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

Thursday June 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, barred from officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has now been handed one of UEFA’s top assignments: the Super Cup in August, the confederation announced. Artan is set to referee the Aug. 12 showdown in Salzburg between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, UEFA said. “Referee announced for 2026 #SuperCup! We’re pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated…

With fireworks crackling overhead and a forest of spires lit in waves of colour, Pope Leo XIV on Sunday blessed a towering new addition to Barcelona's Sagrada Familia after celebrating mass inside the unfinished landmark, now the tallest church in the world. A fireworks and light display washed across the temple's exterior at the close of the ceremony, drenching the basilica in shifting hues and drawing the eye to its newly dominant silhouette. A 600-voice choir sang during the service, which lasted about 90 minutes and drew…

By Dr. Ali Said Faqi Thursday June 11, 2026 Somalia’s politics have a familiar pattern: failure is repackaged, then presented as renewal. That dynamic is again on display with Adan Mohamed Nur “Madobe,” whose installation as the so-called president of Southwest State has been widely denounced in the region as the product of a federal-orchestrated sham election. This account traces the background, political conduct, and legacy that have followed Adan Madobe throughout his long public life. From the outset, his career has…

By  OMAR FARUK and EVELYNE MUSAMBIThursday June 11, 2026 For Omar Artan, the road to soccer’s biggest stage seemed to end in triumph. Instead, the Somali referee who was set to become the first from his country to work a World Cup match was turned away at the U.S. border — then returned home to a rousing welcome and a continental honor that underscored his standing across Africa. Artan, 34, had earned a place on FIFA’s final list of referees for the tournament, a milestone built on years of work in a nation of about 19…

Britain’s political strains burst into the open when Defence Secretary John Healey resigned after a fierce row over military funding, charging that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had failed to back the country’s security needs at a moment of growing danger. The surprise departure, delivered alongside a sharply critical public letter, adds to the pressure bearing down on Mr Starmer as he confronts the prospect of a leadership challenge. It also lays bare the government’s central dilemma: how to increase defence spending when the…

Thursday June 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was blocked from taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied entry to the United States, has now been handed one of European football’s biggest officiating assignments: the UEFA Super Cup in August, UEFA said. Artan will oversee the Aug. 12 meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, according to the European governing body. “Referee announced for 2026 #SuperCup! We’re pleased to share that Somali referee…

For many African migrants in South Africa, daily life had become so punishing that returning home felt like the only viable option — a reality underscored by one of the returnees who thanked the Nigerian government and the individuals who helped make the journey back possible. The returnee said conditions in South Africa had grown unbearable for many African migrants, prompting appreciation for those who facilitated their return to Nigeria. Responding to questions about the legal status of Nigerians living in South Africa,…

People tend to drift left without even realizing it, according to an international study that found a consistent human habit of turning anti-clockwise while walking. Researchers say the pattern shows up in enclosed settings including supermarkets, museums and empty rooms, where people appear to favor moving leftward as they navigate space. The first round of research took place in Spain, where the behavior was initially suspected to reflect a cultural trait. But when researchers in Japan repeated the experiment, they arrived…

Thursday June 11, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe, newly elected president of Somalia’s Southwest State, formally assumed office on Thursday in a handover ceremony held at the presidential palace in Baidoa. He succeeds Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, who had been serving as interim leader of the regional administration. The ceremony brought together federal and Southwest State officials, representatives of government agencies, politicians, traditional elders and other dignitaries. Jibril transferred official…

By: Joshua FreemanThursday June 11, 2026 Mayor Olivia Chow speaks at an event on May 19, 2026. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says a Somali referee barred from entering the United States for World Cup duties would be welcome in Toronto instead, adding a new Canadian voice to a growing debate over the decision. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that a Somali national scheduled to referee at the World Cup was found inadmissible for entry into the U.S. “During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a…