Al-Shabaab

Chameleon Diplomacy: Qatar and UAE Compete in the Horn

Qatar and the UAE vie for influence in Somaliland, with commentary from Moustafa Ahmad and Dr Andreas Krieg.

Al-Shabaab: Mogadishu on a Knife’s Edge

Al-Shabaab advances toward Mogadishu, seizing key towns. Rising threats spark regional tensions as Somalia faces growing instability.

A New Partner: Al-Shabaab and the Houthis

The Houthi war on Yemen is often analysed through a Iran-Saudi lens whilst the Houthis' growing ties with Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda in Somalia are overlooked.

Anything for a Dollar: Djibouti, Arms Smuggling, and Terrorism

Djibouti's role in arms smuggling fuels regional conflicts in Yemen, Lebanon, and Somalia whilst undermining Somaliland recognition.

Triangular Diplomacy: Djibouti, the Houthis, and Somalia

Somaliland emerges as a stable partner while Djibouti deepens China ties, fueling Red Sea tensions, illicit trade, and regional instability.

Popular

Trade, Not Tribes: Phoenician Culture Spread by Contact, Not Conquest

As a study published in Nature on 23 April 2025 analysed DNA from 210 individuals across 14 Mediterranean sites, researchers discovered that Phoenician ideas travelled further than Phoenician bodies, challenging centuries of assumptions about ancient expansion.

News Room No More: Bezos Cuts Washington Post by One-Third

One-third of staff gone. Democracy dies in spreadsheets.

Youthful Economic Leverage: Africa’s Coming Negotiating Power

At a point at which wealthy states grey and workforces shrink, Africa prepares to use its youthful population as a powerful tool for global negotiation.

Roman Angel Resembling Meloni Painted Over

An angel's face resembled the prime minister. Days later, it vanished.

Crypto Crash: Gamification of Digital Assets

The digital gold rush left a trail of ruined savings for everyday people who find that their money can vanish in a click without any real legal safety net.