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

By Dr. Ali Said FaqiMonday May 11, 2026 When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud campaigned on the promise of “Somalis at peace with themselves and at peace with the rest of the world,” the line struck a nerve. After years of political turbulence and fragmentation, many Somalis saw in it the outline of a fresh start: reconciliation, rebuilt institutions and a stronger sense of national purpose. Four years on, that optimism has largely given way to frustration. Many Somalis now say the country is more divided than before, its…

A dramatic security scare at last month’s White House press gala has now moved into the courtroom, where a California man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump entered a not guilty plea. Cole Allen, 31, of California, remained silent during the hearing as his lawyer, Tezira Abe, submitted the plea on his behalf. Mr Allen appeared before the court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He is charged with four offences tied to the 25 April attack at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at a…

Monday May 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s dominant opposition alliance said Monday it will return to the streets of Mogadishu on May 16, pressing ahead with an anti-government protest after accusing federal authorities of blocking an earlier rally and using security forces to stifle dissent. The Somali Salvation Forum said it would carry on what it described as a “peaceful struggle” over forced displacement, land seizures and what it called the misuse of power by the federal government. In a statement, the forum said…

A government-approved rise in taxi and bus fares set to take effect on May 18 has sparked swift backlash across Namibia, with many urging authorities to match the move with increases in public sector pay. The adjustment covers taxis, minibuses, and inter-city buses, drawing immediate concern from everyday commuters and civil servants alike. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi said the revision stems from escalating fuel costs linked to persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a squeeze he noted is…

Monday May 11, 2026 Leandro Trossard struck late to lift Arsenal past West Ham United 1-0 on Sunday, a result that restored the Gunners’ five-point cushion over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and left West Ham staring at relegation to the second tier. With the match finely balanced and neither side able to seize control, Trossard linked up with Declan Rice before seeing his 15-meter effort take a decisive deflection into the goal with only seven minutes remaining. There was late drama when West Ham striker…

South Africa has escalated its response to the extreme weather battering the country, declaring the ongoing severe storms a national disaster. The crisis spans six provinces — the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Free State, and Mpumalanga — where communities are contending with widespread disruption. The South African Weather Service cautioned that heavy downpours and powerful winds will persist in parts of the Western Cape. In a precautionary move, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)…

Cheers rang out outside Bangkok’s Klong Prem prison on Thursday as Thailand’s billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked free on parole, eight months after a court ordered him to serve prison time he had earlier avoided through an extended stay in hospital. Now 76, the business magnate spent a quarter-century reshaping and dominating Thai politics. Yet his grip on the country’s political landscape has weakened in recent months after his jailing and after his once-powerful Pheu Thai Party suffered its…

Monday May 11, 2026 Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kenya on Sunday, launching a visit that sets the stage for the Africa Forward Summit and for France’s latest attempt to redefine its role on the continent. In Nairobi, the French president will press a message of partnership over influence, even as Paris continues to reckon with the fallout from its military retreat across West Africa and a broader reassessment of its post-colonial ties. The French president’s trip to Kenya began on Sunday, ahead of the Africa Forward Summit,…

A diplomatic logjam that dragged on for months may finally be breaking: the European Union was poised to approve new sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians, with a change of government in Hungary removing a key obstacle. "I expect political agreement on the sanctions on violent settlers, hopefully we will get there," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers. The proposed measures, crafted in response to escalating violence and continued…

Monday May 11, 2026 Jigjiga (AX) — A long-awaited solution to Qabridaharre’s water problems took a major step forward on Sunday, when Ethiopia’s Somali Regional Government broke ground on a 407 million birr water purification plant aimed at easing chronic shortages and improving water quality in the town. Somali Regional State President Mustafa Muhumed Omar and Water Affairs Minister Ahmed Miraad Layli led the foundation-laying ceremony, joined by local and district officials. The plant is slated to supply clean, treated…