How a Somali-led football team in Birmingham is inspiring hope and winning hearts in grassroots football.

In the heart of Birmingham’s diverse Smethwick neighborhood, a stormy December night brings together a team of players defying odds and stereotypes. Kawala FC, founded in 2023 by Somali-born Salah Aliderie, has transformed grassroots football by uniting players from Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Poland, and beyond.

Despite humble beginnings on a cramped five-a-side pitch, Kawala FC has captured the imagination of Birmingham’s Somali community, clinching a league and cup double in their debut season. Their journey is more than a football fairy tale—it’s a testament to resilience, community, and dreams realized against the odds.

For many players, football isn’t just a sport—it’s a lifeline. Chairman Salah Aliderie, who funded the team to provide opportunities for Birmingham’s underserved youth, sees Kawala FC as a vehicle for change.

“Some of them don’t have jobs, and there’s a high crime rate here,” Aliderie explains. “Youth clubs are shutting down, and I knew I had to do something.”

Coach Abdek Abdi, who left Djibouti as a child, highlights the transformative impact of the team. “The team has become a safe space for everyone. We’re more like brothers here.”

Players like 20-year-old Sudeys Moalim see football as a way to honor their roots. “My parents fled war-torn Somalia for a better life. Representing my nationality on the pitch means everything to me.”

Kawala’s meteoric rise hasn’t just energized players—it’s united Birmingham’s Somali community. Initially supported by family and friends, the team now draws hundreds of fans who proudly cheer on their local heroes. The club’s success symbolizes a thriving Somali-British identity in the Midlands.

Kawala’s chairman dreams big: establishing an academy, opening a youth center, and even competing in the Somali British Champions League, a grassroots version of Europe’s elite competition.

“We’d like to think one day we’ll make Premier League stars,” says Aliderie, his optimism shining even brighter than the Smethwick floodlights. “It’s all about their smiles, happiness, and their mothers coming to congratulate them—that’s what makes this journey worthwhile.”

Kawala FC isn’t just winning matches; they’re inspiring a generation, showing that football can be more than a game—it can be a bridge to opportunity, unity, and a brighter future.

In a significant milestone for Ethiopia’s internal displacement crisis, the Somali Regional State has successfully relocated 524 households—comprising 2,570 individuals—from the overcrowded Qoloji Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to a newly developed settlement in Bayahow. This initiative, part of Ethiopia’s Durable Solutions Initiative (DSI), aims to provide long-term, sustainable solutions for displaced populations.

The relocation, conducted in four phases starting in early December, concluded this week with the final movement of 132 households. Led by the Somali Regional Disaster Risk Management Bureau (DRMB) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other partners, the program prioritizes voluntary and dignified transitions while offering displaced families a chance to rebuild their lives.

“This is more than just moving people. It’s about restoring dignity and creating opportunities for displaced communities to thrive,” said a senior DRMB official.

The Bayahow settlement has been equipped with essential services, including a health center, schools, water and sanitation facilities, and community spaces. Local leaders report strong support from the host community, fostering unity and collaboration.

Relocated families have received housing, essential non-food items, and medical support. Hafid Abdirahman, one of the relocated individuals, expressed optimism for the future: “We were well cared for during the journey and are excited about the opportunities here. With farming support near the Shebelle River, we can finally build a better future.”

The Bayahow initiative extends beyond immediate resettlement, focusing on sustainable livelihoods. With support from the Somali Region Agricultural Bureau and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), displaced families are being empowered to start farming or restock livestock. Youth employment programs and small business development initiatives are also being introduced to promote economic independence.

The project’s funding, provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), underscores global commitment to addressing Ethiopia’s displacement challenges.

Local leaders, including Abdu Ahmed Elmi, Shebelle Zone Early Warning Coordinator, praised the host community’s welcoming attitude. “The host community’s acceptance has been incredible—100 percent,” Elmi noted, emphasizing the importance of local collaboration in ensuring a smooth transition.

The success of Bayahow is being celebrated as a model for Ethiopia’s Durable Solutions Initiative. An IOM representative highlighted its significance: “This progress shows that with planning, international support, and community involvement, we can create lasting solutions for displaced populations.”

Ethiopia continues to face the dual challenges of conflict and climate change-induced displacement. The Bayahow relocation project demonstrates the potential for sustainable solutions, serving as a blueprint for similar initiatives across the country. As displaced families settle into their new community, Bayahow stands as a symbol of resilience and a commitment to rebuilding lives.

Women in Somalia’s fisheries sector take center stage in a groundbreaking initiative addressing systemic challenges.

A two-day workshop hosted by EUCAP Somalia and Somalia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy is set to redefine opportunities for women in the country’s fisheries sector. Held on December 9-10 in Mogadishu, the initiative attracted stakeholders across the industry to confront systemic barriers and promote women’s leadership in maritime industries.

The workshop focused on the entire fisheries value chain, from aquaculture and processing to sales and extraction. Despite their significant contributions, women in Somalia’s fisheries sector often face hurdles such as inadequate access to resources, training, and decision-making platforms.

EUCAP Somalia fisheries expert Alberto Lopez-Asenjo called the workshop a “transformative journey,” emphasizing the need to amplify women’s voices and recognize their contributions. Interactive sessions explored fisheries governance, business strategies, environmental policy, and international legal frameworks, offering practical solutions to bolster women’s involvement and leadership in Somalia’s blue economy.

EUCAP Somalia, operational since 2016, supports the country’s maritime security and governance. This initiative marks another step in its mission to strengthen Somalia’s maritime capacity while fostering inclusivity in one of its most critical industries.

By addressing these challenges, the workshop aims to unlock the full potential of Somalia’s fisheries sector, driving sustainable development and gender equity in an industry vital to the country’s economy and food security.

Boxer and activist Ramla Ali teams up with Saudi Prince Faisal Al Saud to launch a production company spotlighting minority and female-driven narratives.

British boxer and activist Ramla Ali is stepping into the entertainment world with the launch of 786 Entertainment, a film and TV production company aimed at championing underrepresented voices. Backed by Saudi Prince Faisal Al Saud and his Vainqueur Family Group, the venture seeks to highlight minority-led stories and female-driven narratives.

Ali, a former Somali refugee, Time Magazine’s 2023 Woman of the Year, and the first woman to compete in a professional boxing match in Saudi Arabia, is co-founding the company with her husband, Richard A. Moore. Moore, known for producing acclaimed sports documentaries, brings expertise to the enterprise alongside Prince Faisal’s partner, Bilal Nasser.

Headquartered in London with plans for a production office in Saudi Arabia, 786 Entertainment has already lined up impactful projects. One highlight is Iron House, a powerful story about U.S. army veteran Bobby Body, whose journey from abandonment and homelessness to the Paralympics is nothing short of inspiring.

Ali, who also executive-produced her own biopic In The Shadows, expressed her enthusiasm for storytelling as a means of amplifying diverse voices: “786 is something I’m proud of—supportive, global, and meaningful.” Prince Faisal echoed this sentiment, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a cultural hub and its mission to connect and foster opportunities worldwide.

With a vision rooted in empowerment and cross-cultural collaboration, 786 Entertainment positions itself as a transformative force in the global entertainment industry, creating new avenues for storytelling and representation.

Beijing adopts U.S.-style extraterritoriality and sanctions, escalating global economic warfare through its latest export control regulations.

China’s implementation of its revamped Export Control regulations on December 1 marks a significant shift in global economic strategy, directly affecting Europe and its trading partners. The measures mirror the U.S.’s “Export Administration Regulations” (EAR), signaling a more aggressive approach to controlling sensitive technologies and raw materials. These steps are not only a response to escalating global tensions but also a bid to expand China’s leverage in international trade.

Key elements of the new regulations include controls on dual-use goods, such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence technologies, and raw materials critical to strategic industries. For the first time, China has embraced extraterritoriality, applying its rules to re-exports of Chinese goods, technologies, or components outside its borders. This includes foreign products that incorporate Chinese inputs or were developed using Chinese technology, a significant escalation in oversight.

Two sanctions lists—the “Watch List” and “Control List”—have been established, akin to the U.S.’s Unverified List and Entity List. The move enables Beijing to penalize companies and individuals globally for non-compliance, with penalties ranging from administrative sanctions to criminal prosecution. Furthermore, Article 38 of the regulation mandates Chinese approval for any foreign authority conducting compliance checks on Chinese-affiliated entities, effectively shielding its industries from external scrutiny.

The implications for Europe, which depends heavily on Chinese imports, are profound. China is the EU’s largest supplier, accounting for 20.5% of imports in 2023, spanning telecommunications equipment, batteries, and strategic raw materials like gallium, germanium, and antimony. These materials are critical to industries such as aeronautics, automotive, and renewable energy. For France, whose imports from China exceeded €71 billion in 2023, any disruptions could be catastrophic for supply chains, especially in high-tech sectors.

Beijing’s decision to tighten export controls on key materials earlier this year, such as gallium and germanium, demonstrated its readiness to use trade as a geopolitical tool. The latest measures further embed this strategy, leveraging Europe’s reliance on Chinese supply chains to advance its interests.

This regulatory pivot amplifies economic warfare through law, mirroring the U.S.’s own export restrictions targeting Chinese firms. Both powers are now wielding trade controls as tools of geopolitical influence, locking trading partners into complex and precarious dependencies.

The challenge for Europe is twofold: diversifying its supply chains to reduce reliance on China and countering Beijing’s regulatory reach without escalating economic conflict. As Beijing consolidates control over essential resources and technologies, the balance of power in global trade may shift further, with consequences that reverberate across industries and borders.

Rampant mining by Chinese firms devastates local communities and evades regulation, fueling discontent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with the unchecked rise of illegal Chinese-operated gold mining, a crisis that is devastating both the environment and local livelihoods. In South Kivu’s Kamituga region, Chinese companies dominate mining operations through partnerships with local cooperatives, circumventing national laws that prohibit foreign involvement in artisanal mining.

While artisanal miners scrape together meager incomes in hazardous conditions, Chinese firms employ industrial-scale operations that destroy vast tracts of fertile land, pollute water supplies with mercury and cyanide, and deplete fish stocks through river dredging. One site in South Kivu saw the loss of 82 hectares of forest within four years, exemplifying the ecological toll of this activity.

Local communities report little benefit from the mining boom, despite gold production in the province skyrocketing to over 5,000 kilograms in 2023. Most profits bypass local economies, with much of the gold smuggled through neighboring Rwanda, further fueling corruption and tax evasion. Armed guards employed by these companies prevent oversight, leaving regulators powerless to assess the scale of the problem or hold perpetrators accountable.

Efforts to clamp down on illegal mining have gained traction. South Kivu’s governor suspended unlicensed mining activities in July, while the national government has called for diversifying investment partners to reduce dependency on Chinese companies. However, entrenched corruption, weak enforcement mechanisms, and the lucrative nature of smuggling present significant obstacles to reform.

This crisis underscores the broader challenge of resource governance in the DRC, where vast mineral wealth often enriches foreign powers and local elites while leaving the population mired in poverty. Without decisive action, the environmental degradation and exploitation caused by illegal mining will continue to erode the country’s future.

Once heralded as the largest private military company in the world, Wagner’s trajectory has dramatically shifted, particularly following the audacious mutiny led by its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin. From the battlegrounds of Syria and Libya to the frontlines in Ukraine and the dirt roads of Mali, Wagner’s influence has waned, leaving many to wonder about the future of Prigozhin’s empire.

Founded in 2014 by Prigozhin and former military officer Dmitri Utkin, Wagner became synonymous with covert operations and mercenary deployments. However, on June 23, 2023, the tension reached its boiling point. With a force he claimed numbered 50,000, Prigozhin initiated the so-called “march of justice” towards Moscow, an unprecedented act of rebellion against the Kremlin.

The mutiny was ignited by several factors, primarily President Vladimir Putin’s decree mandating that mercenaries sign contracts directly with the Russian Ministry of Defense. This move was met with staunch opposition from Prigozhin and the majority of his mercenaries. The situation escalated after a video was released in which Prigozhin accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of targeting Wagner’s operations in Ukraine—a claim he believed warranted dismissals at the highest levels of military command.

As Wagner’s column advanced without significant resistance, the threat to Moscow loomed larger. Yet, within a day, the revolt concluded. An agreement, brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, saw Prigozhin exit Russia to establish a base in Belarus alongside approximately 6,000 of his men. Nevertheless, this was not simply a retreat; it marked the beginning of a steep decline for Wagner and Prigozhin’s influence.

By the end of June 2023, Russian authorities imposed a media blackout on Prigozhin’s outlets, effectively stifling his public voice. The closure of the Molkino training base that had prepared Wagner’s mercenaries further underscored the collapse of an empire that had once thrived on military prowess and private contracts.

Although Wagner continued to maintain a presence in Africa—particularly in Libya and the Central African Republic—its operational capacity was significantly diminished. The turning point came on August 23, 2023, when Prigozhin’s private jet mysteriously crashed shortly after takeoff from Moscow. All aboard, including key figures like Dmitri Utkin and Valeri Chekalov, perished. The timing of the crash, occurring exactly two months after the mutiny, sparked speculation about possible foul play, given that only Putin had the means to orchestrate such an event.

With the death of Prigozhin, the heart of Wagner effectively ceased to beat. Many former mercenaries transitioned to civilian roles, while others sought employment in Chechen units under Ramzan Kadyrov, drawn by comparable salaries. Some chose to remain in Africa or Belarus, marking a stark departure from their previous lives as elite mercenaries.

Moreover, the Concord group, Prigozhin’s broader business entity, saw its military contracts transferred to the Russian government, effectively dismantling the private sector’s hold on these operations. The Russian military began assuming control of Wagner’s assets and files in various regions, signaling a definitive shift in power dynamics.

The aftermath of Prigozhin’s reign illustrates a cautionary tale of ambition subverted by rebellion. His initial surge in power resulted in privileges bestowed upon him by Putin, yet those very actions led to his downfall—culminating in the loss of his life, influence, and the mercenary group he created.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of the rise and fall of this enigmatic figure and his empire, “Death is Our Business” by Ilia Barabanov and Denis Korotkov offers an insightful exploration into the complexities of Prigozhin, Utkin, and the Wagner Group.

As the dust settles on this tumultuous chapter, the geopolitical landscape remains vigilant, for the impact of Wagner’s collapse will surely echo in the corridors of power across Russia and beyond in the years to come.