Axadle Editorial Desk

By  STEVE DOUGLASSunday May 3, 2026 Arsenal kept rolling, while Liverpool and its embattled manager Arne Slot endured another bruising afternoon. The Gunners tightened their grip on the Premier League race with a 2-0 win over Brentford that restored a five-point cushion at the top, while Liverpool were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield after benefiting from a late own-goal. Slot is likely to face renewed scrutiny after his side slipped to eighth in a disappointing title defense, with his call to…

Sunday May 3, 2026 Nairobi (AX) — Former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has declared that he still holds the legitimate mandate to lead the administration, saying he expects to return to the region after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term ends on May 15, 2026. In an interview in Nairobi this week — his first public comments since March 30 — Laftagareen spoke at length about the political standoff in South West State and the circumstances surrounding his departure from Baidoa. Laftagareen…

Sunday May 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Sunday unveiled the full calendar for the country’s 2026 regional elections, setting South West State on course to open the voting season later this month. Under the newly announced timetable, South West State will be first to vote. Local council and parliamentary elections are slated for May 10, the election of the state parliament speaker will follow on May 18, and the regional president is due to be chosen on May 23,…

MOGADISHU — Former Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has said that ex-North Western State of Somalia leader Muse Bihi Abdi agreed in principle to talks on reunification with Somalia after mediation by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2020. According to Farmaajo, Abiy was pushing for Somali unity at a time when Ethiopia has long been viewed as a player in the region’s divisions, and he suggested the latest moves pointed toward a more conciliatory phase in relations. Farmaajo said the process took shape during a…

Sunday May 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The European Union has welcomed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s invitation to the Somali Future Council for a high-level meeting in Mogadishu on May 10, as political uncertainty deepens with the end of his term approaching. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, Francesca Di Mauro, the EU Ambassador to Somalia, said the bloc backs efforts to build agreement on the country’s electoral path. “The EU in Somalia welcomes President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s invitation to the Future…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, the former South West state leader, broke weeks of silence on Monday with a forceful declaration: he still regards himself as the legitimate president of the regional administration and intends to return later this month. Laftagareen said he would head back to the Southwest area 13 days after the current term of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ends, insisting that he plans to resume his duties despite the political standoff surrounding his ouster. “If May 15…

Sunday May 3, 2026 FC Barcelona moved within touching distance of the La Liga crown on Saturday night, grinding out a 2-1 away victory over Osasuna in a result that leaves the title race all but over. Locked in by a stubborn home defense for much of the contest, Barcelona finally found a breakthrough in the 81st minute when Robert Lewandowski steered in a Marcus Rashford delivery. Five minutes later, Ferran Torres finished off Fermin Lopez's through ball to put the visitors in command. Raul Garcia halved the deficit with an…

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said the relationship between the United States and the European Union has reached a “point of no return” after Washington moved to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany. Vučić described the decision as the opening stage of a possible clash between the United States and Germany, Europe’s largest economy, warning that the standoff could intensify quickly in the months ahead. “It is the beginning of a serious confrontation that may deepen quickly,” Vučić said, voicing…

by STEPHEN ASTARIKOSunday May 3, 2026 Residents of Mwingi barricade the Busy Nairobi-Garissa road in Mwingi town./STEPHEN ASTARIKO Leaders from Garissa are urging restraint as insecurity continues to stir fear and deepen friction between communities in Garissa and Kitui counties. The unrest has already begun to choke trade, disrupt travel and strain livelihoods across the region. On Monday, bus operators suspended services on the Garissa–Mwingi–Nairobi route after a string of attacks and rising tension between pastoralists…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) on Sunday threw its support behind President Hassan Sheikh’s appeal for political stakeholders to gather for a high-level consultative meeting, a move aimed at breaking the country’s extended political stalemate. In a statement posted on social media, the UN mission said the proposed summit offers a vital chance to build a common approach on key national questions that have kept the government and opposition at odds for months. “UNTMIS welcomes…