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

Ebola Outbreak in Congo: Struggle Against Misinformation In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the emergence of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has taken many by surprise after it spread quietly for weeks. When officials announced the outbreak on May 15, hundreds of possible cases were already identified, yet some residents regarded the warnings as a mere “Western conspiracy.” As of Wednesday, 62 fatalities were recorded among 363 confirmed infections. The situation is further complicated by public skepticism,…

In the heart of her garden in Bunia, the capital of the Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, traditional healer Mariam Kabika diligently searches for plants she believes may hold the key to combating the Ebola virus. “Eucalyptus leaves, avocado leaves, mango leaves, and papaya leaves,” Kabika lists as she collects these natural ingredients amid the latest outbreak centered in this mineral-rich but conflict-ridden region. This outbreak, the 17th faced by the DRC, was declared on May 15, impacting 359…

Vladimir Putin has poured cold water on Volodymyr Zelensky's push for a personal meeting, saying there is "no point" in a face-to-face summit until negotiators first put a peace deal on the table. Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg, Putin dismissed the idea of an immediate encounter with the Ukrainian president, one day after Zelensky issued an open later urging such talks. "I see no point in meeting. It only makes sense for the Ukrainian side to stop the advance of our armed forces. That's it.…

A seven-month-old Palestinian boy was killed and his parents wounded after Israeli forces opened fire in the southern occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The ministry identified the infant as Sam Fahd Abou Haikal and said he was killed while his mother and father were injured "after the occupation forces opened fire on them on Friday evening" south of Hebron. The Israeli military said troops fired after "soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them", but added that a preliminary inquiry…

Tensions in the Gulf sharpened again as the United States military said it struck radar installations along Iran's southern coastline, the latest confrontation to cast fresh doubt on a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East war. In a statement, US Central Command said its forces first brought down four Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, then moved against Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in the city of Goruk and on Qeshm Island. "The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional…

MOGADISHU – Somalia’s government said on Friday that security forces had re-established control in two districts of the capital following a day of gunfire between state troops and militias aligned with opposition politicians, clashes that sent some residents fleeing. The unrest erupted this week as tensions rose over planned demonstrations against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to stay in office after his term expired last month. Those protests never materialized. In March, parliament approved constitutional…

Andy Burnham has opened the door to a fresh Labour leadership battle, saying he would take on Prime Minister Keir Starmer if he secures victory in the Makerfield bye-election later this month. The Greater Manchester mayor said Labour, despite being in government, requires a fundamental reset as it struggles in the opinion polls. Burnham made the remarks during a BBC debate alongside other candidates contesting the parliamentary seat in northern England. Starmer, whose approval ratings rank among the weakest for a British…

By Hussein Mohamed and Matthew Mpoke BiggHussein Mohamed reported from Mogadishu, Somalia, and Matthew Mpoke Bigg from Nairobi, Kenya.Friday June 5, 2026 Smoke drifted above Mogadishu on Thursday as heavy fighting engulfed parts of the Somali capital, where residents said the violence was the most intense in years. The U.S. Embassy called the clashes reckless and appealed for calm. Credit...Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Gunfire and explosions shook Somalia’s capital on Thursday, with residents describing the clashes as…

A deadly New Year’s fire that tore through a Swiss ski-resort bar and left 41 people dead is back at the center of the investigation, with the venue’s owners set to face another round of questioning. French owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti were due to be cross-examined by public prosecutors and lawyers representing civil parties over the blaze that swept through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana in the early hours of 1 January. The disaster claimed 41 lives, most of them teenagers, and left 115 others injured. "The…

Friday June 5, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — In a move that could ease rising political friction in Somalia’s capital, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire on Friday left the temporary homes they had taken up in two Mogadishu neighborhoods, according to sources familiar with the situation. Sharif had recently relocated to Mirinaayo in Abdiaziz district, while Khaire had been staying in the Bermudo area. Opposition figures said the relocations were tied to efforts to mobilize supporters…