Axadle - Breaking news and analysis from Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and across Africa.

Tuesday March 24, 2026 Flames and thick black smoke rise from the Colombian air force's C-130 Hercules that crashed during takeoff, in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, on March 23, 2026 A deadly aviation disaster unfolded in Colombia’s far south on Monday when a military transport plane carrying 125 people crashed moments after takeoff, killing at least 66 and leaving dozens more injured, authorities said. The aircraft, a Lockheed Martin-built C-130 Hercules, went down shortly after departing Puerto Leguizamo, a jungle town near…

In a bid to accelerate the fight against tuberculosis, the World Health Organization is urging countries to expand access to new, low-cost diagnostic tools that deliver rapid, point-of-care results. The push centers on innovations such as portable tests that return findings in under an hour and tongue swab sampling to enable earlier detection—approaches designed to widen coverage, cut expenses, and reach people at highest risk. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said these advances have the potential to…

Live Israeli military signals it will occupy sections of southern Lebanon Middle East

Djibouti Bets Big: President Guelleh Launches $480 Million "Salaam City" DJIBOUTI CITY — In a bold push to tackle soaring housing needs amid brisk economic expansion, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, on Monday unveiled a $480 million residential venture known as “Salaam City.” Driven by developer Salaam Real Estate, the project will convert a vast tract on the edge of Djibouti City into a contemporary urban center, which officials describe as among the nation’s most ambitious housing efforts…

In response to ongoing global fuel shortages, the South African government is engaging in discussions with Nigeria to establish a 12-month fuel agreement. This move reflects the urgency among African nations to secure necessary supplies. Meanwhile, the National Taxi Council has issued a warning that taxi fares could increase if the escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to drive fuel prices higher within South Africa.

An Air Force transport crash in Colombia has left 66 dead as recovery teams continue to pull bodies from the wreckage, officials said. The catastrophe ranks among the deadliest in recent memory for Colombia's Air Force and left dozens more injured. Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X that the Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, near the Peruvian border, when the accident occurred. A fire brigade spokesperson said the aircraft appeared to strike something near the end of the runway…

Hospitals across Zimbabwe were thrown into turmoil as nurses walked off the job, leaving wards understaffed and patients without care, in a push for higher wages and allowances. At Parirenyatwa hospital, operations slowed to a near standstill, with student nurses drafted into critical units to keep services running. The walkout erupted just days after a similar action at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. Nurses said their frustrations have intensified following recent fuel price hikes that have sent transport costs soaring.…

OP-ED: A Federation at a Crossroads: Somalia’s Leap from Standoff to Settlement Somalia is staring down a constitutional and political rupture that exceeds the usual turbulence of fragile states. A high-stakes confrontation between the Federal Government in Mogadishu, headed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the South West State administration led by President Abdiaziz Laftagareen, has emerged as the most perilous challenge to Somalia’s federal project since its launch. Beneath the surface lies an architecture…

Tuesday March 24, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — After days of rising political and military strain between Mogadishu and Baidoa, traditional elders in Southwest State say they have brokered a key understanding aimed at stopping further escalation and preventing bloodshed, following three days of intensive consultations. Speaking at a press conference in Baidoa on Monday, Ugaas Shire Ugaas Warsame said the elders held separate meetings with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Speaker of the House of the People Aden Mohamed Nur (Madoobe),…

Slovenia faces immediate coalition negotiations after an election produced no clear victor in a contest that could reshape both domestic priorities and the country's foreign policy direction. With nearly all ballots tallied from Sunday's vote, Prime Minister Robert Golob’s liberal Freedom Movement (GS) and the right-leaning Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of populist former premier Janez Jansa finished in a virtual tie. Neither party, as things stand, will reach the 46-seat threshold required for a majority in the 90-seat…