Somalia Faces Severe Hunger as US Ends Most Humanitarian Aid

The International Crisis Group posted on 19 May 2026 a commentary titled "Somalia Barrels Toward Possible Famine amid Aid Cuts" by Chris Newton and Omar Mahmood.

Parts of Somalia face severe hunger and could slip into famine caused by a combination of drought, climate induced flooding, price hikes because of the Iran war, political infighting, and the al-Shabaab insurgency.  

Until recently, the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to Somalia was the United States.  But it has largely ended funding and other donors have not stepped forward to fill the void. 

China and Mozambique Expand Relations

 The South China Morning Post published on 25 April 2026 an article titled "China and Mozambique to Map Critical Minerals in Insurgency-Hit Cabo Delgado" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

During a state visit to China, Mozambique's President Daniel Chapo signed a wide-ranging joint communique dealing with cooperation on critical minerals, natural gas, and rare earths.  China also agreed to provide more support, not spelled out, for combatting an insurgency in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado region.  

Central African Republic Suspends Chinese Mining Company

 The Times of India ran on 10 June 2024 an Associated Press story titled "Central African Republic Government Suspends Chinese Mining Company for Alleged Ties to Armed Groups."

The Central African Republic's Ministry of Mines accused a Chinese gold and diamond mining company of "intelligence with armed groups, illegal exploitation, illegal introduction of foreign subjects into mining areas, non-payment of taxes and lack of activity reports."  It said the company cooperated with armed militias and suspended its operations.

Illegal Logs from Mozambique to China Help Finance Insurgency

 The Environmental Investigation Agency published on 14 May 2024 an announcement titled "Millions of Tons in Illegal Logs Shipped from Mozambique to China."

The Environmental Investigation Agency found that since 2017 an average of over 500,000 tons per year of timber has been exported from Mozambique to China in violation of the country's log export ban, and a portion of this trade also finances violent insurgents.  Chinese traders purchase "conflict timber" from Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaah insurgents in Cabo Delgado province and export it alongside other logs.  

Somalia: A Timeline for Al-Shabaab

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 22 June 2022 "Al-Shabaab Militancy in Somalia: A Timeline."  

The ICG has developed an interactive timeline beginning in 2006 that explains how al-Shabaab came into existence and how it evolved.  

Ethiopia: Ethnic Issues Beyond Tigray

 The International Crisis Group broadcast on 4 December 2020 a 28 minute podcast titled "As Conflicts Mount, Where Does Ethiopia Go from Here?" with Adem Kassie Abebe, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Numerous cases of ethnic violence continue in Ethiopia that extend well beyond Tigray Region.  The author believes the overriding issue in Ethiopia today is the conflict between ethnic federalism and pan-Ethiopianism.  Abiy Ahmed, he argues, is trying to occupy the  middle ground between these two philosophies although his opponents see him in the pan-Ethiopian camp.  

Women and Al-Shabaab's Insurgency

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 27 June 2019 an analysis titled "Women and Al-Shabaab's Insurgency."

The ICG concluded that the Somali government should develop a strategy against gender-based violence that would signal it is doing what it can to improve Somali women's plight, while integrating more women into the security forces.

Insurgency in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula

The CTC Sentinel published on 27 June 2017 an analysis titled "Crossing the Canal: Why Egypt Faces a Creeping Insurgency" by Michael Horton, analyst at The Jamestown Foundation.

The Islamic State affiliate Wilayat Sinai has proved to be a determined enemy that is increasingly capable of attacking targets within mainland Egypt. The Wilayat Sinai insurgency has become a brutal war that threatens to spread well beyond the Sinai.