Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Europe’s leaders condemned U.S. President Donald Trump after he questioned the value of NATO allies and floated military options over Greenland, a one-two punch that further rattled the transatlantic alliance and revived legal and sovereignty concerns from Brussels to Copenhagen. In an interview Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, Trump downplayed allied sacrifices in Afghanistan and cast doubt on whether NATO partners would aid Washington if needed. “We’ve never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them,” he told…

Slovakia will challenge the European Union’s decision to end imports of Russian natural gas by 2027, Prime Minister Robert Fico said, aligning Bratislava with neighboring Hungary’s plan to sue over the measure. The legal move deepens a rift inside the bloc over how quickly to sever energy ties with Moscow more than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Both Slovakia and Hungary are landlocked central European countries that have maintained close links to the Kremlin and remain heavily reliant on Russian…

Spain’s left-wing government has approved a decree to grant legal status to an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants, a sweeping regularisation that underscores Madrid’s divergence from tougher migration policies elsewhere in Europe. Migration Minister Elma Saiz said those who qualify will be able to work “in any sector, in any part of the country,” framing the plan as both an economic necessity and a rights-based reform. “We are talking about estimations, probably more or less the figures may be around half a million…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Jessica Buchanan remembers the voice before she saw the faces. After 93 days as a hostage in Somalia, wrapped in a blanket and bracing for the worst, she felt a stranger’s hands at her shoulders and heard a young American say her name: “Jessica, it’s okay. You are safe now.” The American aid worker’s account of abduction and rescue traces a grim arc through one of the world’s most dangerous kidnapping economies — from her capture on Oct. 25, 2011, near Galkacyo, to a pre-dawn U.S. Navy SEAL raid on Jan.…

Tehran, Iran — Iranian authorities warned of severe consequences if the United States launches strikes, unveiling a defiant billboard in central Tehran as security forces announced fresh arrests tied to deadly protests and a near-total internet blackout stretched into a third week. Tehran showcased a billboard depicting a wrecked U.S. aircraft carrier and the message, “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.” Iran vowed a “comprehensive and regret-inducing response” to any attack and warned of wider insecurity…

Xi backs UN-centered order in meeting with Finland’s Orpo as Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ raises questions BEIJING — President Xi Jinping said China seeks to uphold a United Nations–based world order during talks with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Beijing, a pointed message as Washington courts allies for a new “Board of Peace” initiative announced by U.S. President Donald Trump this month. “China is willing to work with Finland to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core,” Xi told Orpo…

France’s lower house has approved a bill that would ban social media use by children under 15, a measure championed by President Emmanuel Macron to curb excessive screen time and protect mental health. Lawmakers in the National Assembly passed the text 130–21 after a lengthy session, sending it to the Senate for further scrutiny before it can become law. Macron hailed the vote as a “major step” to protect children and teenagers, reiterating his concern that social platforms can manipulate young users. “The emotions of our…

Khaby Lame Signs Groundbreaking $975 Million Deal in Creator Economy The world's most-followed TikToker, Senegalese-born Khaby Lame, has finalized an impressive all-stock deal valued between $900 million and $975 million. This significant agreement marks one of the largest monetization transactions within the rapidly evolving creator economy. The deal involves the partial sale of Lame's operating company, Step Distinctive Limited, where he held a 49% stake. Under the agreement, the buyer, Rich Sparkle, secures exclusive…

EU hails Somali opposition joining national dialogue as positive step MOGADISHU, Somalia — The European Union’s envoy to Somalia has welcomed the decision by the country’s main opposition alliance to join a government-led consultation, calling it a constructive step toward national stability. The Somali Future Council — a coalition of regional leaders and former officials — confirmed it will attend the consultations scheduled for Feb. 1, 2026, in Mogadishu. The invitation was extended by the Federal Government of Somalia. EU…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali government forces, backed by international partners, have killed at least 150 Al-Shabab militants in more than two weeks of operations in the Middle Shabelle region, Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said Tuesday. Fiqi said the campaign concentrated on the Jabad Godane area and surrounding settlements, which he described as a strategic militant hub. He said the dead included six senior commanders of the al-Qaida-linked group. “By the grace of God and the bravery of the National Army, and with…