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

Iran warns of 'firm response' to military transit through Strait of Hormuz TEHRAN - Iran said any military vessel attempting to move through the Strait of Hormuz would meet a "firm and decisive response," in a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. The IRGC said it exercises "full and intelligent control" over the strategic waterway, adding that passage is allowed only for non-military ships and only under defined regulations. It also rejected reports that US vessels had crossed the strait,…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Somalia’s president, Hassan Mohamud, has hailed referee Omar Artan after the 34-year-old became the first Somalian selected to officiate at a World Cup finals. FIFA named Artan among 52 referees chosen for the June-July tournament, which will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Mohamud said the appointment had lifted Somalia’s standing on the world stage. "I commend the effort, professionalism, and integrity shown by referee Omar, as he has become a symbol of inspiration for the new…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Pakistan has made its first public military gesture under a newly signed defence pact with Saudi Arabia, sending fighter jets to the kingdom while it simultaneously helps broker ceasefire talks meant to halt weeks of regional conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. The aircraft, a mix of fighter and support jets, arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province on Saturday, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defence. The deployment took place under a collective defence agreement…

A marathon round of high-stakes diplomacy in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, as US Vice President JD Vance said the American negotiating team was leaving Pakistan after 21 hours of talks without securing a deal with Iran. Vance blamed the impasse on what he described as gaps in the negotiations, saying Tehran had declined to accept US conditions, including a commitment not to build nuclear weapons. "The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and Libya have moved to bring home roughly 400 Somali nationals held in Libyan prisons after senior officials met in Tripoli over the weekend, according to authorities. The deal emerged from a consultative session between Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, and Libya’s acting Foreign Minister, Taher Al-Baour. Their discussions centered on deepening diplomatic relations while widening cooperation on migration and security.…

Veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes is recovering in hospital after suffering a stroke, GB News has confirmed. "Eamonn was taken ill last week and it was later confirmed he had suffered a stroke," a GB News spokesperson said. "He is currently responding well to treatment. "Eamonn has asked for privacy as he focuses on getting better. The 66-year-old presenter, who was born in Belfast, fronts GB News Breakfast alongside co-host Ellie Costello. GB News said Alex Armstrong will present the programme this week while Holmes…

Coachella roared to life in the California desert on Friday, drawing thousands of festivalgoers as pop star Sabrina Carpenter stepped into the headliner spotlight for one of the year’s most closely watched music events. The packed bill - also featuring headliners Justin Bieber and Colombia's Karol G - takes over Indio across two consecutive weekends, launching the US music festival season for 2026 in blockbuster fashion. Coachella 2026 - A stacked roster of artists is set to take the stage in Indio over two straight…

Rory McIlroy surged into uncharted territory at Augusta on Friday, turning a commanding position into a record-setting one and insisting he will stay locked on his own game as he chases back-to-back Masters titles. A dazzling 65, fueled by six birdies across his final seven holes, lifted the defending champion to 12 under par and gave him a six-shot lead at the halfway stage — the largest 36-hole advantage in Masters history. McIlroy still carries the memory, however faint now, of surrendering a four-shot lead on the final…

With oil markets rattled and the Strait of Hormuz still at the center of the crisis, US and Iranian negotiators met in Pakistan for their most senior talks in half a century, seeking a way to end a war that has already redrawn the region’s fault lines. At the same time, US President Donald Trump said American forces had sunk Tehran's mine-layers and begun reopening the strategic waterway. "We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favour to Countries all over the World," Mr Trump posted, saying…

MOGADISHU, Nov 17 — Turkey said on Saturday that its offshore drilling campaign off Somalia could begin yielding oil within six to nine months, after Ankara launched its first deep-sea energy project beyond its own waters. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar called the start of drilling a “historic” moment in Turkey-Somalia ties, saying it opens a new chapter in efforts to tap Somalia’s offshore energy resources. At a ceremony in Mogadishu on Friday to receive the Çağrı Bey ship, Bayraktar said the…