Protests have erupted in Kilifi County, Kenya, as dozens of residents and activists rally against a proposed nuclear power plant, set to be the country’s first. The coastal region, famous for its picturesque beaches and eco-tourism, is also home to the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve, a vital biodiversity hotspot that is on UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage sites. The proposed plant has sparked concerns among the local population, who fear the environmental and health risks associated with nuclear energy.

Kilifi, located some 522 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, has long been known as one of Kenya’s premier tourist destinations, drawing visitors to its coral reefs, bird-watching sites, and pristine beaches. However, the announcement of a 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility in the area has generated heated opposition. On Friday, protesters, led by Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI), marched through Kilifi to the governor’s office, chanting anti-nuclear slogans and carrying placards with messages like “Sitaki nuclear,” meaning “I don’t want nuclear” in Swahili. They presented a petition demanding the cancellation of the project, citing concerns about the environmental and societal impacts.

At the heart of the opposition is the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve, a unique ecological site that supports rare and endangered species, including birds that attract eco-tourists from around the world. Residents and activists argue that building a nuclear power plant near this fragile ecosystem could be devastating, potentially leading to the loss of biodiversity and damage to the local tourism industry. The reserve also plays a critical role in Kenya’s conservation efforts, making the project a lightning rod for environmental advocacy.

Fears of Environmental and Health Risks

Francis Auma, a MUHURI activist, expressed his concerns during the protest, warning of the potential fallout for both humans and wildlife. “There will be malformed children born out of this place, fish will die, and our forest Arabuko Sokoke, known to harbor birds from abroad, will be lost,” he said. Other protesters echoed these sentiments, fearing for their livelihoods in a region heavily dependent on eco-tourism and fishing.

Timothy Nyawa, a local fisherman, voiced his apprehension about the plant’s potential impact on fish populations, which sustain much of the local economy. “If they set up a nuclear plant here, the fish breeding sites will all be destroyed,” Nyawa said, underlining the deep economic fears many in the community share. The construction of the nuclear plant, scheduled to begin in 2027 and projected to cost $3.8 billion, has raised questions about its long-term effects on local industries that depend on the region’s natural resources.

A Struggle for Public Participation and Transparency

Opponents of the project also argue that there has been insufficient public consultation and transparency. Phyllis Omido, executive director of the Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action, stressed that many locals feel uninformed about the plant’s potential risks and benefits. “We host the only East African coastal forest, we host the Watamu marine park, we host the largest mangrove plantation in Kenya. We do not want nuclear energy to mess up our ecosystem,” Omido said during the rally. Her organization filed a petition in parliament last November, calling for an inquiry into the plant’s environmental and safety risks, claiming that the government had not adequately engaged with the local community.

The Kenyan Senate suspended its inquiry into the project pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by two lawyers in July. The lawsuit seeks to halt the plant’s construction, arguing that public participation was rushed and insufficient. It also raises concerns over health, environmental safety, and the management of radioactive waste, particularly in a region prone to natural disasters like floods and drought.

Despite these concerns, Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (Nupea) has assured the public that environmental protections are being considered. In response to the growing backlash, Nupea noted that construction would not begin for several years and that the project complies with national environmental laws. The agency also published an impact assessment report recommending policies to mitigate potential environmental harm, such as setting up a nuclear unit within the national environmental authority and establishing emergency response teams.

However, activists and locals remain skeptical. They argue that the risks associated with nuclear energy far outweigh the potential benefits, particularly in a region with significant ecological and economic value. Juma Sulubu, a local resident who had previously been injured by police during a protest, expressed the defiance that has come to define the anti-nuclear movement in Kilifi. “Even if you kill us, just kill us, but we do not want a nuclear power plant in our Uyombo community,” he said.

As the debate over Kenya’s nuclear future intensifies, the protests in Kilifi reflect a broader struggle over how the country balances its energy needs with the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage. For the residents of Kilifi, the fight to protect their community and environment is only just beginning.

Kenya Airways (KQ) announced on Friday that it will suspend all flights to and from Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, effective October 15, due to operational challenges as part of broader network adjustments. The airline, in a statement from its Nairobi headquarters, emphasized that the decision is aimed at optimizing its route network to enhance operational efficiency and service quality.

The airline reassured its passengers of ongoing efforts to improve its operations while maintaining safety as a priority. “Kenya Airways remains committed to continuously optimizing its flight schedule to better align with demand and performance objectives while ensuring the safety of its crew and passengers,” the statement read.

Passengers with bookings on affected flights made on or before October 4, for travel before October 15, will be contacted for alternative travel arrangements. This includes options for rebooking, refunds, or rerouting, as per the airline’s customer service policy.

In addition to the suspension of flights to Mogadishu, KQ also announced several adjustments to its network to streamline operations ahead of the peak season. From October 27, the airline will introduce an additional flight from Mauritius to Nairobi, which will operate on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Further changes include an extra flight from Nairobi to the Comoros, starting October 28, increasing service to four weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Similarly, flights to Zanzibar will be boosted to seven weekly services starting the same day.

For passengers traveling to Kigali, Rwanda, KQ will introduce an additional flight on Fridays, effective November 1, raising the total number of weekly flights to Kigali to 25. Additionally, from December 5 to January 4, 2025, two more flights from Nairobi to New York will be available, operating on Thursdays and Saturdays to accommodate the expected rise in demand during the holiday season.

These adjustments, KQ said, are part of its broader strategy to ensure smoother and more efficient operations during peak travel times while maintaining its focus on key markets.

Guinea’s military junta, under the leadership of General Mamady Doumbouya, has implemented a new travel ban on ministers, restricting them from leaving the country without his express permission. In a statement issued on Thursday, the government announced that all ministers currently abroad have been ordered to return immediately, and the travel restrictions will remain in place until the end of 2024.

This sudden directive is reportedly part of a broader effort to curtail public spending and ensure more efficient management of the state’s resources, according to government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo. While ministers are required to stay within the country, senior officials and diplomats will still be allowed to represent Guinea abroad.

Doumbouya, a former colonel who was promoted to general after seizing power in a coup in September 2021, has since assumed the role of president of Guinea. Initially, the junta had committed to transitioning back to civilian rule by the end of 2024, under pressure from the international community. However, that timeline has since been abandoned.

As the country’s political landscape evolves, speculation has grown regarding Doumbouya’s intentions in future elections. Several members of his government have voiced support for him to potentially run in the next presidential race, raising questions about Guinea’s political trajectory and the future of civilian governance.

The battle between Kenya’s President and his Deputy will reshape the nation’s future.

Kenya’s political scene is heating up as President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lock horns in a showdown that could determine both men’s political fates. Gachagua, embattled by 11 charges ranging from economic crimes to violations of the constitution, is now desperately fighting off an impeachment motion set to be voted on in Parliament. His last-minute attempt to block the process through multiple legal petitions reflects a man cornered but unwilling to go down without a fight.

The looming vote presents an existential crisis not just for Gachagua but for President Ruto himself. If Ruto’s parliamentary troops succeed in ousting the Deputy President, it would remove a potential threat to his political dominance, but the cost could be steep. This battle isn’t just about impeachment; it’s about the future of power in Kenya.

For Gachagua, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Impeachment would not only end his tenure but also bar him from holding public office, dashing his ambitions to succeed Ruto in 2027 or 2032. On the other hand, surviving this political assassination would solidify Gachagua’s status as the undisputed king of the Mt. Kenya region. He would emerge from this saga even stronger, able to wield considerable influence in future alliances and deals.

The silence from President Ruto on the matter has been deafening, but insiders suggest his fingerprints are all over the push to oust Gachagua. The tension between the two has been simmering for months, and this showdown has been a long time coming. With Gachagua’s star rising in Mt. Kenya, a key electoral base, Ruto faces the dangerous possibility that the impeachment bid could backfire, turning into a referendum on his own popularity.

Gachagua has been playing grievance politics masterfully, portraying himself as the victim of a political witch hunt. In Kenya, such a strategy often works wonders. Just look at President Ruto, who rode a wave of resentment politics to power in 2022. The ICC cases against both Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta had initially been seen as career-ending, but they weaponized those indictments into a rallying cry that helped them win in 2013. Could Gachagua be pulling a similar move?

There’s a strong possibility that this impeachment fight could fracture Ruto’s own political coalition. In the regions where Gachagua holds sway, particularly Mt. Kenya, the impeachment has become a symbol of a larger battle between elites in Nairobi and the so-called “hustlers” that Ruto himself once championed. If Gachagua turns the impeachment into a populist cause, Ruto could find himself losing ground where he can least afford it. The political fallout could be severe, with youth-led protests already shaking the nation earlier this year over issues like the high cost of living.

But for President Ruto, losing this battle is not an option. With his administration already facing economic instability and internal rebellion, seeing off Gachagua would allow him to reassert control over his government. Failure to remove his rebellious deputy would not only weaken his grip on power but would also embolden other dissenters within his United Democratic Alliance.

Gachagua’s fate will be sealed in the coming weeks, but the outcome will reverberate far beyond the walls of Parliament. Both men stand to lose everything, and Kenya’s political future hangs in the balance.

Amid energy ambitions, Türkiye’s flagship vessel heads to Somali waters, seeking oil and gas reserves in uncharted territories.

Türkiye is taking bold steps into Somalia’s untapped energy reserves, sending its flagship research vessel, the Oruc Reis, on a seismic survey mission in search of oil and natural gas. Departing from Istanbul, the vessel is tasked with mapping potential drilling sites off the Somali coast. Backed by naval frigates, this seven-month operation, covering three licensed zones, reflects a high-stakes endeavor in Türkiye’s energy strategy. The mission is part of a broader geopolitical move, symbolizing Türkiye’s growing influence in East Africa’s strategic waters.

The Oruc Reis, named after the famous Ottoman naval commander, is no stranger to exploration, having completed surveys spanning 23,000 square kilometers in the Mediterranean. This new venture is particularly significant as it explores Somali waters for the first time. With its advanced 3D seismic technology, the ship will provide critical data to help pinpoint resource-rich locations, potentially altering the region’s energy landscape.

The Somali coast is uncharted territory when it comes to seismic exploration, and Turkish officials, including Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, are cautiously optimistic about the oil indicators in the area. The Turkish Petroleum Corporation’s recent agreements with Somalia have granted Türkiye exclusive exploration rights, further solidifying its foothold in the Horn of Africa.

The mission’s symbolic weight goes beyond oil—it is a statement of Türkiye’s rising energy ambitions. As global powers jostle for influence in Africa’s emerging energy markets, Türkiye is positioning itself as a key player in this strategic arena, where economic interests and political dynamics intersect.

Turkey to Deploy Frigates to Guard Energy Exploration Ship in Somalia

Turkey’s Strategic Push into Africa: Five Key Areas of Influence

U.K. to Transfer Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius in Historic Agreement

The British government announced its decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, a long-disputed archipelago in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius. The agreement, reached after two years of negotiations, secures the future of the strategically important U.K.-U.S. military base at Diego Garcia while addressing decades of colonial injustices.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the agreement’s role in safeguarding global security, particularly through the U.S. base used for operations in the Middle East and Africa. Diego Garcia will remain under U.K. sovereignty for 99 years, ensuring the continuity of defense operations essential to both nations.

This resolution also marks a significant step in correcting historical wrongs. In the 1960s and 1970s, approximately 1,500 indigenous Chagossians were forcibly displaced from their homeland to accommodate the military base. While the current agreement creates a resettlement fund for those exiled, many within the Chagossian community have criticized their exclusion from negotiations, viewing the deal as insufficient in addressing the full scale of past abuses.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth hailed the agreement as the completion of his country’s decolonization, a symbolic victory for post-colonial justice. He expressed hope for the eventual return of displaced Chagossians, many of whom reside in Mauritius, the U.K., and Seychelles. However, activists continue to demand full inclusion in shaping the future of the islands and the well-being of the remaining diaspora.

The international response has been largely positive, with U.S. President Joe Biden applauding the move as a “historic agreement” that solidifies the critical role of Diego Garcia in global security. Nevertheless, dissent within the U.K., particularly from Conservative Party members, signals ongoing debates about the broader geopolitical ramifications. Critics, like MP Tom Tugendhat, warn of potential security risks, particularly concerning fears of Chinese influence in the region.

The finalization of this agreement marks a new chapter for the Chagos Islands, underscoring the deep, intertwined legacies of colonialism and modern geopolitics. It reflects both the complexities of strategic military interests and the enduring fight for justice by displaced communities.

Denmark’s incoming envoy to Ethiopia highlights the nation’s key role in stabilizing the Horn of Africa and promoting peace across the continent.

Ethiopia’s leadership in advancing peace and security in Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa, remains vital to stabilizing the region, according to Denmark’s Ambassador-Designate to Ethiopia, Sune Krogstrup underscored Ethiopia’s longstanding commitment to fostering regional stability and its distinguished record in international peacekeeping missions.

“Ethiopia plays a very important role when it comes to peace and security on the continent, particularly in the Horn of Africa,” Krogstrup stated. He noted that Ethiopia’s proactive engagement with neighboring countries is essential in creating an environment marked by peace and stability.

Ethiopia has been a cornerstone of peace initiatives in the volatile Horn of Africa region, where it has often paid a high price in its efforts to restore stability. Over the years, Ethiopia’s commitment to regional peace has produced tangible successes, including counterterrorism gains that have strengthened the security of the entire region.

This leadership extends beyond the continent. Ethiopia’s contributions to global peacekeeping operations are among the most notable in the world, as the country has been a consistent participant in United Nations (UN)-authorized missions since 1951, beginning with its involvement in the Korean War.

Ethiopia’s contributions to UN peacekeeping missions are extensive, with more than 180,000 Ethiopian peacekeepers having served across various conflict zones since the country first engaged in UN peace operations. Ethiopia’s long-standing dedication to peacekeeping reflects its deep-rooted belief in collective security and multilateralism.

“Ethiopian men and women have played a critical role in supporting the UN’s mission to advance peace in the world’s most challenging hotspots,” Krogstrup noted, lauding Ethiopia’s global and regional efforts.

As one of the top troop-contributing nations, Ethiopia’s commitment to peacekeeping continues to underscore its influence in the maintenance of international peace and security.

Acknowledging the complex challenges facing the Horn of Africa, Krogstrup expressed optimism about Ethiopia’s continued leadership. “This region has been challenged by differences in opinions on critical issues, but we are hopeful that Ethiopia will play its part in ensuring the Horn of Africa moves towards a more secure and peaceful environment,” he said.

The Danish envoy also reaffirmed Denmark’s long-standing support for peace and security initiatives on the continent, particularly through partnerships with the African Union (AU) and other regional organizations.

“We will continue to be a close partner, not just to Ethiopia, but to broader efforts on the continent,” Krogstrup emphasized, reiterating Denmark’s commitment to supporting peace and stability in Africa.

As Ethiopia continues to navigate the challenges of regional conflict and security, its role as a key player in both African and global peace efforts remains indispensable. Through collaboration with international partners, including Denmark, Ethiopia is poised to sustain its contributions to peace and stability in the years to come.

Addis Ababa emphasizes regional development goals while Somalia and Egypt express concerns over territorial and security implications.

Ethiopia’s recent agreement with Somaliland has drawn strong reactions from neighboring countries, particularly Somalia and Egypt, as it stirs debate over regional sovereignty, economic partnerships, and geopolitical stability. At the United Nations General Assembly, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie defended the pact, portraying it as a regional development initiative in line with Ethiopia’s broader goals of fostering growth in the Horn of Africa. However, his remarks were met with sharp criticisms from Somalia and Egypt, each highlighting different concerns about Ethiopia’s expanding regional footprint.

Ethiopia’s Defense: A Push for Regional Development

Ethiopia’s foreign minister, in his speech, characterized the memorandum of understanding with Somaliland as a legitimate and strategic effort aimed at shared prosperity. Addis Ababa views this deal as an extension of its economic goals, especially as a landlocked country seeking greater access to regional maritime trade routes. According to Taye, the agreement does not infringe on Somalia’s territorial integrity but is in line with ongoing efforts to enhance regional cooperation and development.

In stressing the importance of unity against common threats, particularly terrorism, Ethiopia appealed to Somalia to prioritize collective security concerns over territorial disputes. Ethiopia’s role in supporting anti-terrorism operations in Somalia, particularly against al-Shabaab, was also highlighted as evidence of its commitment to regional stability.

Somalia’s Rebuttal: Accusations of Territorial Violation

In a firm counterpoint, Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre accused Ethiopia of encroaching on Somali territory under the guise of securing access to the sea. Barre framed Ethiopia’s actions as a direct threat to Somali sovereignty, stating that Addis Ababa’s moves were unnecessary and unlawful.

This diplomatic friction signals growing unease in Somalia about Ethiopia’s expanding influence in the Horn of Africa, particularly in relation to its need for maritime access, which Somalia perceives as a strategic encroachment.

Egypt’s Concern: Linking the Nile and Regional Politics

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also weighed in on Ethiopia’s actions, although his primary focus was on the contentious issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). By linking Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland to its unilateral actions regarding the Nile, Egypt painted a picture of a country disregarding the interests of its neighbors for national gain. Cairo’s concern lies in what it perceives as Ethiopia’s overreach in both regional water management and now territorial negotiations.

The Nile River dispute has long strained relations between Ethiopia and Egypt, with the latter fearing the GERD will restrict its access to vital water resources. Egypt’s intervention in the Somaliland issue appears aimed at reinforcing its broader concerns about Ethiopia’s growing assertiveness in the region.

A Regional Leader Under Scrutiny

Ethiopia’s defense of its policies comes at a time when the Horn of Africa is grappling with several challenges, from terrorism to humanitarian crises. Addis Ababa seeks to assert itself as a regional leader, but this ambition is increasingly met with pushback from neighboring countries wary of its growing influence.

The diplomatic rift at the UN reflects the complex interplay of national interests, security concerns, and regional development aspirations. Ethiopia’s emphasis on partnership and growth is contrasted by Somalia’s territorial fears and Egypt’s broader geopolitical worries, setting the stage for continued tensions in the Horn of Africa.

Navigating Diplomatic Tensions

Ethiopia’s Somaliland deal highlights its strategic push for economic expansion and regional cooperation, but it has sparked concerns among neighboring nations about sovereignty and regional security. Somalia and Egypt’s objections, while grounded in different issues, point to a growing diplomatic challenge for Ethiopia as it seeks to balance its domestic ambitions with regional stability.

As Ethiopia defends its actions on the international stage, the broader regional dynamics will continue to evolve, with significant implications for peace, security, and development in the Horn of Africa.