Eritrea-Ethiopia Tensions Increase Fears of Renewed Battle
Eritrea and Ethiopia each declare to be getting ready for warfare, with the landlocked Ethiopia claiming it wants entry to the Pink Sea, which is considered by Eritrea as a provocation. Violence is escalating within the Tigray area as tensions improve. Violence alongside their shared Tigray border escalated, and Ethiopia accused Eritrea of sending ammunition to rebels within the Amhara area, an allegation Eritrea denied, calling it a pretext for battle. Each side accused the opposite of hostility, with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki saying Ethiopia had already declared warfare, regardless of Addis Ababa’s assertion that it sought dialogue. There has continued to be mistrust between the 2 international locations because of their lengthy and fraught historical past, which incorporates the warfare between 1998 and 2000, in addition to the renewed battle between 2020 and 2022 in Tigray. In Tigray, Eritrean troops have elevated, additional worsening the instability, whereas Ethiopia is unable to entry the Pink Sea. There was additionally a rise in volatility within the wider Horn of Africa, because of shifting alliances and the warfare in Sudan, including to the strain. The Worldwide Disaster Group warned that any direct conflict, unintended or deliberate, may destabilise the whole area and attract neighbouring and Gulf states.
Somaliland Presents US Mineral, Army Entry Amid Push for Recognition
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Somaliland signalled its willingness to grant the USA unique entry to its minerals and navy bases because it continued to hunt worldwide recognition. Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi mentioned the area hoped to succeed in an settlement with Washington. Somaliland is believed to carry lithium, coltan and different invaluable sources. The transfer adopted Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland in December. Somaliland has been looking for independence as an unbiased state. The federal government in Mogadishu nonetheless considers Somaliland an integral a part of Somalia regardless that the territory has run its personal affairs since 1991, with its personal passports, foreign money, military and police drive. Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi mentioned no bilateral financial cope with Israel had but been reached, however that Somaliland anticipated to signal “a partnership settlement” providing rights to invaluable mineral deposits as a part of the deal. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described Israeli recognition of Somalia as a “biggest violation of Somalia’s sovereignty” in addition to a risk to world and regional safety. The African Union and most Arab international locations threw their help behind Somalia and condemned the transfer. To this point, no main shift has been signalled by the USA on Somaliland.
Rights Group Urges Tinubu to Scrap ‘Unconstitutional’ Surveillance Guidelines
The Socio-Financial Rights and Accountability Challenge (SERAP) urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the 2019 Lawful Interception of Communications Rules, arguing that they have been unconstitutional and enabled mass surveillance with out correct safeguards. The organisation additionally requested the President to provoke “a clear and inclusive legislative course of” to make sure that any lawful interception framework complies with constitutional safeguards, judicial oversight necessities and Nigeria’s worldwide human rights obligations. The decision adopted former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai’s declare that the Nationwide Safety Adviser had his telephone tapped. SERAP warned that, with the 2027 elections approaching, the rules might be misused towards political opponents, journalists and civil society, undermining privateness, free expression and electoral integrity. It urged the federal government to launch an inclusive legislative course of to create a rights-compliant interception framework and gave authorities seven days to behave, saying it will pursue authorized motion if no steps have been taken.
France Returns Looted ‘Speaking Drum’ to Côte d’Ivoire
France handed over the Djidji Ayokwe “speaking drum” to Côte d’Ivoire after it was looted by colonial troops in 1916. This marks one other step within the nation’s wider repatriation of stolen artefacts. The three-metre-long drum was as soon as utilized by the Ebrie tribe to ship messages. It’s certainly one of a whole lot of objects looted by France throughout the reign of its colonial empire, from the sixteenth century to the primary half of the twentieth century. The drum was amongst a whole lot of objects France ready to return beneath new laws authorized by lawmakers. The drum is to be exhibited completely in a brand new museum being constructed within the Ivorian business capital, Abidjan. France has been flooded with restitution calls for from former colonies resembling Algeria, Mali, and Benin.
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Mugabe Household Denies Issuing Statements After Bellarmine’s Arrest
The household of Bellarmine Mugabe denied issuing any public statements after his arrest. They mentioned that the messages circulating within the media didn’t come from them. Mugabe, the son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, was arrested at his Hyde Park house after a 23-year-old gardener was shot and critically injured. Police are investigating a case of tried homicide. Nonetheless, the South African Police Service has not discovered the firearm believed to have been used within the capturing. In an announcement launched via their attorneys, the household mentioned it had not authorised any spokesperson or media consultant and requested that each one enquiries be directed to their authorized crew. Police mentioned two males, aged 33 and 24, have been taken in for questioning and are anticipated to look within the Alexandra Justice of the Peace’s Court docket on 23 February 2026, whereas investigations proceed.
