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

Russia has denounced France's seizure of an oil tanker in the Atlantic, calling the operation "illegal" and likening it to "piracy" after Paris said the ship was breaching sanctions. "We view these actions as illegal; they verge on international piracy," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that "Russia is taking measures to ensure the safety of its cargo." French prosecutors said the tanker's Russian captain refused to obey orders from the French navy, leaving authorities with no choice but to board and take control…

In a significant leadership shift, President Adama Barrow has named Major General Ousman Gomez as the Acting Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces. This decision comes on the heels of Lieutenant General Mamat O. A. Cham's resignation, which was surrounded by serious allegations of misconduct. In his resignation letter, Cham cited his departure was prompted by "numerous allegations of misconduct and abuse of office inconsistent with the Office of Chief of Defence Staff." Prior to his new role, Gomez held the…

Monday June 1, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Southwest State moved quickly on Monday to tighten security in Baidoa, imposing a nighttime curfew and introducing fresh weapons-registration rules after clashes between federal government forces and troops loyal to former regional President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. Security Minister Mohamed Hussein Hassan Joon announced that the curfew will take effect from 7 p.m. until morning and will stay in place until further notice. He said the restrictions are meant to protect residents,…

Rwanda has lost its bid to force the UK to hand over more than £100m (€115m) tied to the collapsed migrant deportation pact, after an international court found Britain did not owe the outstanding money. Judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that the UK was not liable for two years of unpaid costs linked to the scheme, which was abandoned in 2024. The agreement was struck in 2022, when former UK prime minister Boris Johnson signed a deal with Kigali to send to Rwanda migrants who arrived in…

by Maxwell AmungaMonday June 1, 2026 A crime scene tape in a past scene. Photo Canva A U.S. citizen was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Garissa County, bringing a tragic end to what should have been a celebratory return home from the United States. The 25-year-old, an American citizen of Somali origin, was killed in Bula Mzuri village in an attack that has left relatives and residents reeling. Witnesses say the assault happened openly in the middle of the day, a fact that has stunned the community and intensified…

Questions over whether President Peter Mutharika has been stepping back from the day-to-day demands of governing have drawn a firm rebuttal from the presidency, which insists he remains fully in charge and actively engaged. In an official statement, the government dismissed reports that Mutharika has shirked key responsibilities by handing over his roles to ministers. It described the claims as “regrettable” and “unpatriotic,” and said the president has chaired every Cabinet meeting since taking office in September 2025.…

What should have been a jubilant procession through north London also tested emergency crews, with about 75 people rescued from height and 16 arrests made during Arsenal’s parade yesterday, officials said. Thousands of Arsenal supporters packed the streets around the Emirates Stadium to watch the team take part in their Premier League trophy parade. As clouds of red smoke drifted through the area, some fans scrambled up trees, rooftops and traffic lights in a bid to catch a glimpse of the players aboard the team bus. London…

In a troubling incident that underscores the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife have fallen victim to armed kidnappers in Katsina state, according to military sources. Abubakar, who previously served as a military spokesperson, was taken on Saturday while en route to a wedding. Reports indicate that his driver managed to escape, albeit with injuries. Authorities have launched operations to secure the couple's release, as armed banditry continues to plague the region, where…

Monday June 1, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s widening political standoff drew fresh international concern Monday, as key partners pressed the federal government and opposition leaders to return to talks and settle on an election roadmap without delay. In a joint statement released June 1, the United Kingdom, the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, the European Union, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway said Somali leaders must place the national interest above partisan divisions at a sensitive moment for…

Deep mistrust, shifting signals from Washington and Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon are slowing efforts to bring the US-Iran war to a close, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, describing diplomacy as bogged down in suspicion. "Negotiations are underway in an atmosphere of profound suspicion and mistrust, and messages are being exchanged within that climate," Mr Baghaei said. "The other side keeps altering its position and raising new or contradictory demands (...) it is only natural that this…