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

BAIDOA, Somalia — Armed tension surged across southern Somalia on Saturday after federal forces started moving from Buurhakaba toward defenses near Baidoa, raising the specter of a direct confrontation tied to a widening dispute over the Southwest State’s election schedule. The operation follows the arrival of roughly 2,000 federal soldiers in Buurhakaba. Some contingents reportedly came from the Lower Shabelle region, traveling through areas controlled by militant groups without meeting resistance—an itinerary that has…

Saturday March 28, 2026 Minneapolis (AX) — The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) on Tuesday sharply condemned remarks by President Donald Trump that it said were racist and demeaning toward Somali Americans and toward Somalia. In a written statement, CAIR-MN challenged what it described as Trump’s characterization of Minnesota as “Somalia-oriented,” along with derogatory comments aimed at Somali immigrants and their country of origin. The civil rights organization argued that rhetoric…

The Kremlin has rejected claims that President Vladimir Putin asked prominent business figures to contribute funds to help shore up Russia’s finances as the war in Ukraine continues. According to reports from unnamed sources, the independent Russian outlet The Bell and the Financial Times said the allegations stemmed from a closed-door meeting Mr Putin held with business leaders yesterday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “It’s not true that Putin made such a request.” He added that one attendee at the…

A US federal judge has put the Trump administration’s sanctions on Anthropic on hold, ruling that the measures likely broke the law by effectively punishing the AI company for publicly questioning how its technology is being used by the Pentagon. In the Northern District of California, Judge Rita Lin granted Anthropic’s request for a preliminary injunction, freezing a presidential order that barred all federal agencies from using Anthropic’s technology while the lawsuit proceeds. The decision also halts the Pentagon’s…

Austria has set its sights on social media use by young people, announcing plans to prohibit access for children up to the age of 14—arguing the platforms drive addiction, amplify violence, fuel misinformation and pressure children into unrealistic beauty ideals. Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler said it is “almost impossible for parents to control their children's consumption” on services that, he argued, are built to keep users “deliberately dependent.” Speaking at a press conference, he said the government’s approach focuses…

Kali Hays,Technology reporter, Nardine Saadand Regan Morris,Los AngelesFriday March 27, 2026 A Los Angeles jury delivered a landmark decision on Friday, finding that Meta and Google helped create social media platforms that harmed a woman’s mental health as a child—an outcome that parents and advocacy groups said signals a turning point for young users. Jurors concluded that Meta, which operates Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, which owns YouTube, intentionally designed systems that fostered addiction and left…

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back sharply on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of misstating Washington’s position and signaling that the United States could redirect weapons support toward Kyiv to bolster its own campaign following attacks on Iran. Zelensky had claimed in an interview that the United States was urging Ukraine to surrender the eastern Donbas region to Russia before any post-war security commitments are finalized. Russia launched the invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal administration appears to be tightening its grip on the South West State, moving toward a possible showdown after relations with its regional president, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed—known as Laftagareen—collapsed. The dispute began as a political rupture late in Ramadan, but it has since hardened into a two-track strategy: federal pressure to force Laftagareen back into alignment with Villa Somalia, alongside fresh military movement. Officials close to the talks say attempts to restore cooperation…

Friday March 27, 2026 In Mogadishu, a crowd of hundreds turned a football match into a statement of change—watching two women’s teams compete at Eng. Yariisow Stadium on February 17, 2026, after years when such scenes were nearly unthinkable in the conservative, conflict-torn country. The U17 Somalia players trained as the women’s game continued despite criticism from some religious conservatives who describe it as “un-Islamic.” (Photo by Hassan Ali ELMI / AFP) For many in the stands, Tuesday’s match felt like a…

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The United Kingdom has stepped up its warning as Somalia’s Southwest State faces rising political strain and a worsening security picture, with fears growing that clashes could erupt between federal authorities and regional forces. In a Friday press release, the British Embassy in Mogadishu said it is tracking developments closely and warned that the latest tensions could further destabilize a security environment already under severe strain. “Recent tensions risk further destabilising…