SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...
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‎Somalia: Kiswahili/Swahili Joins Somali Classrooms as Somalia Eyes Closer East African Cooperation

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Somalia President Hon. Sheikh Mohamud.


‎Mogadishu, October 8, 2025  

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In a landmark decision, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced that Swahili will be formally introduced into Somalia’s education curriculum, strengthening the country’s integration into the the East African Community (EAC). 

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‎Somalia, which joined the EAC in early 2024, will now teach Swahili alongside its existing official languages Somali, Arabic, and English. 


 The move reflects Mogadishu’s strategic vision to align more closely with its regional neighbors and strengthen cultural and economic ties. 

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“Adopting Swahili is important for our integration into the region,” President Mohamud declared at the EAC summit in Mogadishu. 


‎Why This Matters

‎Regional unity & identity: Swahili is already an official language of the EAC, used across East Africa to facilitate communication, trade, and cultural exchange. 

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‎Practical benefits: Many Somalis in Kenya and Tanzania already speak Swahili fluently. The official recognition will formalize that connection. 

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‎Education & diplomacy: The Somali National University and other institutions have been urged to emphasize Swahili development. Officials say it could eventually replace English in regional conferences. 

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‎Challenges Ahead

While the decision is ambitious, the path will not be easy. Somalia must:


  • ‎Train teachers and produce relevant Swahili textbooks
  • ‎Integrate Swahili into primary, secondary, and tertiary education levels
  • ‎Manage resistance from those who see English or Arabic as more advantageous

‎Still, for many regional observers, Somalia’s adoption of Swahili signals a turn toward deeper East African cooperation and integration.

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