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

Saturday June 13, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has described Israel’s reported recognition of North Western State of Somalia in December 2025 as “one of the darkest days in the history of Somalia,” accusing Tel Aviv of taking advantage of the decades-old standoff between Mogadishu and Hargeisa. In an interview with Dawan TV last week, Mohamud said Somalia had only two realistic ways to respond to the North Western State of Somalia issue: force or dialogue. “We weighed the two options, and in…

Thailand is mourning the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, the king's eldest daughter, who has died at 47, the royal palace said, more than three years after she was first hospitalised following a sudden illness. The princess had been in hospital since December 2022, when she suddenly lost consciousness because of a heart condition while visiting Nakhon Ratchasima in the country's northeast. Bajrakitiyabha was airlifted by helicopter to Bangkok, where doctors began treating her. She died yesterday evening after her…

A US strike has killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores — better known as Niño Guerrero — the alleged head of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, President Donald Trump said, announcing the operation in stark terms. "At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Nino Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren de Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organisations on the planet," Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social.. "This action was…

A possible end to the US-Iran war appeared within reach, as both governments signaled they were nearing an agreement, with a senior US administration official saying the two sides had settled on a text and Washington expects an initial deal to be signed within days. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said revisions to the draft were still possible, but argued the tentative accord already showed Iran had come out of the conflict in a stronger position. "Iran is the winner of the war with the US," he said on state…

A fatal shooting outside a Barcelona police station on one of the city’s busiest streets has triggered an active investigation, according to several local media reports. The attack took place at about 10am local time on Wednesday on Carrer de Balmes, which was 9am Irish time. The station at the centre of the investigation handles passports and other identity documents. Catalan news outlet Diari de Catalunya said police identified the victim as a middle-aged man. A short distance from the scene, authorities later found what…

South Africa’s World Cup journey began under the bright lights of the Estadio Azteca with an early setback, as Bafana Bafana slipped to a 2-0 defeat against tournament co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City. The tone was set almost immediately: within the opening nine minutes, Mexican striker Julián Quiñones punished a defensive error, pouncing on a blunder to drive home the first goal. Mexico continued to look the more dangerous side, led by a lively Raúl Jiménez who repeatedly tested South Africa’s back line and emerged as the…

A long-awaited link between the US and Canada has hit an unexpected pause: the two countries have agreed to delay the opening of the new $4.7 billion bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, just days before it was due to welcome traffic, after US President Donald Trump earlier this year threatened to block the crossing. Invitations reviewed by Reuters showed a formal ribbon-cutting for the Gordie Howe International Bridge had been scheduled for today. "Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the…

Friday June 12, 2026 Denied entry to the United States, FIFA World Cup referee Omar Artan returned to Somalia to a hero’s welcome, underscoring how quickly a sports setback can turn into a moment of national pride. In the meantime, B.C. Premier David Eby and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow have both said they would like to see Artan officiate matches in Canada.

A draft memorandum aimed at stopping the Gulf war appears to hand Tehran many of the gains it has long sought, according to Western, Pakistani and Iranian sources — a prospect that quickly drew fire from US President Donald Trump, who dismissed the reports as wrong. Reuters reviewed multiple versions and descriptions of the ⁠memorandum from Western officials, Pakistani mediators and senior Iranian sources. Iranian media also carried accounts of the proposal. All of the sources cautioned that the text remains unfinished. A…

NAIROBI – Kenyan security forces repelled a suspected Al-Shabaab assault on a military base in Mandera County near the Somalia border, officials said on Thursday, after armed men opened fire on the camp during the night. Security officials said the attack took place on Wednesday evening when a group believed to number about 10 militants targeted a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in Lafey district. The assailants are said to have fired from roughly 600 metres away from the military position. Troops inside the base reacted…