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

Nicholas Zakaria, a pioneering figure in Zimbabwe’s sungura music and a founding member of the Khiama Boys, has died. He was 66. Zakaria — widely known by his stage name "Madzibaba" — was celebrated for his deft guitar work and a voice that helped shape the rhythmic, guitar-driven sound that defines sungura. His family said he was a "talented musician and beloved member of our community" who left an indelible mark on Zimbabwean music. As one of the early members of the Khiama Boys, Zakaria performed with and influenced a…

AFGOYE, Somalia — At least 12 al-Shabaab militants were killed in an overnight operation near Afgoye, a key supply corridor outside the capital, the Somali government said, underscoring stepped-up pressure on the insurgent group across multiple fronts. Security officials said the operation unfolded in the vicinity of Jambalul, close to Afgoye, where forces targeted bunkers the militants were preparing to use. The raid escalated into a fierce firefight. Militants responded with mortar fire that caused civilian casualties,…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government has rejected allegations that weapons entering the country are being routed onward to armed actors in the region, insisting there is no evidence that Somali territory is used to funnel arms to Yemen’s Houthi movement. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar, known as Ali Balcad, told Al Jazeera Net in an interview published Wednesday that Mogadishu is intensifying efforts to disrupt illicit arms flows across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea corridor and to prevent…

Resurgence of Female Genital Mutilation in Liberia Raises Alarm Liberia is witnessing a troubling resurgence of female genital mutilation (FGM). Recent footage has unveiled that 502 girls and young women were initiated during a combined Sande ceremony across Lofa, Maryland, and Sinoe counties. This alarming trend affects half of Liberia's rural women aged 15 to 49, according to data from UN Women. Health advocates are raising urgent concerns that this latest mass initiation indicates a deteriorating situation amidst…

U.S. seizes oil tanker off Venezuela, Trump says, sending oil prices higher The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said, a move that pushed crude prices higher and risks deepening tensions between Washington and Caracas over sanctions and energy flows. “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, large tanker, very large, largest one ever, actually, and other things are happening,” Trump said. He offered no details on the ship’s identity or where the…

Somalia establishes Independent National Human Rights Commission as president signs law MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday signed into law the establishment of Somalia’s Independent National Human Rights Commission, finalizing a measure approved by both houses of the Federal Parliament and hailed by officials as a milestone for rights protection and institutional reform. The presidency framed the move as a clear signal of Somalia’s intent to safeguard the rights and dignity of its citizens.…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said Wednesday it killed at least 12 al-Shabaab militants, including a senior figure, during a raid in the Jambaluul area of Afgooye district in the country’s Lower Shabelle region. NISA says the operation struck militant hideouts and bomb-making sites in Jambaluul. The agency reports a senior al-Shabaab leader was among the dead, but did not name the individual. Mortar fire into civilian areas injured civilians and two NISA soldiers,…

The European Union has announced €250,000 (about Sh40 million) in humanitarian aid to help Kenyan communities facing a worsening convergence of drought, floods, food insecurity and disease outbreaks. The funding will be routed through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support operations by the Kenya Red Cross Society. In a statement issued Tuesday, the EU said the allocation responds to Kenya’s “rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation,…

Crisis Escalates as M23 Rebels Advance in Eastern Congo The city of Uvira in eastern Congo is witnessing unprecedented turmoil as M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwandan forces, reach its outskirts. This escalation poses significant threats to regional stability. M23 rebels launched an attack on Uvira, prompting Burundi to close its border. The latest advance follows last year's seizures of Goma and Bukavu. An agreement between Congo and Rwanda, mediated by the U.S., is severely threatened. Strategic…

Irish travelers and millions of other visitors to the United States could be required to disclose five years of social media history before entering the country under a Trump administration proposal published in the U.S. Federal Register. The plan would apply to citizens of 42 countries — including Ireland, Britain, France, Australia and Japan — who can currently travel to the U.S. without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. Those visitors must obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, and provide…