Somalia Archives - Arab Digest

Murdered intelligence officer triggers Somali political crisis

23 September 2021William LawArab Digest EmailAfghanistan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, USA

The murder of a female intelligence officer has brought fragile Somalia to the brink of state collapse.

Yemen’s migrant crisis hits the headlines

22 March 2021William LawArab Digest EmailEthiopia, GCC, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen

A devastating fire in a migrant holding camp draws attention to the desperate situation of African migrants seeking to use Yemen as an entry point to Saudi Arabia and other GCC states.

The Eid – cricket queers the pitch

3 June 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailAfghanistan, Islam, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, Yemen

Festival marking end of Ramadan probably 5 June. Long holidays, traditional family celebrations, a travel boom. Clash with the cricket World Cup. Multiple wars continue.

FGM: progress in Africa

13 November 2018Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailDjibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, UAE, Yemen

Huge decline since 1990 in FGM in Africa where it is most prevalent. Information about the Middle East remains scanty.

Qatar vs. the four, one year on

11 June 201811 June 2018Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailChina, Europe, France, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, UAE, USA

Qatar vs. the four: no sign of compromise. The dispute static but not safe, and causing harm. The four have won no friends.

Horn of Africa: Middle East tensions

6 March 2018Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailDjibouti, Eritrea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, UAE, Yemen

Dubai Ports terminal in Djibouti seized by the government. DP sells a part stake in Berbera port to Ethiopia. Background is Qatar vs. four dispute.

The Bab al-Mandab strait: an important choke-point on the maritime trade route between Asia and Europe

16 February 2018Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailChina, Djibouti, Eritrea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen

Freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab is important to the trade in oil, LNG, foodstuffs and manufactured goods between Europe and Asia. Vessels passing through the strait continue to be at risk of attack.