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

"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." Oscar Wilde’s line is a reminder that setbacks can sharpen judgment as much as successes do. People test an idea, assess the outcome and, ideally, use what they learned to navigate the next challenge with greater care. For the most part, that has defined how Democrats have responded during the second Trump administration. Until this week, that approach included a notable hesitation to embrace demands to force Mr Trump from office. That caution may have reflected worries…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is on the verge of its first offshore deep-water drilling campaign, with Petroleum and Minerals Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed saying Saturday that the Curad-1 exploratory well will be drilled in Galmudug State, far out at sea between Mareeg and Harardheere and roughly 275 kilometers (171 miles) from land. Shire stressed that the site sits in deep waters well beyond the coast, describing the operation as taking place “very far from land.” “Curad-1 will be drilled offshore in…

Eamonn Holmes is “doing okay given the circumstances” after suffering a stroke, with his eldest son Declan saying the family is still coming to terms with the sudden medical emergency. Declan Holmes said his father's health scare “came as a real shock” and thanked well-wishers for their support, adding: “It means a lot to us as a family.” GB News said on Saturday that Holmes, 66, had suffered a stroke last week and was recovering in hospital. In a statement issued on Sunday, his son said: “What happened came as a real shock,…

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…