Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

LAS ANOD, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged North Western State of Somalia’s leaders to return to talks with Mogadishu during a landmark visit Sunday to Las Anod, offering compromise on “everything” except Somalia’s unity, which he declared nonnegotiable. “I am open to dialogue and compromise on everything,” Hassan Sheikh said, “except the unity of the country.” He framed national unity as a red line even as he pledged flexibility on political and administrative questions that have long strained relations with…

Opinion: The January Deadline That Could Reconfigure Somalia’s Future MOGADISHU — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Las Anod this week was more than a symbolic return to a city at the crossroads of North Western State of Somalia and Somalia’s Northeast State. It was a reminder that the country’s cohesion is being tested by simultaneous crises: a looming domestic showdown over the electoral roadmap and a geopolitical shock after Israel recognized North Western State of Somalia as an independent state on Dec. 26,…

Somali forces repel al-Shabab attack in Middle Shabelle after pre-dawn blast, ministry says JOWHAR, Somalia — Somali government forces repelled an al-Shabab attack on military positions in the Jabad Godane area of Middle Shabelle early Sunday after a pre-dawn explosion triggered hours of heavy fighting, the Defense Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said the Somali National Army (SNA) “successfully foiled the assault” and now has full control of the area. Officials said the attack began with an explosion believed to…

EU-Mercosur trade deal to be signed in Paraguay as Lula, von der Leyen hail ‘prosperity’ and multilateralism Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday hailed the European Union–Mercosur trade deal as a pivotal step for prosperity and rules-based cooperation, ahead of a planned signing in Asuncion on Saturday after 25 years of negotiations. Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Lula called the agreement “very good, especially for the democratic world and for…

EU ambassadors will convene an emergency meeting later today after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened escalating tariffs on key European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, jolting transatlantic relations and trade. Cyprus, which holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, called the meeting for 5 p.m. in Brussels (4 p.m. in Dublin), according to EU diplomats. It was not immediately clear what authority Trump would invoke to impose tariffs of up to 25% on European goods. In a post on Truth…

Carrick’s United stun City 2-0 as new era lifts Old Trafford; Arsenal held, Liverpool booed in Premier League shake-up MANCHESTER, England — Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026 — Manchester United’s latest reboot is off to a flying start. In Michael Carrick’s first game as coach, United beat Manchester City 2-0 in the 198th Manchester derby, lifting the gloom at Old Trafford and reshaping the Premier League picture on a febrile Saturday. “It’s a great start,” Carrick said after four whirlwind days in the job. “It was a very special day…

Poland is mailing 17 million copies of a new civil defense “Safety Guide” to every household, a nationwide push to harden preparedness amid mounting concern over hybrid threats, cyberattacks and tensions along the country’s eastern frontier. The 48-page booklet lays out what to do in an air raid, how to stock up for a long-term blackout, where to find the nearest shelter, how to administer first aid, and the steps to take in the event of biological or nuclear threats. It is designed as a practical, at-home reference for…

Puntland State orders defected officers to return weapons as federal alignment deepens in Las Anod Police commander warns of “dangerous” consequences amid rift over assets, loyalty and command GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland State authorities have ordered military officers who have defected to the federal government to immediately hand back weapons, vehicles and bases, warning that failure to comply could trigger serious security repercussions. The directive, delivered by Puntland State Police Commander Gen. Mumin Abdi Shire,…

TikTok will begin rolling out new age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, the company said, as the ByteDance-owned platform faces mounting regulatory pressure to better identify and remove accounts belonging to children under 13. The previously unreported system follows a year-long pilot in Europe and is designed to strengthen enforcement of TikTok’s minimum-age rules without resorting to blanket, intrusive checks. The company said the tool analyses profile information, posted videos and behavioral…

European Union ambassadors will convene for an emergency meeting today after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened escalating tariffs on key European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland. Cyprus, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, called the meeting for late afternoon. EU diplomats said it was set to start at 5 p.m. local time (4 p.m. Irish time). In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that starting Feb. 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland…