All countries should join efforts to invest in the education of refugee children to ensure a bright future for them. The call was made yesterday by the Pakistan-born 2014 Nobel laureate, Malala Yousafzai, while visiting Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe District, which is home for over 49,000 Burundian refugees.

In a Johannesburg concert venue that usually hosts pop stars, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi had the crowd on their feet. Modi is in South Africa as part of a tour of southern and east Africa aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. [...] This human connection is the foundation in Modi’s plans to create a stronger presence in Africa, as the country tries to match China. India’s trade with Africa has grown from $1 billion in 1995, to $35 billion in 2008, rising to roughly $70 billion last year.

Somaliland Diaspora Agency (SLDA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the Republic of Somaliland is planning to hold the 3rd Annual Diaspora Conference under the theme “Experiences of the Diaspora & the Situation at Home” in August 2016. Previous conferences were successful in bringing Somaliland Diaspora and representatives of the Somaliland government together to discuss critical issues on Somaliland’s political transition, economic opportunities and the important role of the Diaspora in the nation’s development.

In a state visit to Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda, Prime Minister Netanyahu hopes to strengthen the Israeli presence in East Africa; The trip will begin in Uganda for an official ceremony marking 40 years since Operation Entebbe.

Pine Forest Charter School’s Cedar Avenue campus became a center of cultural exchange Friday when 25 young African leaders visited the campus for a day of community service. The African visitors are recipients of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, part of President Barack Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative. The program selects 1,000 applicants, between ages 25 and 35 from various countries in Africa to attend a seven-week program in the United States.

India now sees Africa as a promising market for Indian goods, services, and investments. This is evident in the government’s recent concerted focus on the India-Africa relationship—high profile visits by top leaders to African countries, a recasting of India’s development diplomacy, and an attempt to match action to past promises. [...] At the same time, India’s development diplomacy for the continent has been through a strategic shift. ​

The United States must pursue a different approach in helping stabilize Somalia following the appointment of the first U.S. Ambassador to Somalia in more than 25 years, said a former Somali diplomat and respected foreign policy analyst. Abukar Arman, the former Special Representative of Somalia to Washington, said Wednesday the United States has been weak in using “soft power” in its effort to support the government attain security and political stability.

Kacyiru-based Niyo Arts Gallery on Friday held the ‘Cultural exchange night’, an event which brought alive African culture through traditional dances and live paintings, exciting those who were in attendance. [...] A young Rwandan passionate about art, whose aim was to support orphaned street children as well as talented but needy children.