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

Uganda's Controversial Election: Museveni Takes the Lead Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has taken a significant early lead in the presidential election amidst accusations of fraud and intimidation by the opposition. Main challenger Bobi Wine alleges widespread electoral violations in a climate of repression and delays. Museveni leads with 76.25% of the vote while Wine holds 19.85%. The elections have been marred by delays, violence, and an internet shutdown. Wine claims he is under house arrest as security…

‘It’s never been like this’: Minneapolis’ Somali Americans under sweeping federal scrutiny On an icy Friday morning in south Minneapolis, Mahad Omar watched armed federal agents sprint past his window and tackle a neighbor to the pavement. They cuffed the man and loaded him into a black SUV. “Minneapolis is a great city,” said Omar, 28, an Uber driver who came from Somalia as a child. “It’s never been like this.” Across a metro area known for its immigrant roots and East African cultural hubs, Somali Americans say…

Mozambique and South Africa Face Catastrophic Flooding Relentless rainfall has triggered severe flooding in Mozambique and northern South Africa, resulting in widespread devastation. Critical emergency measures are underway to ensure public safety and mitigate damage. Heavy rains have led to significant flooding, particularly affecting Kruger National Park. At least 19 fatalities have occurred, with continued risks for low-lying communities. Urgent evacuations and helicopter rescues are in progress. Immediate…

Friday January 16, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Saudi Arabia is in advanced talks with Somalia and Egypt to establish a new Red Sea military and security partnership, a step that would deepen Riyadh’s role in the Horn of Africa and sharpen competition with the United Arab Emirates, according to people familiar with the discussions. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks to finalize elements of the agreement, the people said. The proposed pact would expand coordination on…

COPENHAGEN — President Donald Trump said he may impose trade tariffs on countries that do not support his push to acquire Greenland, escalating a dispute as a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Denmark to signal backing for Copenhagen and the island’s self-rule. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security,” Trump told reporters at the White House. The comments landed as senators and representatives from both parties began a two-day…

LAS ANOD, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre arrived in Las Anod on Friday, a highly symbolic visit to the administrative capital of the Northeastern Regional State that underscores Mogadishu’s expanding political and security engagement in Somalia’s contested northern regions. The federal leaders are in the city to attend the inauguration of Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known as Firdhiye, who was elected president of the Northeastern Regional State last year. The ceremony has drawn…

Ukraine sends delegation to U.S. for security and recovery talks, eyes Davos signing amid energy crisis A Ukrainian delegation is en route to the United States for talks on security guarantees and a post-war recovery package, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that Kyiv hopes to sign documents on the sidelines of next week’s World Economic Forum in Davos. Speaking in Kyiv alongside Czech President Petr Pavel, Zelensky said Ukraine also seeks clarity from Washington on Russia’s posture toward U.S.-backed diplomatic…

Search-and-rescue teams from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have launched an emergency operation after heavy downpours and rising water levels caused severe flooding in the South African province of Limpopo, officials said Friday. The floods have killed 19 people and caused widespread destruction of homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, authorities reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who inspected flood damage in the area, described what he saw as "catastrophic." The South African Weather…

Federal Government Accused of Politicizing Somali Unity Amid Rising Tensions With Regional States LAAS CANOOD, Somalia — Accusations are mounting that Somalia’s federal authorities are leveraging the language of national unity as a political weapon against some federal member states, with a planned inauguration in Laas Canood sharpening disputes and stirring fresh security concerns. The ceremony, expected to draw senior federal officials including members of the Council of Ministers and security chiefs from the National…

KISMAYO, Somalia — An improvised explosive device killed two Kenyan police reservists and wounded two others Thursday near a border patrol position in Mandera County, close to the frontier with Somalia, Kenyan police said. The blast struck at Kulun Border Point Four along the Bulla Hawa–Mandera crossing, about 100 meters inside Kenyan territory in Mandera East Sub-County, according to a police report. The officers, attached to the National Police Reserve, were on routine patrol when the device detonated in a remote section…