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

Monday April 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council on Sunday issued a sharp warning against politicizing the Somali National Army, saying the country’s security forces must be protected from clan rivalry and partisan pressure if they are to remain effective and credible. In a statement released to coincide with the 66th anniversary of the army’s founding on April 12, the council congratulated servicemen and women and praised their role in defending the nation, preserving unity and helping maintain public…

I Drank Fresh Citrus Juice Daily for 30 Days After 30 days of drinking freshly squeezed citrus juice, one writer said she felt less stomach bloat and improved digestive comfort. At the beginning of the year, one writer increased her exercise routine, started eating healthier and invested more in her well-being, including making freshly squeezed juice as a morning habit. She said she also aimed to support her gut health. She described preferring fresh fruit snacks over processed options and said citrus fruits offer a mild…

Polling stations in Benin have officially closed following a significant turnout, with nearly eight million voters participating in the presidential election. Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni is anticipated to emerge as the victor. Patrice Talon, the current president, is concluding his tenure after serving two five-year terms and navigating a coup attempt last December. Talon has publicly supported his 49-year-old finance minister, Wadagni, as his successor to guide the next administration. The primary opposition party,…

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a stark warning on Monday, saying any military vessel that moves toward the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as a breach of the two-week ceasefire with the US and met with a forceful response. In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the Guards said the strategic passage remains under the control and “smart management” of Iran’s Navy. They added that the waterway remains “open for the safe passage of non-military vessels in accordance with specific regulations”. The warning followed…

by BRIAN ORUTAMonday April 13, 2026 Somalia celebrated the 66th anniversary of the Somali National Army (SNA) on Monday with a prominent ceremony in Mogadishu that projected a message of confidence in the country’s security gains. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joined Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Army Commander Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, and other senior civilian and military officials at the event. A military parade featuring armored vehicles, aircraft, and traditional displays highlighted what officials described as…

Pope Leo XIV will soon undertake a sweeping 18,000-kilometre journey through Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, a packed itinerary that includes 11 speeches and seven masses before his return on 23 April. The trip is designed to spotlight some of the world’s most urgent concerns — from conflict and migration to corruption and human rights — against a backdrop of uncertainty tied to the Middle East war. Leo will make history as the first pope to visit Algeria, where Islam is the state religion. His programme…

A tragic airstrike by the Nigerian military has claimed the lives of numerous individuals, primarily traders, after hitting a village market. This incident unfolded near the border connecting Yobe and Borno states, where the aircraft was reportedly engaged in operations against Islamist militants. According to the Nigerian Air Force, the strikes were part of "mop-up" operations targeting "identified terrorist locations" along the Jilli axis in Borno State. Sources indicate that the fighter jet involved was tracking a group…

Monday April 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Future Council on Sunday warned that the Somali National Army must be shielded from political manipulation, saying any effort to pull the force into partisan or clan disputes could erode its neutrality and weaken the country’s security architecture. In a statement issued to coincide with the army’s 66th anniversary on April 12, the council congratulated soldiers across the ranks and praised their service in defending Somalia, preserving national unity and helping maintain…

Shane Lowry lit up Augusta National with a stunning hole-in-one at the Masters, a moment he later described as "wild" as it thrust him firmly into the hunt going into the final round. The Offaly golfer has built an enviable catalogue of aces over the years, and this latest effort gave him another slice of history: it was his second at Augusta National, making him the first player ever to achieve that feat. Lowry’s tee shot at the 190-yard sixth vaulted him from six under to eight under par, and he closed with a 69 to sit on…

With diplomacy faltering and the risk of a wider confrontation rising again, the US military said it will impose a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports and coastal waters after weekend talks collapsed without a deal to end the war with Iran, putting a fragile two-week ceasefire in jeopardy. The talks in Islamabad, held from Saturday into early yesterday, marked the first direct meeting between the US and Iran in more than a decade and the highest-level engagement since Iran's 1979 Islamic…