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

Somali president holds unannounced talks with ex-leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, signaling push for national dialogue MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met behind closed doors late Sunday with former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in Mogadishu, an unannounced encounter that signals a possible easing of political tensions as the country grapples with overlapping security, governance and constitutional challenges. The meeting brought together two of Somalia’s most influential political figures after months…

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United have sacked head coach Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge, ending a turbulent tenure marked by tactical rigidity, a power struggle over recruitment and underwhelming results despite significant spending. Darren Fletcher will take charge for Wednesday’s Premier League match against Burnley as the club begins the search for its seventh permanent leader since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. United announced the decision Monday, citing league position and the need for a reset over the…

Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia is not mere diplomatic theater. Announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the move inserts the Middle East’s most combustible politics into the Horn of Africa and raises the stakes along the Red Sea—one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors. For Somalia, which maintains a One Somalia policy with near-universal international backing, the gambit threatens national unity. For North Western State of Somalia, it offers symbolism without sovereignty at a…

ROME — The Vatican said more than 33 million pilgrims traveled to Rome during the 2025 Jubilee year as the final faithful crossed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, capping a yearlong Catholic celebration that doubled as a stress test for the Eternal City and a defining early chapter for Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo is due to close the basilica’s ornate bronze doors in a ceremony, just over 12 months after they were opened by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in April. The rite formally concludes a Jubilee marked by…

Maduro brought to New York federal court for arraignment NEW YORK — Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was brought to federal court in Manhattan for arraignment, a dramatic turn in a yearslong U.S. criminal case that has accused him of helping steer a state-backed cocaine trafficking enterprise. Details of the proceeding, including the specific charges to be read in court and any initial decisions on detention or bail, were not immediately available. An arraignment typically marks a defendant’s first appearance before a judge,…

Somali Future Council urges Hassan Sheikh to convene election talks within a month, warns of crisis GAROWE, Somalia — The Somali Future Council on Monday renewed its call for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene all political stakeholders within a month to agree on a clear and timely electoral framework, warning that further delay risks a constitutional and security crisis as the country nears another transfer of power. In a statement issued after a meeting of the Future Council’s Technical Committee in Garowe, members…

Israel urges Supreme Court to keep Gaza media ban, citing security risks Israeli authorities have asked the country’s Supreme Court to keep a ban on independent international media access to Gaza in place, arguing that unescorted reporting would pose unacceptable security risks, according to a government submission filed by the public prosecutor and obtained by AFP. The prohibition has stood since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023. In that time, Israel has permitted only a limited number of foreign reporters to enter…

Escalation in Sudan: Over 114 Dead in Darfur Clashes Sudan's conflict continues to ravage the Darfur region, claiming the lives of over 114 people within a week. Clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified, leading to devastating consequences for civilians. Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 2023. The RSF recently took control of the army's last stronghold in Darfur. The latest attacks were marked by drone strikes and regaining territory.…

On Sunday, January 4, a tragic incident unfolded in the Jarama Wetland, where heavy rainfall forced local cultivators to seek refuge in a nearby house at Mbuye Harbour. The downpour, which began around 5:30 PM, unexpectedly escalated, leading to life-threatening conditions for the victims, as stated by Prudence Rubingisa, the Governor of Eastern Province. As the rain intensified, the group of cultivators, who were engaged in farming activities at the time, found themselves in a precarious situation. They quickly sought…

Ireland’s prime minister, or Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said his government never accepted “the legitimacy of the Maduro regime” in Venezuela but has sought a peaceful, democratic transition — remarks that came as deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was set to appear in a U.S. court following his weekend capture by U.S. forces. Maduro was detained during a military raid Saturday in Caracas that has plunged the country into uncertainty. U.S. officials have not publicly detailed the legal proceedings ahead, but…