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

Somali defense minister rejects latest Trump insults MOGADISHU — Somalia’s defense minister pushed back after former U.S. President Donald Trump again disparaged people from the East African nation, saying Somalis would not accept being demeaned. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday that was billed as a showcase of his economic record, Trump denounced migration from what he called “Third World” countries and singled out Somalia. “We always take people from Somalia, places that are a disaster, right?” he said, adding:…

US to bring seized tanker to American port, vows to take its oil; Venezuela decries ‘piracy’ as Russia signals support The United States will bring an oil tanker seized off Venezuela to a US port and intends to confiscate the crude aboard, the White House said Thursday, signaling Washington could target additional sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters the operation, carried out by the US military a day earlier, is part of a broader effort to disrupt illicit energy flows…

Reddit has filed a legal challenge to Australia’s sweeping new social media ban on under-16s, moving just days after the landmark laws took effect and set the stage for fines against noncompliant tech platforms. The US-based discussion site is contesting the general validity of the legislation and argues it should not be included on the government’s list of services barred to users under 16, according to court filings. Australia this week became the first country to prohibit under-age access to a raft of popular platforms —…

Somalia says intelligence raid strikes al-Shabab leadership in Jilib; separate operation reported to kill 13 near Afgooye MOGADISHU — Somalia’s intelligence service said Thursday its forces carried out an overnight operation in Middle Juba targeting senior al-Shabab commanders inside the militant group’s longtime stronghold of Jilib. The National Intelligence and Security Agency, known as NISA, said the mission zeroed in on leadership elements within al-Shabab but did not disclose casualties or the extent of damage.…

The United States will soon begin strikes to interdict narcotics shipments moving overland from Venezuela to the U.S., President Donald Trump said at the White House, escalating a fast-moving confrontation that already includes the seizure of a Venezuela-linked oil tanker by American forces. The announcement comes as the White House confirmed the seized tanker will be brought to a U.S. port and that Washington intends to confiscate its cargo. “The vessel will go to a U.S. port and the United States does intend to seize the…

Somali troops kill would-be suicide bomber at Mogadishu’s General Dhagabadan base, averting mass-casualty attack MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali army guards shot and killed a suicide bomber who attempted to enter the General Dhagabadan military camp late Wednesday, thwarting what officials said could have been a large-scale attack on one of the country’s most important training bases. The Somali National Army said the attacker approached the camp’s main gate in Mogadishu wearing an explosive vest and tried to blend into a line…

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament after just three months in office, a royal decree published in the Royal Gazette showed, clearing the way for a general election amid renewed violence on the Cambodia border. “The House of Representatives is dissolved to hold a new general election for members of the House,” the decree said. The move came earlier than expected. Anutin had been widely anticipated to wait until after Christmas before sending voters back to the polls. In a report cited by the…

Thursday December 11, 2025 MOGADISHU — The Somalia Football Federation will restart the Federal Member States and Benadir Regional football tournament in January 2026 after a two-year break, reinstating one of the country’s most visible platforms for regional competition and talent identification. SFF President Ali Abdi Mohamed Shiinno said the draw is set for Dec. 22, with matches beginning Jan. 24 under a revised national calendar. The federation will run the event directly, while the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s presidential envoy for countering extremist ideology on Thursday rejected reports that the federal government is holding secret negotiations with al-Shabab, calling the claims false and meant to mislead the public. Aweys Mohamed Omar said the government has not entered discussions with the militant group and has no plans to do so. The rumors, which circulated widely on social media and in several local outlets, suggested informal contacts were underway. Omar said the reports were designed to erode…

U.S. seizes Venezuelan oil tanker in helicopter raid, to bring ship to American port as tensions spike with Maduro U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela in a helicopter-borne operation and will bring the vessel to a U.S. port to confiscate its cargo, the White House said, escalating a fast-moving standoff with President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The dramatic interdiction—described by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as aimed at the “regime” in Caracas—was captured in video released by U.S.…