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

ISTANBUL — Somalia and Türkiye moved to deepen their energy partnership with high-level talks in Istanbul on Monday, as the countries reviewed ongoing hydrocarbon exploration and mapped operational plans ahead of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s upcoming visit to Türkiye. Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed met with Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar to assess the status of joint exploration work in Somalia’s onshore and offshore basins and…

Trump warns Iran of fresh strikes, says Hamas faces ‘hell to pay’ if it fails to disarm after meeting Netanyahu U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential new military strikes and said Hamas would have “hell to pay” if it fails to disarm in Gaza, escalating rhetoric after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. Speaking alongside Netanyahu at a news conference, Trump threatened to “eradicate” any effort by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear program or ballistic missile arsenal following what…

AXADLE, Somalia — Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition struck the port of Mukalla in southeastern Yemen after alleging that weapons unloaded there were bound for the United Arab Emirates–backed Southern Transitional Council, according to officials and international media reports. The coalition had urged civilians to evacuate areas around the port ahead of the strikes, warning the facility could become a new flashpoint in Yemen’s widening conflict. Saudi officials have accused the STC of actions that undermine Yemen’s…

South Africa warned that Israel’s move to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state poses a “direct threat” to peace in the Horn of Africa, calling the decision a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a statement Monday, South Africa’s Foreign Ministry said Israel’s recognition undermines continental norms designed to prevent state fragmentation. The ministry said it distinguishes “unequivocally” between decolonization and secession, adding: “The former restores sovereignty;…

Thirteen people were killed and 98 injured when a passenger train carrying about 250 people partially derailed in southern Mexico’s Oaxaca state, authorities said. The Mexican navy, which operates the rail line, said the locomotive left the tracks during a trip through the region. The navy initially reported 20 injured but later updated the toll to 98 injured and 13 dead. President Claudia Sheinbaum said she directed the secretary of the navy and other senior officials to travel to the scene and assist families affected by…

International Opposition to Israeli Recognition of North Western State of Somalia China and several other countries have voiced strong objections to Israel's recent recognition of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state. This diplomatic move has garnered widespread condemnation and calls for adherence to Somalia’s territorial integrity. China, Sweden, and the EU reiterate support for Somalia’s sovereignty. Rejection of Israeli recognition comes from numerous countries, including Türkiye. North…

The Cookers cancel New Year’s Eve shows at renamed Trump Kennedy Center as backlash grows WASHINGTON — The veteran jazz ensemble the Cookers has canceled its New Year’s Eve performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., becoming the latest group to pull out after the arts institution was renamed to include President Donald Trump’s name. “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice,” the band said in a statement announcing its…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Consultative Council on Monday condemned Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, calling the move an illegal affront to Somalia’s sovereignty and a threat to security across the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the wider Middle East. In a communiqué issued after a series of meetings in Mogadishu, the council described Israel’s step as a violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity and international law, citing the Provisional Constitution as well as the charters of the United…

SINGAPORE — Scammers convicted in Singapore now face mandatory caning of up to 24 strokes in the most serious cases, as a new law authorizing the punishment came into effect amid record financial losses linked to fraud and online syndicates. The Ministry of Home Affairs framed the move as a hard reset in the city-state’s fight against a wave of cyber-enabled crime that has swept Southeast Asia, saying “fighting scams is a top national priority.” Authorities have cast the penalties as aimed squarely at organized networks and…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Consultative Council on Monday condemned Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia, calling the decision an illegal act that threatens security across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the wider Middle East. In a communiqué issued by the Office of the Prime Minister after meetings in Mogadishu, the council said the move violates Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reaffirmed what it called a non-negotiable national stance on unity rooted in the…