Baidao Star

The African Union was studying a request from Somalia Thursday to slow down the withdrawal of its forces deployed in the country against Islamist militants, officials from the body said. Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, has been waging a deadly insurgency against the fragile central government in Somalia for more than 17 years.  UN resolutions called for forces in the African Union peacekeeping mission, known as ATMIS, to be reduced to zero by December 31 through several withdrawal phases, handing over security to the Somali army and police. The third and penultimate phase was to see the departure of 4,000 soldiers by the end of June.  However, an AU official who requested anonymity told AFP that in May, the Somali government asked the organisation’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) to extend the presence of half of the troops by three months. The government wants only 2,000 men to leave in June and the other 2,000 in September, the official said, adding that Mogadishu had put forward the need to carry out an “offensive operation”. At present, 13,500 ATMIS soldiers are deployed in Somalia.  Meeting on Thursday in Addis Ababa, the PSC was expected to give a favourable response, said the source. “The PSC will discuss on Thursday the (Somali) request to slow down the reduction in the number of ATMIS troops by a few months,” an AU diplomat, who also requested anonymity, told AFP. But any extension would lead to budgetary problems, he said, and a change would not be “just a decision by the PSC”. ATMIS derives its mandate from the AU but must also be authorised by the UN Security Council. In addition, ATMIS’ main direct financial contributor is the European Union, which has released 70 million euros ($75 million) for 2024.  Comprising troops from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, ATMIS supports the Somali army, which has been fighting Al-Shabaab for over 17 years. Although driven out of the capital by AU forces in 2011, Al-Shabaab still has a strong presence in rural Somalia. It has carried out repeated attacks against political, security and civilian targets, mostly in Somalia but also in neighbouring countries including Kenya. Last week in southern Somalia, Al-Shabaab planted a roadside bomb that killed six soldiers including a senior military commander.  Source – AFP

  Breaking NEWS: Israel’s prime minister on Wednesday reaffirmed his opposition to the withdrawal of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along the border between Gaza and Egypt, citing the introduction of weapons into Gaza. .

  According to journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea remain interested in securing the signatures of young and talented strikers Benjamin Sesko and Evan Ferguson, despite their unsuccessful attempt to bring in Victor Osimhen during the recent summer transfer window.  Sesko and Ferguson have emerged as two of the most exciting prospects in world football, and both are being closely monitored by Chelsea as part of their long-term recruitment strategy. Benjamin Sesko, a 21-year-old Slovenian striker, made the switch to RB Leipzig from their sister club, RB Salzburg, in the summer of 2023. Since his move, Sesko has shown immense promise, netting 19 goals and providing four assists in 45 appearances. His current contract at Leipzig runs until 2029, which indicates the club’s intention to build their future around the young forward.  Transfermarkt, a well-known website for tracking player market values, currently estimates Sesko’s worth at €50 million. This valuation underscores the high regard in which Sesko is held across Europe, with his ability to score goals and contribute to team play making him a highly sought-after prospect. Similarly, Evan Ferguson, a young Irish striker who has been a part of Brighton & Hove Albion’s senior squad since 2022, has also garnered attention for his performances in the Premier League. Ferguson, who has featured in 65 matches for Brighton, has managed to score 16 goals and provide five assists during his time with the Seagulls. Like Sesko, Ferguson is also valued at €50 million by Transfermarkt, reflecting his impressive potential and the growing interest from top European clubs. Ferguson’s rise in the Premier League has been particularly noteworthy, and his combination of strength, technical ability, and clinical finishing has made him a key player for Brighton. Both Sesko and Ferguson fit seamlessly into Chelsea’s transfer strategy under their current ownership.  The club has prioritized signing young and promising players in recent years, focusing on building a squad capable of challenging for titles in the long term. This approach aligns with the interest in Sesko and Ferguson, as Chelsea look to bolster their attacking options with players who have the potential to develop into world-class forwards.  Despite Chelsea’s focus on these two young strikers, they may also revisit their pursuit of Victor Osimhen when the January transfer window opens. Osimhen, a Nigerian international, was heavily linked with Chelsea throughout the summer transfer window. However, no deal materialized, and Osimhen instead secured a loan move to Turkish side Galatasaray from Napoli.  Chelsea’s interest in Osimhen remains strong, and the club could look to reignite negotiations in the near future, especially if they see an opportunity to strengthen their squad with a more experienced and proven forward. At the start of the 2024 summer transfer window, Osimhen was widely expected to make a high-profile move, with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea leading the race for his signature. Liverpool was also mentioned as a potential destination for the forward. In an interview with CBS Sports earlier this year, Osimhen hinted at his career plans, expressing confidence in the decisions he had made throughout his journey in football.  He acknowledged that his career had not always gone as planned but remained confident about the path he wanted to take next. Osimhen explained, “At the end of the season, I think I already made up my mind. I know what I want to do with my career.  Since I started, I’ve been making my own decisions, and everything has been working out well for me, even though it didn’t initially go as planned. But I already have my plan, I know the next step I want to take. For now, I just want to finish the season strong, spend some time with my daughter, and then finally follow through with the decision I’ve made.” Despite interest from PSG, Chelsea, Napoli, and other clubs, no agreement was reached during the summer window.  Ultimately, Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan, where he will look to make a significant impact and further elevate his profile as one of Europe’s top strikers. Chelsea’s interest in Benjamin Sesko and Evan Ferguson reflects the club’s continued focus on acquiring young talent with the potential to develop into world-class players.  Both Sesko and Ferguson are considered among the most promising forwards in world football, and their respective performances have caught the attention of top clubs. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen remains a possibility, as the club could renew their efforts to sign the Nigerian forward in the next transfer window.   As Chelsea looks to strengthen their attack, the club will continue to monitor the development of these exciting prospects and explore all options to build a formidable squad for the future