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

A desperate search stretched into a second day in the Maldives as rescue teams combed the waters for four missing Italians after what officials described as the country's deadliest diving accident. Italy's foreign ministry said last night that five Italian citizens had died while diving, with Maldivian authorities recovering one body. Maldives Minister of Tourism Mohamed Ameen said coast guard officers and security forces were sweeping remote seas near the area where the divers were reported missing yesterday afternoon. "I…

As nicotine pouches surge in popularity, the World Health Organization is pressing governments to tighten controls, warning that the highly addictive products are being "aggressively marketed" in ways that hold particular appeal for younger people. The small pouches, placed under the lip to deliver a nicotine buzz, have quickly emerged as a crucial growth area for major tobacco companies as cigarette smoking continues its long decline. That rise, however, has drawn mounting criticism from campaigners and researchers over the…

Collapse of Halane Talks Deepens Somalia’s Election Standoff Three days of high-stakes political talks in Mogadishu have ended in failure, sending Somalia deeper into uncertainty as a bitter dispute over elections and the legitimacy of the federal leadership intensifies. The negotiations brought together the opposition coalition known as the Future Forum, represented by former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni. Representing the government were outgoing Somali President…

Donald Trump departed China today without securing a major trade breakthrough or concrete backing from Beijing to help bring the Iran war to an end, capping a two-day visit marked more by lavish ceremony and warm words for Xi Jinping than by substantive gains. The trip to America’s principal strategic and economic rival — the first by a US president since his ⁠own visit in 2017 — was meant to produce tangible outcomes that could bolster Mr Trump as he confronts slipping approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections. Though…

Friday May 15, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali government forces said Friday they killed at least 50 al-Shabab fighters and armed militia members in a coordinated operation on the outskirts of Baidoa, in one of the latest clashes to hit the volatile Southwest region. The Ministry of Defense said the action came after an early Thursday ambush on government troops patrolling the area, an assault that left senior Somali military commanders dead. Government forces later mounted a counteroperation, killing dozens of fighters and…

From the stage of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, President Paul Kagame delivered a sharp critique of global sanctions, saying they are wielded unevenly and weaponized against weaker states. He argued that the way sanctions are imposed reflects raw power rather than justice, advantaging countries with greater strategic or economic clout. During a session moderated by CNN anchor and correspondent Eleni Giokos, African leaders were pressed on how they are navigating escalating geopolitical strains — from disputed mineral…

Bureaucracy is choking access to safe drinking water nationwide, lawmakers warned, taking aim at the government’s current water-supply budget. Several MPs pressed ministers to declare water provision a national emergency, arguing that the allocated funds fall far short of what is needed to deliver additional tanks and bolster infrastructure in many regions. "In most rural areas, there is only one tap serving an entire community. Water tankers do not reach all settlements, and sometimes there is no money for fuel," one MP…

Friday May 15, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Friday received 25 tons of food aid from Russia, a timely delivery as conflict, drought and deepening food insecurity continue to drive humanitarian needs across the country. The handover took place in Mogadishu during a ceremony attended by Information Minister Abdifatah Qasim Mohamud, Somali Disaster Management Agency Chairman Mohamud Moalin Abdulle and Russia’s ambassador to Somalia and Djibouti. Mohamud said the support arrived at a crucial moment for families and…

Alarmed by a fresh Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says it is tracking the situation closely and mobilizing support. The agency is coordinating with national authorities and partners to mount a rapid, unified response as officials race to contain the spread. Early testing by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) detected Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples, with preliminary findings pointing to a…

Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster, once treated as an internal Labour headache, now looks like a direct test of Keir Starmer’s authority. It is easy to see why. The Greater Manchester Mayor remains one of Labour’s most bankable figures with the wider public, and he continues to command real affection across a large section of the parliamentary party. A 2021 YouGov poll found 69% of Labour members preferred him as leader over Mr Starmer. By comparison, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned yesterday but did not go…