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

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…

Egypt’s football authorities have asked FIFA to block any LGBTQ+ Pride messaging or activities during the national team’s World Cup match against Iran in Seattle on June 26, arguing that such displays would clash with the cultural and religious values of the participating nations. In a letter addressed to FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said it “categorically rejects any activities promoting LGBTQ during the match,” which local organizers have designated as a “Pride Match” to…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, on Tuesday condemned what it called unlawful arrests and forced evictions by federal security forces in the Dab-dhamiiska section of Mogadishu’s Wadajir district, warning the operation reflects a mounting pattern of rights violations tied to government land-reclamation drives across the capital. In a statement, the coalition said it received credible reports that residents were removed from their homes and endured severe hardship during the…

The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said, jolting crude prices and raising the prospect of deeper confrontation with Nicolás Maduro’s government over the OPEC nation’s chief source of revenue. “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 did not identify the vessel or provide details on the interdiction, including the flag it was flying or the precise location.…

MILAN — Liverpool found respite and resolve at the San Siro, edging past Inter Milan in the Champions League without Mohamed Salah and offering embattled manager Arne Slot the most significant win of his tenure to date. Dominik Szoboszlai’s nerveless conversion from the penalty spot and a disciplined clean sheet ended Inter’s 18-match unbeaten home run in Europe and delivered Liverpool’s first away Champions League victory without Salah since 2009. The significance ran deeper than the scoreline. After a fraught 72 hours and…

Israel has given final approval for 764 new homes in three settlements in the occupied West Bank, drawing condemnation from the Palestinian Authority and highlighting the strain on regional diplomacy as humanitarian aid to Gaza lags far behind targets set under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The approvals were announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ultra-nationalist who opposes a Palestinian state. Smotrich said that since late 2022, when he took office, 51,370 housing units have been cleared by the government’s…

NAIROBI, Kenya — As inflation eats into earnings across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, a quiet shift in personal finance is taking hold. Millions are moving a portion of their savings and day-to-day cash flow into stablecoins — dollar-pegged digital currencies such as USDT, USDC and DAI — to blunt the impact of currency depreciation, volatile forex markets and overburdened banking systems. The appeal is straightforward: when local prices jump and exchange rates swing overnight, keeping value in a digital asset…

Somalia launches nationwide census of Quranic schools amid concern over conditions MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has begun a nationwide census of Quranic schools, responding to rising complaints that many centers operate in places and conditions considered unsuitable for children’s learning. Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali said the assessment is designed to establish a clear picture of Quranic schools across the country so the government can plan,…

Darwin, Australia — A Northern Territory politician says his dog unwittingly invited a bull and a horse into the family living room, a barnyard romp captured in pet-cam video that he later posted to social media. Andrew Mackay, an MLA in Australia’s Northern Territory, said the mischief began minutes after he and his fiancée left for dinner. Reviewing the live feed from his pet camera, he noticed “a cow’s head moving into the frame,” prompting the couple to race home. The video, shared by Mackay, shows his two dogs slipping…