Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Somalia says WFP food aid fully returned after Mogadishu port warehouse dispute; U.S. pauses some assistance MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government said it has returned in full all World Food Programme supplies removed from a warehouse at the Port of Mogadishu, taking responsibility for the incident and pledging tighter coordination with aid partners after the United States announced a pause on certain assistance. In a statement issued late Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government “takes full…

West Bandung, Indonesia — The death toll from a massive landslide in West Java rose to 17 as rescuers used heavy equipment and hand tools to search for dozens still missing days after heavy rain unleashed a torrent of mud through the village of Pasirlangu. The flow of soil and debris surged across the community at the foot of Mount Burangrang early Saturday, burying homes and forcing hurried evacuations. Authorities warned that saturated, unstable slopes and persistent rainfall were complicating operations and raising the…

Israel’s military said it has retrieved the remains of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza, a development officials said fulfills a key condition in the initial phase of a U.S.-brokered plan to end the Gaza war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had “brought them all back,” after months of operations and negotiations to secure the release or recovery of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 assault. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the return of the final Israeli hostage…

Understanding the Sexual Violence Crisis in Sudan The conflict in Sudan has erupted into widespread abuse, particularly against women, characterized by systematic sexual violence and impunity. Women are disproportionately affected, facing horrendous crimes amidst the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict began in April 2023, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing millions. Sulaima Ishaq al-Khalifa reports systematic sexual violence used as a weapon of war.…

Sudan's Ongoing Conflict: Army Chief Rejects Political Settlements with RSF As Sudan’s conflict stretches into a third year, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has vowed that peace will not come until the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are defeated. Burhan rejects any political resolution involving the RSF, emphasizing the need for complete disarmament. The conflict between Sudan's army and RSF has resulted in widespread devastation. Burhan insists that public sentiment aligns with the army's stance…

Premier League: Cunha’s late stunner lifts Manchester United over Arsenal 3-2, jolting title race Matheus Cunha smashed the Premier League title race wide open with an 87th-minute winner as Manchester United stunned Arsenal 3-2 on Sunday, a statement victory that capped Michael Carrick’s perfect start and tightened pressure at the top. The Brazil forward curled a long-range strike beyond David Raya at the Emirates Stadium to decide a thriller that leaves Arsenal just four points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa, with…

A U.S.-based rights group says it has confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people amid a wave of anti-government protests in Iran, as Tehran warned Washington against intervening and a nationwide internet blackout obscured the true toll. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported it had verified 5,848 deaths since demonstrations that began over economic grievances in late December swelled into mass protests against the Islamic Republic, with the largest crowds on Jan. 8. HRANA said the confirmed dead include 209…

Uganda to withdraw troops from Somalia after 19 years, reshaping AU mission and security calculus Monday January 26, 2026 MOGADISHU — Uganda has announced plans to pull its troops out of Somalia after nearly two decades of continuous peacekeeping, a move that could alter the balance of security in a country still battling Al-Shabab and test the resilience of the African Union mission. In a brief statement posted on X on Sunday, Uganda’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said the country’s…

EU opens DSA probe into X’s Grok over sexual deepfakes, potential child abuse images The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Grok, the artificial intelligence tool embedded in X, over its role in the spread of sexually explicit images, including potential child sexual abuse material. The action, taken under the EU’s Digital Services Act, follows public outcry over sexually manipulated images circulating on the platform. “Sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of…

Southern African Development Community emergency response teams have arrived in Mozambique after heavy rains caused deadly floods that have submerged entire villages and left large areas inaccessible, officials said. The teams were deployed following the Mozambican government's Red Alert declaration on Jan. 16, and are concentrating on the worst-hit districts of Gaza Province, where floodwaters have reached levels that local authorities say are unprecedented. Roads, public facilities and other critical infrastructure have…