehensive resolution, Harare risks further alienating investors and fueling legal battles that could stall economic progress.

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Eritrea: Iran’s New Proxy and a Strategic Threat to Red Sea

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Eritrea’s deepening ties with Iran and silence on Houthi aggression expose a growing security threat in the Red Sea.

Eritrea has become Tehran’s silent enforcer in the Horn of Africa, turning a blind eye to Iran’s destabilizing agenda while emerging as a direct security risk to Israel and the U.S. The regime of President Isaias Afwerki, long isolated and despised by its own people, has now fully aligned itself with Iran—giving the Islamic Republic a strategic foothold on the Red Sea’s western shore.

The evidence is mounting. Eritrea’s refusal to condemn Houthi attacks on international shipping, despite these incidents occurring within its territorial waters, speaks volumes. Tehran is leveraging this partnership to enhance its asymmetric warfare tactics, using the Houthis as frontline disruptors while Eritrea provides strategic depth. Iran’s goal is clear: cement Red Sea dominance, disrupt Israeli trade routes, and project power beyond the Persian Gulf.

The latest signal of Eritrea’s shifting allegiance came in November 2024, when Eritrean authorities detained three Azerbaijani ships. The vessels, forced into Eritrean waters due to severe weather, were targeted not because of any legitimate security concerns, but because of Azerbaijan’s deep ties with Israel. This move, almost certainly orchestrated under Iranian influence, sends a chilling message—Eritrea is willing to act against Israel’s allies at Iran’s behest.

Eritrea has the military capability to help stabilize Yemen, yet its continued silence on Houthi violations suggests a deeper collusion. The same Eritrean military that has historically deployed forces in neighboring conflicts could, under Tehran’s direction, be repurposed as an extension of Iran’s proxy network. This shift has profound implications for Israel’s security, U.S. military operations, and the future of Red Sea stability.

Israel and its allies must act swiftly. Strengthening Eritrea’s opposition movements, disrupting Tehran’s economic lifelines to Asmara, and reinforcing naval dominance in the Red Sea should be immediate priorities. Eritrea cannot be allowed to become the next Hezbollah-like stronghold, where Iran operates with impunity.

The warning signs are clear—Eritrea is no longer just an isolated dictatorship. It is now a key player in Iran’s global strategy, and if left unchecked, it could become the next major flashpoint in the Middle East’s evolving shadow war.

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Mogadishu Police Raid Mothers’ House: Women’s Leaders Arrested Amid Property Dispute

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Somali police seize Mothers’ House, detain women’s association leaders as PM Barre faces allegations of selling the historic building to private interests.

Mogadishu witnessed a dramatic escalation on Saturday as Somali police stormed the Mothers’ House compound, forcibly evicting the Somali National Women’s Association (SNWA) and arresting its deputy leaders. The crackdown, allegedly ordered by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, has ignited a political firestorm, with accusations that the government is handing over the historic property to private business interests.

The operation—conducted under the cover of dawn—has sparked outrage. Why the urgency? Why now? SNWA leaders claim Barre’s administration has sold out to well-connected elites, eager to commercialize the site for profit. If true, this move exposes the government’s willingness to dismantle national institutions for economic gain, with little regard for historical and social significance.

The raid raises disturbing questions about Somalia’s governance. If the Prime Minister can override due process, seize property, and jail respected female leaders at will, what does that mean for civil society? Is this the future of Somalia’s democracy?

A legal battle is now underway at the Banadir Regional Court, but given Somalia’s notorious corruption, will justice prevail? Or will power and money decide the fate of Mothers’ House?

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Ruto’s 2027 Conspiracy: Is Kenya’s Security Being Traded for Somali Votes?

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As President Ruto courts Somali votes ahead of 2027, fears rise over national security, Al-Shabaab threats, and the Kenyan passport’s credibility.

Kenya’s President William Ruto is taking an unprecedented gamble—securing his 2027 re-election bid at any cost. His latest move? Removing security vetting for Somali Kenyans seeking identification, a long-standing safeguard against foreign infiltration, terrorism, and electoral fraud.

By lifting vetting requirements, Ruto has thrown open the floodgates to undocumented individuals who can now seamlessly acquire Kenyan IDs and passports—without scrutiny. Who will be holding these documents? Al-Shabaab operatives? Foreign voters? Somali nationalists reviving the irredentist dream of a “Greater Somalia”?

The 1963–1967 Shifta War may have ended, but Somali nationalism never died. For decades, regional governments have resisted the push to unify all Somali people into one nation—yet Ruto’s move breathes new life into this dangerous ambition. Will Kenya’s northeastern frontier become the next flashpoint?

Even more alarming, Kenya’s global counterterrorism reputation is at stake. With the Kenyan passport now more easily accessible, expect stricter travel restrictions from Western allies wary of compromised security. Will Kenya trade its credibility for ballot numbers?

The 2027 elections are still three years away, but Ruto’s reckless pursuit of votes could rewrite Kenya’s national identity. If security concerns are sidelined for political convenience, Kenya may find itself paying a catastrophic price—long after the ballots are counted.

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Trump’s Stargate and China’s AI Breakthrough Leave Macron’s Europe Scrambling

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Europe reels as Trump’s $500B AI push and China’s DeepSeek breakthrough expose EU’s struggle to compete in the global AI race.

In just 15 days, Trump’s Stargate megafund and China’s AI shockwave have shattered Macron’s European AI vision. While France’s tech elite dined with the president, urging him to wake up to AI dominance, Washington and Beijing obliterated any illusions of Europe leading the race.

Trump’s Stargate plan, a $500 billion nuclear bomb dropped on the AI world, proved America’s willingness to crush any competitors with raw economic muscle. The sheer scale of U.S. investment dwarfs anything Paris or Brussels could dream of. And before Europe could even process the impact, China’s DeepSeek hit with a precision strike, demonstrating that brute force alone won’t win this war. With cost-efficient breakthroughs, Beijing just rewrote the AI playbook.

Macron’s showpiece AI Summit now risks looking embarrassingly small-time. His “startup nation” dream is crumbling under the weight of geopolitical reality. Even his massive €30 billion UAE-backed data center feels like a band-aid on an amputated limb. France and the EU are scrambling for an answer—any answer—to stay relevant in this cutthroat AI battleground.

Regulatory overreach is Europe’s Achilles’ heel. While Washington rips up restrictions and Beijing builds faster than ever, Brussels ties its own hands with suffocating AI laws. Can Europe even survive in this AI arms race? Some argue it should retreat to niche markets, but that means surrendering strategic control of the future to China and the U.S..

Macron’s dream of a European AI empire is now hanging by a thread. Without radical change, Europe risks becoming a peripheral player in an AI world ruled by Trump’s capitalist juggernaut and China’s relentless efficiency. The next 12 months will determine whether Europe adapts—or fades into irrelevance.

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Israel Condemns Hostage Treatment as Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance

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Three Israeli hostages freed in fragile truce, appearing frail and malnourished. Israel slams Hamas as uncertainty looms over ceasefire and future exchanges.

Israel’s patience is wearing thin. As Hamas released three more Israeli hostages in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners, the images of the frail, pale captives sparked outrage in Jerusalem. The Israeli government wasted no time condemning Hamas’ brutal treatment, calling the men’s condition “shocking”—a stark reminder of the horrors inflicted since October 7. The release, while welcomed, has only fueled calls for a more aggressive military approach, as Netanyahu’s war cabinet faces increasing pressure to end this cycle once and for all.

The exchange reveals more than just the physical toll. The hostages were paraded before cameras in a choreographed Hamas spectacle—another psychological weapon in the terror group’s arsenal. But this propaganda stunt did little to shift Israeli resolve. If anything, it has hardened national sentiment. Calls for an uncompromising military response are growing louder, especially as reports emerge of the inhumane conditions in which hostages are being held. The IDF has vowed that no stone will be left unturned in its mission to bring every hostage home—by force if necessary.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu walks a political tightrope. His far-right allies threaten to collapse the government if Israel agrees to extend the ceasefire in exchange for more hostage releases. On the other side, international pressure mounts, with Western allies urging restraint. The March 1 deadline looms like a ticking time bomb, with the next phase of the war hanging in the balance.

Adding fuel to the fire, Trump’s boldest declaration yet—that the U.S. should take over Gaza and permanently relocate its residents—has sent shockwaves through the region. The idea, dismissed as “ethnic cleansing” by critics, has been cheered by Israeli hardliners who see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the Middle East permanently.

The war isn’t over. It’s evolving. With Hamas still holding 73 hostages and ceasefire negotiations on the brink of collapse, Israel’s next move could redefine the battlefield. One thing is certain: Hamas’ days are numbered, and Israel will not stop until every last hostage is accounted for—by diplomacy or by fire.

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