Stories from the Horn #157
September 27, 2022
Have you read Stronger than Death yet? I think it is time! You can find the book at Plough, Amazon, your local bookstore, and wherever books are sold. Right now it is on sale, $12 off the original price! Don’t miss your chance to be inspired by this incredible woman.
This biography of Annalena Tonelli continues to be relevant as the Horn of Africa again is on the verge of famine, facing increasing violence, and battles Covid and other diseases. So many wonderful Somalis and foreigners are striving for a better world, and to show the world a more beautiful, complete story of the region. Annalena’s story touches on all of this - the challenges and the beauty.
We are just a few days now from the anniversary of her death, the anniversary of my family’s flight from Somaliland. This year marks 19 years since those intense days, and in this book you’ll read about hope and a legacy of love and compassion that is still carried on today by her Somali coworkers.
This year Djibouti cannot seem to cool down. Last week we had a “real feel” day of 127. Yesterday it was still topping out at 114. Usually by now we start to get a bit of relief. This morning I did feel better on my run, it was about 100 at 5:45 am. So there is hope. Someone asked me recently if Djibouti shows signs of being impacted by climate change. When the temperature is just always this high, it is hard to know. That said, you’ll see in the stories below that the region is still facing a severe drought and food crisis.
On to the stories.
Djibouti
Interview with President Guelleh, talking about the importance of maintaining peace in the region
Djibouti loses another court case in port dispute with DP World
First batch of students to graduate from Luban Workshop (the article is a bit redundant, but has interesting photos)
South Sudan and Ethiopia agree to a joint project with Djibouti to connect with the port
Destination Djibouti: 10 sites to see. These kinds of articles just kill me. “After a stroll along neighborhoods, tourists can end their day either at the cathedral or Hamoudi Mosque. Djibouti City knows how to welcome a guest.” Hmmm…
China holds a culture program for young entrepreneurs in Djibouti
Around Africa
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge smashed his own marathon world record this week in Berlin, going 2:01:09. Holy smoking fast.
9 years later, lessons from the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi
The story of donkey domestication started in east Africa
What has gone wrong in the response to violent extremism?
Somalia/land
Somaliland postpones election until next year
The drought risks putting over 3 million children out of school in the Horn
US air strikes in Somalia kill around 30 al-Shabaab fighters
Ethiopia
A Just Mission: Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality by Mekdes Haddis comes out today. I am so excited to read this.
The UN says both sides are committing atrocities in the Ethiopia - Tigray conflict
Why has fighting resumed in Ethiopia?
See you in two weeks!