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

The bombing of an Iranian elementary school drew “visceral horror,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said today, as he pressed Washington to finish its investigation and demanded justice for “the terrible harm done”. Turk spoke at the opening of an urgent debate in the UN Human Rights Council called to address the 28 February attack on a school in Minab, describing the strike as an attack on children that none of the council’s members should be willing to justify. “The bombing evoked a…

Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, a pivotal figure convicted for his involvement in the 2009 stadium massacre in Guinea, has died in custody following a medical emergency. Diakité, who was serving a 10-year sentence for his actions during the violent episode in Conakry—where over 150 lives were lost and at least 109 women were subjected to rape—was a controversial presence even behind bars. He established a political party and made attempts to vie for the presidency. The prison administration confirmed that Diakité succumbed at the…

Trump Mulls Sending Up to 10,000 More U.S. Ground Troops to the Middle East WASHINGTON — Confronting mounting regional tensions, Donald Trump is weighing a plan to send as many as 10,000 additional U.S. ground troops to the Middle East, on top of more than 6,000 personnel already en route, according to officials familiar with the deliberations. The prospective deployment is intended to reinforce the American military…

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s political fallout over constitutional changes deepened this week after Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre formally fired two state ministers who had already announced they were quitting in protest earlier this month. In a statement released Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said the dismissals were carried out under Articles 120 and 117 of the Provisional Constitution, as well as the Council of Ministers’ internal regulations. The office said the move was intended to…

Sarah Ferguson’s Freedom of the City of York has been revoked after councillors voted unanimously to remove the honour, citing her links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. York City Council voted to strip the former duchess of the title at a session held at the Guildhall in York. The decision followed new disclosures concerning Ferguson’s relationship with Epstein, with councillors pointing to additional evidence that has emerged since the release of extensive documents. During the debate, Liberal Democrat councillor…

In a break with longstanding practice, the Treasury Department said US paper currency will soon carry the signature of President Donald Trump, a move scheduled to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary and marking the first time a sitting president's name will appear on dollar bills. Traditionally, signatures appearing on Federal Reserve notes belong to the Treasurer of the United States and the secretary of the Treasury. The decision to place Mr Trump’s name on currency — and earlier efforts to place his likeness on a…

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - With clan unity and local stability high on the agenda, Abdijamal Mohamed Ali was officially inaugurated on Wednesday as the traditional leader of the Abdalla Samatalis sub-clan of the Hawadle community at a Mogadishu ceremony that drew traditional elders, politicians, youth representatives and women leaders. Senior clan elders chose Abdijamal in a consensus meeting, pointing to his long record of service in community mediation and conflict resolution. Those involved in the selection…

France has rejected claims that it shelved an invitation to South Africa for the June G7 leaders' summit under pressure from Washington, saying instead that Kenya was chosen as a guest in advance of President Emmanuel Macron’s planned visit there. Paris previously said the summit at Evian-les-Bains will host the leaders of India, South Korea, Brazil and Kenya as special invitees. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, making his first trip abroad since the Middle East war began, will attend alongside senior ministers from…

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - A fierce clash in southern Somalia left more than 40 al-Shabab militants dead after the group tried to claw back control of a recently captured town, officials said Thursday. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), said in a statement that the fighting erupted in Mubarak, a strategic town in the Lower Shabelle region that joint Somali National Armed Forces and African Union troops seized earlier this month. According to AUSSOM, the militants struck a…

Mexican naval forces have launched a search-and-rescue mission in the Caribbean after two sailboats carrying humanitarian supplies to Cuba failed to reach Havana as planned. The navy said the vessels departed from Isla Mujeres, in the state of Quintana Roo, last week en route to Havana with nine crew members of various nationalities aboard. Officials had expected the boats to arrive between 24 and 25 March, but the navy reported there has been no contact with the crews and no confirmation that the ships reached their…