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

Somalia Cabinet reviews security, lauds Mogadishu vote, approves Uganda, Saudi pacts MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Council of Ministers held an extraordinary meeting Monday to review the national security situation, assess recent operations against extremist groups and mark the completion of one-person, one-vote local council elections in the Banadir region, government officials said. Chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and attended by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the session signaled the political weight the…

Greenland warns ‘that’s enough’ as Trump renews push to bring Arctic territory into U.S. Greenland and Denmark condemned fresh calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for the autonomous Arctic territory to become part of the United States, as European leaders lined up to reject any prospect of annexation and insisted Greenland’s future rests solely with Copenhagen and Nuuk. Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump reiterated his goal. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is…

Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty in New York after U.S. raid; judge orders ex-Venezuelan leader held without bail Toppled Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, days after he was taken into U.S. custody during a predawn raid in Caracas that officials said involved air and naval support. Maduro, 63, spoke softly through a Spanish interpreter but struck a defiant tone. “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” he told the judge. He said he is the…

Manchester City’s grip on the Premier League title race loosened on Sunday as a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad left Pep Guardiola’s side six points behind leaders Arsenal. Across the league, late goals defined the day: Liverpool and Fulham traded stoppage-time strikes in a 2-2 thriller, while Tottenham Hotspur were pegged back at home by Sunderland. Brentford surged with a statement win at Everton, and Newcastle United finished strong to see off Crystal Palace. Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea Fulham 2-2 Liverpool Leeds…

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…