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

Facing renewed scrutiny over its past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, the Gates Foundation said it launched an external review earlier this year into how the organisation engaged with the late financier and convicted sex offender. The foundation has remained under pressure because of Chairman Bill Gates’ ties to Epstein. That pressure intensified in January, when emails released by the US Justice Department showed exchanges between Epstein and Gates Foundation staff. "Early this year, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is quietly preparing to push elections ahead in three allied regional states before opening broader talks on Somalia’s federal vote, according to sources close to his political circle. During a private meeting earlier this week with three of his main political allies, the president reportedly laid out a plan to first lock in leadership in Galmudug, Hirshabeelle, and Southwest State. Sources said it was the second time in recent weeks that Mohamud has advanced the same…

By Caolán MageeWednesday April 22, 2026 Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, off the UAE coast Iran has seized two foreign commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and taken them to its coastline, sharpening tensions in a region already on edge just hours after United States President Donald Trump said he would prolong a ceasefire with Tehran. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the ships had breached maritime rules and entered the vital passage without coordination, according to Iranian…

Lufthansa is trimming 20,000 short-haul flights from its schedule through October as the carrier moves to blunt the impact of soaring jet fuel costs. The airline said the reduction amounts to less than 1% of total capacity across the group. According to Lufthansa, the cuts will save roughly 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, whose price has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict. The company said the revised timetable is aimed at reducing the number of loss-making short-haul services across the Lufthansa Group…

A new exhibition of African women artists opened in Addis Ababa this week, putting the winners and finalists of the African Women in Art Award (AWAA) 2025 on public display ahead of the World Public Summit Africa. The Golla Gallery in Ethiopia’s capital hosted the show, a collaboration between the World Peoples Assembly, the "Her Voice Foundation", and the I-A Gallery of Contemporary African Art. Works by artists from six countries — Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia — are gathered for the presentation.…

FRANKFURT — Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, said it has scrapped about 20,000 scheduled flights for the summer after a sharp rise in jet fuel costs driven by worsening tensions linked to Iran.  The carrier said the cuts are intended to contain expenses, adding that fuel prices have climbed steeply as the regional security outlook has deteriorated. The cancellations are expected to reduce consumption by roughly 40,000 tonnes of fuel, with most of the affected services concentrated on short-haul European routes. The…

By David ShepardsonWednesday April 22, 2026 Luggage and travelers' belongings are loaded before the departure of an Ethiopian Airlines plane at N'Djamena International Airport in the capital city of N'Djamena, Chad, December 2, 2025.... Purchase Licensing Rights Ethiopian Airlines moved to widen its long-haul reach on Monday, announcing that it will purchase six more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as Africa’s biggest airline pushes deeper into service across Africa and on routes to the U.S., Europe and Asia. In an interview with…

Live Second French peacekeeper killed in Lebanon attack Middle East Stay with us for live coverage from the Middle East after US President Donald Trump said he would extend the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to make room for additional peace talks.

The Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWEC) has raised serious concerns over the deliberate obstruction of its mission by high-ranking government officials. This body, dedicated to creating a judicial framework aimed at holding civil war perpetrators accountable, claims that its efforts are being stifled at a critical juncture. OWEC Executive Director Jallah A. Barbu highlighted the nature of the interference, describing it as a phenomenon surpassing mere bureaucratic hurdles. "What we are…

ABU DHABI — Kenyan President William Ruto and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, using the high-level talks to reinforce bilateral ties and confront shared concerns over regional security, including a forceful condemnation of recent attacks on Emirati infrastructure. The two leaders centered their discussions on widening cooperation through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with attention on investment, renewable energy, technology, and infrastructure. Both…