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

Monday March 16, 2026 ARUSHA, Tanzania — Nine Somali representatives were sworn in Monday to the East African Community Legislative Assembly (EALA), marking Somalia’s first formal participation in the regional parliament since joining the East African Community in 2023. The ceremony at EALA headquarters in Arusha followed the resolution of legal challenges that had temporarily delayed Somalia’s entry into the assembly. The East African Court of Justice cleared the way for the lawmakers to take their seats, ending months of…

Two young people die as meningitis cases rise to 13 in Canterbury area, UKHSA says Two young people have died following a meningitis outbreak linked to a cluster in the Canterbury area of Kent, as health officials confirm 13 people with signs and symptoms since Friday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had been notified of 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis between Friday and yesterday in and around Canterbury. Some students at the University of Kent have been given antibiotics as a precaution while…

President Peter Mutharika has been asked to dismiss Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamveka and Attorney General Frank Mbeta and to suspend George Partridge, governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, over their alleged links to the controversial Amaryllis Hotel deal, according to a statement released Friday. The purchase of the luxury Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF) has triggered a high-stakes public finance controversy. Lawmakers on the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament have opened an…

BAIDOA, Somalia — South West State authorities on Monday ordered senior military and security officers not to leave Baidoa, imposing an immediate travel ban that underscores rising tension with Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu. The emergency directive, issued by the South West State Ministry of Internal Security, requires all designated security officials to remain in the regional capital “until further notice.” The ministry framed the measure as necessary to “guarantee general security and stability” amid reports…

BAIDOA, Somalia — Southwest State’s Ministry of Internal Security has barred designated senior security officers from leaving Baidoa “until further notice,” citing ongoing security operations and the need to uphold general stability across the region. In a directive issued Monday, the ministry said the travel restriction takes effect March 16, 2026, and applies to specified officers based in the regional capital. The order, framed as a measure to “ensure the security and general stability of the areas of the Government,”…

Veteran journalist John Ware told a London High Court on Monday that former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams’ repeated denials of IRA membership angered members of the group he interviewed — and that, based on decades of reporting, he believes Adams served for more than 30 years on the IRA’s army council and was “one of the single most influential strategists in the Republican movement.” Ware’s evidence came in a civil trial brought by three victims of separate IRA bomb attacks in 1973 and 1996, who allege Adams was directly…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — China is moving to deepen its security cooperation with Somalia, pledging increased support for the country’s fight against al-Shabaab and the Islamic State (ISIS) group as Beijing seeks to safeguard its citizens and economic interests in the Horn of Africa. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the commitment during a high-level meeting with Chinese diplomats stationed in Mogadishu, according to officials briefed on the talks. Discussions centered on Somalia’s volatile security landscape and the…

Joan Laporta was reelected as FC Barcelona president, securing a new five-year mandate with 68% of the vote in a member ballot that reaffirmed his grip on the club’s future and its most consequential rebuilding effort in a generation. Barcelona announced the result shortly after midnight in the Catalan capital. Víctor Font, Laporta’s only rival, conceded earlier in the evening and congratulated the incumbent on what he called an “unquestionable victory.” The club said more than 48,000 of its 114,000 eligible members cast…

Joan Laporta has secured another five-year term as FC Barcelona president, winning a members’ vote that cements his control of the club at a pivotal moment for its finances, stadium rebuild and sporting project. Shortly after midnight in Barcelona, the club announced Laporta’s victory. With the count complete, Barcelona said Laporta received 68% of ballots cast. His only challenger, Víctor Font, conceded earlier in the evening, congratulating Laporta for what he called an “unquestionable victory.” More than 48,000 of Barça’s…

European Union energy ministers will meet today to weigh options for curbing energy costs, as Brussels drafts emergency plans to blunt the impact of surging oil and gas prices triggered by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The European Commission is preparing a package to shield households and businesses from soaring bills, according to EU officials familiar with the talks. Measures under consideration include targeted state support for energy-intensive industries, temporary cuts to national taxes and…