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

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran escalated its standoff with Washington on Wednesday, warning that it could sever commercial shipping through the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman if the United States keeps up its naval blockade of Iranian ports. In a statement carried on Iranian state television, the head of Iran’s military central command said the U.S. campaign to stop Iranian commercial vessels and oil tankers could unravel the fragile ceasefire now in place. Ali Abdollahi, a senior figure in the Iranian military command,…

Wednesday April 15, 2026 Ambulances pulled away from a school in Turkey’s southeastern Kahramanmaras province on Wednesday after a shooting that left four people dead and at least 20 others wounded, deepening concern in a country that has now suffered two school attacks in as many days. IHA (Ihlas News Agency) via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights A teenage student opened fire at a middle school in southeastern Turkey on Wednesday, killing at least four people, including three fellow pupils, and injuring at least 20 others,…

Maine lawmakers have backed a pause on new large data centres, putting the state on track to become the first in the US to slow construction tied to the intensifying AI boom. The measure cleared both the state house and senate and now heads to Democratic Governor Janet Mills, according to the bill’s sponsor, Representative Melanie Sachs. It will take effect unless Ms Mills decides to veto it. "This bill positions Maine to respond deliberately and responsibly to a rapidly evolving industry," said Ms Sachs. The rise of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali forces and Jubaland security units launched a major offensive in southern Somalia on Wednesday, targeting al-Shabab fighters in a coordinated ground-and-air operation, the government said. According to Somalia’s Ministry of Defense, the assault unfolded in areas of the districts of Jilib, Xagar, and Afmadow, with troops pushing into villages including Waraha Qalley, Farshabeel, Jigees, Qaawiley, and Weelmaarow. The ministry said the operation was backed by airstrikes carried out with support from…

Wednesday April 15, 2026 Armed al-Shabab fighters ride on pickup trucks Somalia’s army says it has killed 27 al-Shabab fighters in what it described as a “large-scale operation,” according to the Ministry of Defence. In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said the assault took place in the autonomous state of Jubbaland and was backed by international partners who conducted air strikes. The statement did not name the international partners involved, but the United States has helped Somalia in its fight against al-Shabab in…

Breaking a long-running diplomatic lull, President Cyril Ramaphosa has named Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s next ambassador to the United States, filling a role that has stood empty since 2025. The move follows the expulsion of former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, who was declared persona non grata in 2025 after comments he made during a webinar on US politics. Frictions deepened afterward when Trump launched a refugee programme for white South Africans, asserting that they face government-led persecution at home. Meyer, a…

With energy costs climbing again, Europe is being urged not to repeat the expensive policy mistakes made during the 2022 crisis. European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said governments should make sure any support for households and businesses is tightly targeted and comes with a clear end-date. Speaking at the International Monetary Fund, Mr Dombrovskis said efforts to blunt the impact of rising prices linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, following the US-Israeli war on Iran, must not end up encouraging…

HARGEISA, Somalia — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi "Irro" used his annual address to the joint houses of Parliament on Tuesday to press for a sweeping peace agreement and an unconditional prisoner exchange with the Las Anod-based administration. His remarks marked one of the clearest signals yet that his government wants to lower the temperature in the east, where tensions have simmered for months. Irro said North Western State of Somalia has already established contact with leaders in…

Wednesday April 15, 2026 Atletico Madrid held firm under heavy pressure from FC Barcelona on Wednesday night and advanced to the Champions League semifinals, sealing a 3-2 aggregate triumph despite a 2-1 home loss that was enough after their 2-0 first-leg advantage. Barcelona came out swinging and pulled the tie level on the night through goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, but Ademola Lookman’s finish and a commanding performance from goalkeeper Juan Musso kept Atletico’s nerve intact and the visitors at bay. There…

In a renewed bid to halt a grinding conflict that has ravaged eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, government representatives and delegates from the M23 rebel movement convened in Geneva, even as clashes drift into hard-to-reach highlands where danger grows and past ceasefire attempts have repeatedly unraveled. This ninth round of talks seeks to chart a path out of the fighting in the east, now focused on North Kivu and South Kivu. There, M23 has captured swaths of territory while the Congolese army, backed by its…