East Africa

Details: East Africa; 27 January 2025; 375

Those arrested include suspected members of ISIS, Al Shabaab and several alleged foreign terrorists.

In Summary

The Operation aimed at identifying and arresting suspects with links to terrorism and strengthening key border controls.

An international counter-terrorism operation in East Africa led to the arrest of 37 suspects and the seizure of both small arms and heavy weapons. Of those arrested, 17 were nabbed in Kenya.

Those arrested include suspected members of ISIS, al Shabaab and several foreign terrorist fighters, the Interpol said. A statement said arrests were made across eight East African countries during a joint Interpol and AFRIPOL operation between November and December 2024 aimed at identifying and arresting suspects with links to terrorism and strengthening key border controls.

“In Kenya, police arrested 17 people including two suspected ISIS members, several foreign terrorist fighters and others involved in terrorism financing, radicalization and propaganda,” the statement said. Kenya has been a victim of terror in the past which has left tens of people dead and many others wounded.

Last year Kenya said that terrorism and overall crime cases had fallen across the country in the recent past, thanks to collaboration between local and international security agencies.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who was acting cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, said 27 terrorist attacks have been thwarted between January 2022 and November 2024 across Kenya.

"During this period several terrorists have been neutralized. The government has also pushed for 11 successful convictions. Our success came through collaboration with international agencies," Mudavadi told journalists in Nairobi.

"Noteworthy, our success also came through collaborations with other international agencies to thwart crime through training and equipment support," he added.

In the Interpol operation, police in the Democratic Republic of Congo arrested four alleged members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and two associates.

Forces also seized and destroyed a missile and anti-tank device abandoned by suspected terrorists. In Somalia, authorities arrested three people, including a suspected bomb maker for an Amniyaat unit of Al-Shabaab who had been planting Improvised Explosive Devices, targeting law enforcement and the military.

Another of the detained suspects was an Al Shabaab operative who is believed to have attacked several police checkpoints with hand grenades. Law enforcement in Tanzania arrested an alleged member of ISIS Mozambique, as well as a Ugandan national who was attempting to join a terrorist group in Mozambique as a foreign terrorist fighter.

Prior to the operation, each participating country prepared an operational plan, gathering intelligence on terror-related targets, including individuals and their known locations. Interpol and AFRIPOL consolidated and analysed this information and shared it with all participating countries, facilitating a significant exchange of criminal intelligence.

During the tactical phase of the operation, each country carried out strategic investigations and raids. Police received on-the-ground support from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL officers, who provided coordination, logistics and real-time data analysis. Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, said East Africa’s complex landscape, marked by political instability, porous borders, and socioeconomic challenges, continues to provide an environment conducive to terrorist activity.

“As these groups seek to expand their reach beyond traditional areas of operation, it is essential that law enforcement agencies work together to stay ahead of these evolving threats. These positive results demonstrate the power of international collaboration in the fight against terrorism.”

Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, said tackling terrorism and organized crime demands a unified and forward-thinking strategy that addresses both immediate risks and the deeper vulnerabilities that enable them.

“This operation highlights the critical role of international cooperation and the exchange of intelligence in disrupting criminal networks and curbing their reach. AFRIPOL is dedicated to supporting Member States, enhancing regional partnerships, and fostering resilience to promote lasting safety and stability across Africa.”

To bolster border security, frontline officers at land, air and port border points were trained and equipped with Interpol Mobile Devices (IMDs), giving them real-time access to Interpol’s databases.

These contain personal and criminal history information in addition to details of around 135,000 foreign terrorist fighters, as well as millions of records of lost and stolen travel documents, which are a key asset for terrorist mobility.

Over the course of the five-day border security operation, more than 88,000 checks were made against Interpol databases, resulting in the detection of 15 individuals subject to notices and Diffusions related to crimes such as fraud, rape, murder, armed robbery, money laundering and crimes against children.

Overall, the reinforced border controls led to 32 arrests for a broad range of crimes. The successful cooperation between eight countries, Interpol and AFRIPOL highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism, a threat that remains a major concern for the safety and security of the region.

Details: East Africa; 27 January 2025; 432

CJ Martha Koome speaking during the High Court Annual Human Rights Summit. PHOTO/@Kenyajudiciary/X

Chief Justice Martha Koome on Monday, January 27, 2025, challenged the nine-member Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) selection panel to pick individuals of untainted credibility to lead the electoral body ahead of the 2027 polls.

Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony, the president of the apex court argued that Kenya’s future democracy depends on the people who they will recommend to occupy the offices which were left vacant by the former IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye who exited office on January 17, 2023.

According to the CJ, Kenya’s stability and trust in electoral processes was pegged on the individuals who would sit at the helm of IEBC ahead of the next general election.

“The credibility of elections defines the stability of a nation, and history has shown us that when elections are free, fair, and transparent, our country flourishes. However, when they are mismanaged, the consequences are severe, threatening national unity and public trust.

Chief Justice Martha K. Koome speaking when she attended the launch of the Collective Empowerment Network (CEN) Women in Law and Leadership Program in Nairobi. PHOTO/Phillip Kamakya

“This is why your task is of the utmost significance. The future of Kenya’s democracy depends on the integrity of the men and women you select to lead the IEBC. The commissioners you appoint must be individuals of untainted credibility—committed to independence, impartiality, and the principles enshrined in our Constitution,” CJ Koome stated.

Pick on merit alone

Moreover, CJ Koome challenged the nine – Kiome Lindah Gakii, Communication professional Oloo Adams, James Evans Misati, Nicodemus Kipchirchir Bore, Ambassador Koki Muli Grignon, Carolene Kituku Tanui Andrew Kipkoech, Nelson Makanda and Fatuma Saman – to pick individuals based on merit.

The head of the Supreme Court maintained the individuals they will pick should be able to inspire public trust in the electoral processes.

“Your guiding principle must be merit, and merit alone. The individuals you select must inspire confidence in the electoral system and uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. Kenyans are watching, and the trust they place in our institutions will be determined by the integrity of the choices you make.”

Chief Justice Martha Koome speaks during the admission of over 800 lawyers to the roll of advocates in Nairobi. PHOTO/@Kenyajudiciary/X

Public interest

She further reminded the selection panel that they must protect the general public interest while executing their mandate.

The CJ detailed that the nine could be persuaded to pick individuals to serve certain vested interests which she warned could have grave repercussions and impact on Kenya’s democracy and stability.

Chief justice Martha Koome. PHOTO/@CJMarthaKoome/X

“As a nation, we must remain committed to ensuring that our institutions serve the people, not personal interests. Let us not lose sight of the weight of this moment. The work you embark on today is not just about filling positions—it is about securing the legitimacy of our elections, the stability of our governance, and the future of our democracy.

“You must resist any pressure, influence, or partisan interests that seek to derail this process. Your guiding principle must be the public interest—nothing more, nothing less. The oath you have taken today is a solemn pledge to serve Kenya with unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the Constitution. The decisions you make will shape not just the 2027 elections, but the future of our democracy,” Chief Justice Koome emphasised. By Lutta Njomo, People Daily

Details: East Africa; 26 January 2025; 447

Members from the South Sudanese community joined a rally in Winnipeg pushing for accountability and justice in the alleged recent death of civilians and refugees in in Sudan's El Gezira region at the hands of the military and allied groups. (Felisha Adam/CBC)

Rally sparked after videos showing alleged killing of South Sudanese civilians by Sudan's military went viral

The South Sudanese community grounded in prayer at a Winnipeg rally on Saturday, demanding justice in the alleged death of South Sudanese civilians and refugees in Sudan at the hands of the military.

"We're here in Canada voicing the voice of the voiceless," said Reuben Garang, president for the Council of South Sudanese Community of Manitoba.

"Those civilians who had nothing to do with the war were targeted because they were South Sudanese," he said at the rally, which took place at the South Sudanese Community Centre at 129 Dagmar Street.

The most recent conflict in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital of Khartoum, then spread throughout the country.

The civil war has plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis where warring factions have forced millions from their homes and stretched the threat of famine for more than half of Sudan's pre-war population.

In recent events, almost two years into the conflict, Sundan's army recaptured Wad Madani, El Gezira state capital, from the paramilitary forces on Jan. 13.

"After they had taken the town, they resulted in an organized killing of South Sudanese [people] … women, refugees who [have] stayed in Sudan for a long time," Garang said.

"To kill vulnerable people who are not fighting … this is not acceptable."

Videos depicting the alleged killings in El Gezira state were disseminated in social media, triggering "revenge attacks" in South Sudan, including deadly riots that erupted in Juba, South Sudan's capital, and elsewhere in the country with protesters angry about what they believed was the involvement of Sudan's military in the deaths.

Arek Manyang, one of dozens of people at Saturday's rally, has lived in Canada for over 25 years. In the 1980s, she fled during the Second Sudanese Civil War, leaving behind her siblings, uncles and cousins in South Sudan.

Manyang calls her family every day, she said, because it is hard to go to sleep at night not knowing if they are safe.

"You could hear some gunshots on the phone when you're speaking with your family," Manyang said. "Our bodies are here, but our minds are there with them."

Behind Saturday's rally was the intent to raise awareness of the atrocities that have plagued both countries — a first step in the pursuit of change in the region, Garang said.

"There's no access to basic services, there's no freedom. People are afraid of their life," he said. "It's very difficult to imagine that it's a war."

Canada imposed a slew of sanctions against the country in April, including a ban on the export of arms and a freeze on the assets of some individuals.

The ongoing conflict was condemned by Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly in December, who called on both parties to end hostilities and to engage in mediation efforts after a "scale of human suffering and gross human rights violations."

But the rally also called on the province to do its part and join the international community in condemning the war and hold the Sudanese government accountable.

"The Sudanese and South Sudanese civilians are being targeted and killed, it needs to stop … everybody needs to contribute," Garang said.

But until it happens, Manyang will continue pushing through her days far away from her family by praying.

"We call it Inshallah, that means God is willing to whatever that happen[s] … that's what we rely on." CBC

Details: East Africa; 27 January 2025; 365

Since the beginning of the arrests, Sunday recorded the highest number at 956 arrests.

In Summary

Since the beginning of the alien arrests, Sunday recorded the highest number at 956 arrests leading to at least 554 detentions.
ICE is targeting any of the estimated more than 11 million immigrants in the country without legal status.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has denied reports that it is paying $750 (Sh96,900) to anyone who reports illegal immigrants for deportation.

In a statement, ICE said that it was not giving any rewards for tips in support of the same.

“For the record, contrary to rumours, ICE is not giving a $750 reward for tips in support of civil immigration enforcement objectives,” the agency said.

The ICE further explained that some of the arrests are targeted at known criminals.

“Targeted enforcement operations are planned arrests of known criminal aliens who threaten national security or public safety.”

Since the beginning of the arrests, Sunday recorded the highest number at 956 arrests leading to at least 554 detentions.

ICE is targeting any of the estimated more than 11 million immigrants in the country without legal status, not just those identified as priorities for deportation for being convicted criminals or other public safety threats.

The statement comes amid fears that a section of the population was reporting undocumented immigrants in exchange for the reward money.

Following the reward claims, a section of Kenyans took to social media to offer tips to their peers who live in the United States illegally on how they can evade arrest by ICE office

Popular TikToker Arnold Malcom who lives in the US is one of the online personalities who have been very vocal about the alleged ICE reward claims.

Malcolm, in a video, cautioned against selling out fellow citizens, while also giving what he termed as valuable advice to Kenyans who may be the subject of such arrests and detentions.

"Trump has not been in office for three days and you have started reporting people. You know, I always tell people, if you know your things are not set (papers) don’t tell people, cheza chini," he said.

He continued to lament about Kenyans' behaviour of wanting to profit from the misfortunes of others alleging that the Department of Homeland Security had offered the reward.

He, however, called for any persons who might want to report their peers to find an amicable solution.

"Play it down, and if possible, try and find a solution,” Malcolm claimed.

He further claimed that two Kenyans had been rounded up after their peers reported them to the authorities for being in the US illegally.

The same was alleged by another Kenyan known as The Kenyan American Home on Instagram.

He claimed to have seen a video of a police officer in Texas narrating how two Kenyans had called to report other Kenyans.

“He was giving a story how during his shift two Kenyans called to give a tip about other undocumented Kenyans. Guys take care, the first one called and even gave the home address. Then the second called the cops on a Kenyan woman who is marrying for papers and that marriage is fake,” he said.

The arrests and deportations are a result of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump soon after he took oath of office for a second term. By BRIAN ORUTA, The Star

Details: East Africa; 26 January 2025; 426

Through collaboration with partners, WHO Somalia continues to support health care centres that provide a wide range of care and address the unique health challenges faced by displaced families

At the heart of Al-Adalada camp, west of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, 49-year-old Hawa Sharif Ali has found a vital lifeline for her family’s medical needs. She, like the thousands of other internally displaced people (IDPs) living in the camp, depends on the health services available at the Sinkadheer health centre in the Garasbaley district.

The mother of six supports her family by doing laundry in nearby neighbourhoods, including Garasbaley. Life has been a constant struggle for Hawa, made harder by the drought the country experienced in 2022/23 – one of the most severe in its history. Displacement, fighting to make ends meet and the responsibility of caring for her children, all weigh heavily on her.

Despite her struggles, she takes pride in managing her household and ensuring her children’s well-being. Amidst these challenges, she has found hope and support at the health centre.

In December 2024, Hawa took her youngest son, Abdulrahman Mohamed, aged two years and eight months, for his final measles vaccine, provided under the Expanded Programme on Immunization.

“I prioritize my child’s health. Each time I give birth, I bring my child here,” Hawa explained.

“We don’t have the money to go to private hospitals, but this centre is accessible for us. Today, my son received his measles vaccine to complete his immunizations, I have completed my other children’s routine immunizations and I’m happy.”

ECHO-supported health facilities transform lives

At the height of the drought in 2023, donors like the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) were quick to respond with increased funding to save lives through treating severe acute malnutrition and preventing and responding to disease outbreaks, including of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles. Through this funding, along with other donors, WHO has been able to not only meet the immediate needs of the people like Hawa and their families, but also strengthen local health clinics so they can continue to meet their communities’ needs into the future.

Beyond routine immunizations, Sinkadheer health centre delivers a range of other health services under the Integrated Health and Nutrition Programme, bringing lifesaving care to families like Hawa’s, who would otherwise struggle to afford medical treatment.

The programme, supported by funding from ECHO, the German Federal Foreign Office and others, continues to transform the lives of Somali mothers and children, ensuring health and hope amidst the challenges of displacement.

Every day, the health centre becomes a humanitarian hub serving around 200 patients, the majority from nearby IDP communities. They seek not only general health services but also critical support for nutrition and the prevention of malnutrition.

For mothers, children and other vulnerable groups, the centre is a key source of support for their families’ health and well-being.

"Most of the people we serve here are mothers and children from the nearby IDP communities," says Mukhtar Derow Luqmaan, supervisor of Sinkadheer health centre.

"[They] depend on the integrated health services we provide. Every day, around 200 patients walk through our doors seeking care, nutrition support and protection from malnutrition. For them, this centre is a lifeline."

Partnerships for health in Somalia

Through collaboration with partners, WHO Somalia continues to support health care centres that provide a wide range of care and address the unique health challenges faced by displaced families. The aim is to bring practical health solutions closer to communities, ensuring no one is left behind.

"Thanks to with unwavering support from humanitarian donors like ECHO, WHO was quickly able to bring lifesaving health care to drought-affected communities in Somalia, giving vulnerable children and families a fighting chance. Now that the acute emergency has passed, we are continuing to strengthen the resilience of the health system to meet the immediate needs of their communities and to better withstand the next emergency. Together, we’re building a healthier, stronger future for every Somali family," says Dr Renee Van de Weerdt, WHO Representative in Somalia.

These humanitarian efforts, made possible by the generous contributions of ECHO and other partners, offer more than just medical care  they bring hope and a renewed sense of possibility. Through this support, WHO and its partners are not only managing an emergency but are nurturing Somalia’s future by giving children the opportunity to grow healthy and strong, and mothers the chance to care for their families with dignity. This collective work in Somalia is a testament to the power of compassion and the difference it can make in the lives of those facing the greatest challenges.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

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East Africa

Interpol operation nabs 17 terror suspects in Kenya

CJ Koome to IEBC selection panel: ‘Commissioners you appoint must be individuals of untainted credibility’

Pick on merit alone

Public interest

Manitoba's South Sudanese join in prayers to demand justice in alleged death of co-nationals in Sudan's war

Rally sparked after videos showing alleged killing of South Sudanese civilians by Sudan's military went viral

US agency denies paying Sh96,900 to report illegal immigrants

Bringing health care closer to displaced communities in Somalia

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