From Washington to the Horn, Ruto's new diplomatic strategy

• IVORY COAST - Régis Bamba, the e-banking whizzkid with big plans

• TANZANIA - Bravious Kahyoza, outspoken rising economist star

• EGYPT - Ahmed Tantawi's bold but implausible presidential bid

• NIGERIA - Rabiu Olowo, finance guru

Ruto wants to place Kenya at heart of future Cape-to-Cairo free trade zone 

The Kenyan president has proposed that his country host the headquarters of the proposed Tripartite Free Trade Area, which, once three more states ratify a deal struck in 2015, will group 29 African countries.

EU provides €5m for humanitarian air links between Mogadishu and Nairobi 

The EU will fund air links between Mogadishu and Nairobi, as well as within Somalia, for the next three years in order to maintain its humanitarian aid in the country.

• GUINEA - Saikou Amadou Diallo, helming the fight against graft

• MOROCCO - Ali Seddiki, investment champion

• TANZANIA - Charles Makakala, Francophile incubator

• KENYA - Justina Wamae, sights set on the middle classes

Somaliland conflict takes a regional turn 

Somaliland, long seen as a haven of stability in a troubled region, is facing increasing unrest as fighting continues around the town of Las Anod between the breakaway province's army and militias loyal to Somalia and backed by al-Shabaab fighters.

Russia steps on soft power pedal in Nairobi 

Moscow is launching an increasing number of cultural and educational programmes in Kenya and is also planning to supply the country with free fertilisers in the hope of getting Kenya on its side over the war in Ukraine.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to travel to Doha 

Though he was wary of Qatar at first for financially supporting his predecessor, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will travel to Doha in March just before the UN's LDC5 conference.

Gulf job agencies fearful amid government crackdown 

Nairobi is stepping up its efforts to inject order into the numerous agencies that recruit thousands of Kenyans every year for work in the Middle East. Its methods are causing alarm.

World Bank stumps up funds to tackle rising poverty 

The financial institution has approved significant funding to revive agriculture in Uganda. Productivity has stagnated in recent years and tangibly affected the general standard of living.

• CONGO - Michel Djombo becomes the bosses' boss

• GUINEA - Lionel Chobli picked to roll out fibre optic

• BURUNDI - Evrard Havyarimana boosts business links for Burundi diaspora in France

• KENYA - Carolyne Kamende Daudi at heart of the trial of the year

Ruto preparing to reopen land border with Somalia 

Breaking news published on 05/12/22 at 1:20 pm - The Kenyan and Somali presidents have agreed to reopen the main land crossings between their two countries following intense negotiations between both heads of state. This marks a shift in the bilateral relationship, and in Kenyan security policy.

The chequered past of IOG's future son-in-law  Free

Sadak Omar Mohamed, Mogadishu's ex-police chief, is soon due to formalise his marriage to the youngest daughter of Djibouti's president. A harsh critic of former president Farmajo, Mohamed's time with law enforcement was far from plain sailing.

Farmajo prepares his return from Istanbul 

Former Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as 'Farmajo', has found refuge in Turkey, after his defeat in May by Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.

Kenyan entrepreneurs advance cautiously in DRC, new EAC frontier market 

Kenyan entrepreneurs have been jockeying for a slice of the Congolese economic pie since the DRC joined the East African Community (EAC). But they are proceeding cautiously, aware of the fragile political and economic context of their new partner.