Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Oil prices climbed sharply today as fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East gripped markets after Iran released footage showing commandos boarding a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, with little sign of progress toward reopening the crucial shipping lane. Traffic through the strait, which before the war handled roughly a fifth of global oil output, remains effectively shut down. Iran’s seizure of two cargo ships has also underscored the challenges Washington faces in trying to secure passage through the waterway.…

Hassan IstiilaFriday April 24, 2026 On a dusty roadside in Elasha Biyaha, some 15 kilometers from Mogadishu, Sharmarke Aden sits in his bajaj, thumbs moving over a Samsung phone as he tries again and again to pull up his digital national ID. The app, eAqoonsi, sits at the center of Somalia’s drive to take public services online. In the best-case scenario, it should spare Aden the expense and lost time of traveling to a registration center and standing in long lines, all while sacrificing a day’s earnings. Instead, patchy…

In a stark warning, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has highlighted a troubling decline in democratic principles within the nation, particularly focusing on increasing threats to freedom of speech and expression. Their recent statement reflects a mounting public unease regarding potential repercussions for those who dare to voice their opinions. "Currently, a considerable number of Liberians—comprising journalists, students, activists, and everyday citizens—are growing increasingly apprehensive about their ability to speak…

The European Union is already moving toward a fresh round of pressure on Moscow, with its 21st sanctions package now under discussion just a day after the bloc approved its 20th set of measures over Russia’s war in Ukraine. "We're really pushing to go on with the 21st package of sanctions," Ms Kallas told reporters ahead of an informal summit of EU leaders in Cyprus. "It sends a very clear signal to Russia that they can't outwait us. It also sends a clear signal to Russia that Ukraine is more important to us than it is to…

Turkey’s expanding role in Somalia has become a fresh source of political unease in Mogadishu, after reports surfaced of direct talks between Ankara’s envoy and opposition leaders increasingly wary of Turkish influence. MOGADISHU, Somalia — New details have emerged about meetings and discussions between Turkish diplomats and Somali opposition politicians united under the Somali Future Council, amid growing accusations that Ankara is playing an increasingly visible role in Somalia’s internal political affairs. Sources…

By  MATTHEW LEE and BASSEM MROUEFriday April 24, 2026 President Donald Trump said Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to keep their ceasefire in place for another three weeks, following White House talks that he described as productive and a potential opening toward broader peace. Speaking after the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States met for the second time in a week, Trump called the session “very well” while also noting in the Oval Office that “they do have Hezbollah to think about.” The…

At least three people were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza, Palestinian health officials said, in the latest attack to hit the enclave despite a ceasefire meant to halt the fighting. Medics and witnesses said the strike hit a busy area of Gaza City near a position where local police had been deployed to guard a bank. In a statement, Gaza's interior ministry said the strike targeted a police patrol. Reuters has previously reported that Israel has stepped up attacks on Gaza's Hamas-run police force, which the militant…

by Timothy CerulloFriday April 24, 2026 A routine flight on the Mandera-Nairobi route ended in a frightening runway incident on Friday morning after a plane lost control and ploughed into a nearby thicket at the Mandera Airstrip, jolting passengers and crew. Preliminary reports indicate that everyone on board was safely evacuated after the crash. Emergency response teams stationed at the airstrip moved swiftly to extract passengers who had been trapped in the wreckage before the area was secured. Additional reports said the…

Africa's wealthiest individual, Aliko Dangote, who heads the Dangote Group, has announced ambitious plans to collaborate with Kenya and Uganda on a significant oil refinery project in Tanzania. This proposed facility is inspired by his landmark operation in Nigeria, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. During a recent conference that featured key figures like Kenya's President William Ruto and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, Dangote expressed optimism about the project. He emphasized that its success hinges…

Friday April 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia brought home 174 young nationals from Libya on Thursday in a government-led repatriation effort aimed at rescuing citizens trapped abroad, many of them after facing detention, abuse and difficult conditions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the return operation is part of continuing efforts to assist Somalis in distress and reduce the dangers linked to irregular migration and human trafficking networks. Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Mohamed…