East Africa

The African Union’s (AU) classification of Western Tigray as a “contested area” is not only misleading but also an outright betrayal of justice, historical truth, and the very principles of international law. The people of Tigray reject this reckless and unfair decision, which distorts the reality of the war, legitimizes ethnic cleansing, and emboldens those responsible for war crimes. Western Tigray: A Case of Illegal Occupation, Not a Territorial Dispute The Tigray War (2020–2022) was never about territorial claims—it was a political conflict rooted in governance, federalism, and the struggle for power between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal government. Before the war, Western Tigray was an undisputed part of the Tigray Regional State under Ethiopia’s federal system. Its forceful occupation by Amhara militias and government-backed forces does not make it "contested"—it makes it illegally occupied. By labeling Western Tigray as “conteste...

              The Hero Who Lives in My Son’s Name Today, as we mark the day our beloved Hayelom fell in battle, we honor not only his courage but the unbroken chain of love and defiance he inspired. To the world, he was a warrior; to me, he was “ሓየተይ”—my hero. And in his name, I have etched his legacy into the future: my son, ሓየሎም, carries the torch of his bravery. This is a tribute to Hayelom, to the fathers who fought in shadows, and to the children who inherit their fire. The Donkey, the Teff, and the Boy Who Carried Hope “እተን ተሸይጠን ዘይፈልጣ ናብ ዕዳጋ ተመላለሳ ውድን ለቆታ ጣፍ.” (My memories of the packed Teff grain, loaded to market on the back of the donkey but never sold.) In the dust and defiance of Medebay Zana, where DERG soldiers patrolled like vultures, resistance was a language spoken in whispers. I learned it at eight years old, guided by a donkey named Bula and a father who was both priest and rebel. Every week, for years, Bula and I trekked 15 kilomete...

(Or How Climate Scientists Became the Ultimate Gamblers) When Trump rolled into the Oval Office and decided to yeet the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, climate scientists everywhere were like, "Well, there goes the neighborhood." Suddenly, we found ourselves in a high-stakes game of scientific poker, betting on data, models, and a whole lot of hope. And what did we do? We re-branded. Forget "Paris Agreement Conversations"—welcome to the era of "Naming Conventions." Because if there’s one thing scientists know how to do, it’s naming things. (Looking at you, "Boötes Void" and "Sonic Hedgehog Gene.") So while the political winds shifted, we doubled down on science, armed with peer-reviewed research, stubborn optimism, and the occasional caffeine-induced epiphany. Because let’s be real: when the planet’s on the line, you don’t fold—you go all in. Here’s to the scientists, activists, and policymakers who kept the climate conversation alive ...

There’s an old saying: "He who feeds you, controls you." For far too long, Africa has depended on foreign aid, relying on the goodwill of other nations to support our development. But as Former President Uhuru Kenyatta wisely put it, “America does not owe us aid.” And he’s right. Aid is not a birthright; it’s a temporary crutch. At some point, you either learn to walk or risk being carried forever. Data and Highlights Country Region Foreign Aid (FY 2022) 🇺🇦 Ukraine Europe and Eurasia $11.2B 🇮🇱 Israel Middle East and North Africa $3.3B 🇦🇫 Afghanistan South and Central Asia $1.9B 🇪🇹 Ethiopia Sub-Saharan Africa $1.7B 🇪🇬 Egypt Middle East and North Africa $1.4B 🇾🇪 Yemen Middle East and North Africa $1.3B 🇯🇴 Jordan Middle East and North Africa $1.1B 🇸🇸 South Sudan Sub-Saharan Africa $976M 🇳🇬 Nigeria Sub-Saharan Africa $974M 🇸🇾 Syria Middle East and North Africa $842 All of the numbers we used to create this graphic are listed in the table below. Note that the U...

Once again, the so-called Interim Administration of Tigray has orchestrated a disgraceful spectacle—this time under the guise of an Advisory Council, a body not formed to serve the people but to tighten the chains of submission. This is not governance. This is another table of sabotage, another proof of the administration’s loyalty to Abiy Ahmed’s government, another betrayal disguised as leadership. Those who expected wisdom, integrity, or a voice for the people will find nothing but opportunism, cowardice, and a desperate attempt to whitewash a regime that continues to suffocate Tigray.                                                                  This council is not about representation; it is about exclusion. It deliberately locks out the true voices of Tigray—the historians, intellectuals, community elders, and seaso...

In your suffering—where hunger hollows the cheeks of children, fathers bury their loved ones, and mothers cradle empty pots in dust-choked camps—there are vultures among you. They wear your face, speak your language, and profit from your pain. To the Tigrayan elites and opportunists mining gold from Tigray’s bloodstained soil while your people starve—your greed is a second invasion. To the paid activists who sell lies on Facebook and YouTube, pocketing cash while Tigray burns—your silence is complicity. This is not just betrayal. It is profanity—a desecration of the sacred graves of martyrs who died for Tigray’s freedom. How dare they trade your children’s hunger for minerals? How dare they twist your struggle into clickbait while elders collapse in refugee camps? Their actions mock the sacrifices of every ተጋዳላይ (fighter) who believed liberation was collective, not a commodity. But Tigray’s soul cannot be auctioned. For every corrupt hand stealing from you, there are a thousand callous...