Somalia accused its East African neighbor of meddling in its internal affairs, weeks before a crucial general election.
Author: Abdi Latif Dahir
Jailed, Exiled and Silenced: Smothering East Africa’s Political Opposition
In several countries, entrenched leaders are taking advantage of coronavirus restrictions and a world distracted by the pandemic to clamp down hard on prominent political opponents.
Ethiopia’s Leader Escalates Assault on Tigray Region, Putting Civilians at Risk
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that a deadline for the region’s dissident leaders to surrender had lapsed. The conflict threatens to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa.
Bobi Wine, Uganda Opposition Leader, Released From Jail
Two days after police took him into custody, presidential contender Bobi Wine resurfaced on Friday in court where he was charged with flouting coronavirus rules and released.
Deadly Protests Erupt in Uganda After Arrest of 2 Opposition Figures
At least 16 people were killed in protests over the arrests. One of the detained presidential candidates, the popular musician-turned-lawmaker Bobi Wine, was accused of breaking coronavirus restrictions at campaign rallies.
Western Sahara Ends Truce With Morocco
One of Africa’s longest-simmering conflicts erupts back into the open.
Morocco Launches Military Operation in Western Sahara Buffer Zone
The growing tensions in the disputed territory threaten the fragile truce that has been in place there since 1991.
In Kenya, a Cherished Fig Tree Gets a Reprieve
The 100-year-old tree, slated for removal to make room for a new expressway, will be preserved following a backlash from environmentalists concerned about shrinking green spaces in Nairobi.
A Famed Fig Tree’s Days Are Numbered as a New Highway Plows Through
A tree that has graced a neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenya, for nearly a century is slated to be taken down to make way for a highway through the city intended to reduce traffic jams.
Two Presidential Candidates Detained as They File to Run in Uganda
Bobi Wine, a pop-star-turned-lawmaker who is a critic of Uganda’s longtime president, and Patrick Amuriat are only the most recent opposition candidates to be held or harassed during election season in a variety of African countries.