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Wararka Maanta

Europe’s Message Is Clear: Tolerance Cannot Be a Cover for Extremism

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  Today’s demonstrations across Berlin, London, and Paris sent a message louder than any political statement: Europeans are no longer willing to watch their societies drift toward instability under the banner of “tolerance.” The crowds that filled the streets were not driven by hatred or exclusion — they were driven by a simple demand that every government should take seriously: security first. For years, extremist networks — especially the Muslim Brotherhood — have learned how to operate behind the shield of religious discourse. They present themselves as community leaders, activists, or “voices of the marginalized,” all while pushing agendas that undermine national cohesion, exploit public freedoms, and create parallel societies. Europe’s mistake was assuming these groups were harmless. But as today’s protests showed, citizens have learned the truth the hard way. They’ve watched radical narratives spread in schools and community centers, foreign-funded networks penetrate local ...
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Challenges and Opportunities: Djibouti's Path to Financial Stability and Global Influence

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The recently concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session served as a platform for African leaders to advocate for a fairer and more standardized global financial system. Djibouti, in particular, seized the opportunity to call for greater financial inclusion and international cooperation. In this blog post, we explore Djibouti's quest for financial stability and examine the challenges it faces on its path to global influence.

The Quest for Equitable Global Finance:

Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, underscored the urgent need to reform the international financial system. He argued that the existing framework often compels developing nations to resort to costly loans, leading to unsustainable public debts and hindering investments in critical areas such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Youssouf emphasized that inclusive multilateralism is essential for restoring trust in the United Nations among member states.

Djibouti's Financial Distress:

According to a Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), Djibouti was among the 22 African countries classified as "in financial distress" by the World Bank in 2022. This was primarily due to inadequate debt management and a significant and unexpected increase in public debt over five years. Djibouti even had to defer a debt payment of nearly $1.4 billion to China earlier in the year. Nevertheless, Youssouf remains optimistic about the country's progress toward achieving sustainable development goals, including maintaining a manageable public debt ceiling.

Djibouti's Commitment to SDGs:

Djibouti has incorporated the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its national development plans, including the Djibouti Vision 2035. However, there are challenges in collecting data for specific SDGs, such as clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) and access to energy (SDG 7). These challenges are not unique to Djibouti and are shared by several African nations.

African Unity for Financial Equity:

Djibouti's call for a fairer financial system resonates with other African nations, including Kenya. President William Ruto of Kenya also emphasized the need for an equitable financial trading system to reduce the risk of default among developing countries during the Africa Climate Summit.

Djibouti's Renewable Energy Milestone:

Despite financial challenges, Djibouti recently inaugurated the Ghoubet Wind Power Station, a renewable energy project costing $122 million. This station is expected to generate approximately 60 megawatts of electricity, a significant step towards sustainable development.

The Port Controversy:

Djibouti's strategic location has granted it one of the world's busiest seaports. However, the country has faced challenges in reaping the benefits of this asset. A legal dispute with DP World, a global port operator, has further complicated the nation's financial stability.

Allegations Against the President:

Allegations of diverting port income into personal accounts and engaging in illicit activities with foreign security organizations have added to Djibouti's challenges. The seizure of assets worth $2.3 billion belonging to the ruling family by South African authorities has fueled these allegations.

Ethiopia's Port Diversification:

Ethiopia, a major player in Djibouti's port industry, is exploring alternative routes to diversify its access to ports, reflecting the government's 30-year integrated transport master plan. This move aims to reduce dependence on Djibouti's main seaport.

Djibouti faces a complex landscape of financial challenges, legal disputes, and regional hostilities. While advocating for a fairer global financial system and sustainable development, Djibouti must address its internal issues to fully benefit from international reforms. The path to financial stability and global influence demands a balanced approach to both domestic and international concerns.

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Maant iyo Soomaaliya

Flash Floods Displace 107,000 in Somalia: Urgent Humanitarian Response Needed

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In a distressing development, flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, have wreaked havoc in the Baidoa district of southwestern Somalia, resulting in the displacement of approximately 107,000 people, according to a statement released by the United Nations' humanitarian agency on Sunday. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations (OCHA) reported that numerous homes, including improvised shelters housing more than 86,700 internally displaced people across 136 displacement sites in Baidoa, were submerged in floodwaters. These flash floods mark the onset of the October to December rainy season in Somalia, which is expected to bring above-normal rains and increased flooding due to the influence of El-Nino conditions in the region, as stated by OCHA in its latest update. Somalia has already endured five seasons of drought since mid-2021, leading to the displacement of over 1.4 million people and the loss of 3.8 million livestock. The recent heavy rains ...
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Turkish Bank Opens First Foreign Branch in Somalia: A Milestone for Economic Growth

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In a significant development for the East African nation, the Central Bank of Somalia (CBS) announced on Sunday that Ziraat Katilim Bank of Turkey has established its presence by opening a branch in Mogadishu. This marks a historic occasion as the Turkish financial institution becomes the first international bank to operate in Somalia in over half a century. The establishment of Somalia's first foreign bank branch has the potential to bring about a positive transformation in the country's financial sector. This transformation is expected to result from increased economic opportunities and expanded trade relations between Somalia and its international partners. "The new branch of Ziraat Katilim Bank in Somalia is expected to offer a wide range of corporate banking services to businesses, international institutions, and development partners," stated the Central Bank of Somalia in a press release issued in Mogadishu. The journey to this milestone began in 2022 when the C...
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Somalia Joins UN FAO Commission to Combat Desert Locust Infestation

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In a significant stride towards combating the persistent threat of desert locusts, Somalia has ascended to a pivotal position as the seventeenth member of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This milestone membership, marked on Wednesday, solidifies Somalia's commitment to manage and mitigate the devastating impact of locusts on agriculture and food security. According to the FAO's assessments, Somalia has demonstrated remarkable advancements in constructing national institutional and technical capacities for locust management since 2020, with substantial assistance from the FAO and other partners. Shoki AlDobai, the team leader for FAO's Locusts and other Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases, emphasized Somalia's significance as a critical breeding ground for locusts. AlDobai highlighted that Somalia's inclusion in the Commission would not only benefit the country...
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Somalia's Prime Minister Calls for Unity in Countering Extremism

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In a significant move to address the ongoing security challenges in Somalia, Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre has taken the initiative to engage clerics and religious leaders in the fight against extremist ideologies. The Prime Minister inaugurated a conference in Mogadishu, emphasizing the critical role of clerics in promoting peace, reconciliation, and countering extremist ideologies within the nation. During the conference, Prime Minister Barre stressed the importance of collaboration between the government, intellectuals, clerics, and the people to address the various challenges facing Somalia. He highlighted the pivotal role that clerics and Imams play in raising public awareness and countering the extremist narratives propagated by groups like al-Shabaab and ISIS in the region. "I urge you to engage in reconciliation, stabilization, state-building, and the finalization of the constitution," Prime Minister Barre stated, highlighting the government's achievements in co...
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