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

Friday June 12, 2026 Raul Jimenez (up C) and Jesus Gallardo (up L) of Mexico vie for a header during the match. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez struck in either half as co-host Mexico opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday. Quinones pounced on a turnover to put Mexico ahead early in the Group A contest, and South Africa’s task grew tougher when Sphephelo Sithole was shown a red card for dragging down Brian Gutierrez. Jimenez later headed in…

Vast mineral riches were supposed to lift Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, but a new report argues they instead helped light the fuse of an insurgency. The study, Mozambique Exposed, details how resentment tied to natural resources became a potent recruitment message for militants, as residents watched the area’s wealth extracted amid allegations of corruption and abuses by security forces. According to the report, the discovery of ruby deposits in Cabo Delgado in 2009 transformed the province into the source of…

Sudan's North Kordofan capital, El-Obeid, has been rattled by a series of devastating drone attacks attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two-day onslaught has resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread chaos, with strikes targeting homes, a funeral, and essential supply routes, as reported by a Sudanese rights group and healthcare officials. According to the Emergency Lawyers group, RSF operated drones launched relentless assaults on Wednesday and Thursday, killing at least 23 civilians and…

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia on Thursday warned that the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is preparing a major assault on Ethiopian National Defence Force (EDF) bases in the country’s north, a development that has revived fears of another war only years after a brutal conflict ended. The alert came from Ethiopia’s intelligence chief and was reinforced by a former president of Tigray, both of whom said they had information showing TPLF fighters were mobilising for a large-scale attack on federal military positions. Officials…

Friday June 12, 2026 Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - South Korea v Czech Republic - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 11, 2026 Czech Republic's Ladislav Krejci in action REUTERS/Paul Childs Purchase Licensing Rights South Korea roared back from an early deficit to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their opening World Cup Group A match on Thursday, with substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu striking the decisive goal in the 80th minute. The Koreans had already squandered several…

A Spanish lottery vendor has been handed a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence after a court found he cheated the winner of a €4.7 million jackpot out of the prize in 2012, according to court documents. The court in A Coruña, in northwestern Spain, said the vendor understood the scale of the win when the customer asked him to check the numbers. Instead of telling the truth, however, he misled the ticket-holder and said that none of the numbers had matched. Judges found that the vendor then attempted to claim the jackpot…

Friday June 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Thursday that it had intercepted a major haul of explosive chemical materials allegedly destined for al-Shabab during an operation in Lower Shabelle region. NISA said security forces uncovered more than 100 yellow jerrycans packed with volatile chemical precursors that had been buried in the Jilib Marka area. The agency said al-Shabab operatives concealed the materials after realizing that security forces had identified their…

Even as Ebola resurges and violence grips eastern DR Congo, a fierce political fight is unfolding over a constitutional change that has put the country on edge. The proposal could open the door for President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. Lawmakers in the National Assembly have approved a referendum bill seen as a gateway to sweeping constitutional reform, pushing it through despite opposition boycotts and claims that the ruling camp aims to skirt term limits. Tshisekedi has said he would pursue a third mandate only…

Boko Haram factions, alongside various extremist organizations, are increasingly harnessing TikTok and other social media channels for their propaganda efforts, taunting authorities while sharing content related to kidnappings and acts of violence—a troubling trend that raises alarms about digital security in Nigeria. A recent online video associated with Boko Haram depicted captured individuals, accusing the government of downplaying casualty statistics before it was swiftly taken down. This incident illustrates a…

Friday June 12, 2026 Jowhar (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe marked a major milestone on Thursday with the inauguration of Villa Hirshabelle and newly completed buildings for the regional ministries of education and finance. Mohamud said the developments underscored Hirshabelle’s leadership’s push to improve government services, strengthen economic infrastructure and widen access to public services for residents. He also laid the foundation stone for the…