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

Tuesday May 12, 2026 Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at the swearing-in ceremony in Kampala. / others Uganda’s long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni was inaugurated for another term on Tuesday in the capital, Kampala, at a ceremony drawing regional heads of state, diplomats and senior officials from around Africa. Museveni won a seventh term after the January 15 presidential election, taking 71 percent of the vote. His main challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, finished with 24 percent. Speaking to…

The acquittal of former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, who faced a $6 million corruption investigation, has ignited discussions surrounding the integrity of the judicial system. A civil society organization, the Independent Societal Watch Advocates, has characterized the verdict as a testament to judicial independence, asserting that justice should not be confined to mere convictions. This perspective comes in the wake of significant backlash from the ruling Unity Party, particularly from its Youth Chairperson, Melvin…

Human Rights Watch has urged authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to safeguard free speech and ensure people can voice dissent without intimidation or harassment, following fresh accounts of journalists, activists, and opposition figures being arbitrarily detained. In a statement, the organization said the tightening grip on critics comes amid mounting political friction over a potential constitutional revision. Opponents warn that such a change could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to sidestep the country’s…

The Kremlin has poured cold water on any expectation of a breakthrough in Ukraine, saying there is still no detailed roadmap to end the war just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II might be nearing its conclusion. Overnight, Moscow and Kyiv traded fresh strikes after a three-day ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump expired, with both sides blaming the other for breaching the pause. Speaking at the weekend after criticizing NATO and voicing hope…

Macron unveils 23 billion-euro investment drive for Africa NAIROBI, Kenya - French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a 23 billion euro investment package set to be rolled out across African countries. The announcement came at the French Africa Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, where leaders from more than 30 African nations gathered for the event. According to details shared at the forum, the funding will be directed toward energy, artificial intelligence and digital technology, marine and logistics, and agriculture. The…

Somalia’s livestock sector has reached a defining moment. But if the country wants this hard-won success to translate into lasting wealth, it must stop letting its “gold” go to market at “silver” prices. The way forward, the article argues, is clear: Somalia must take control of the supply chain — from pasture to plate — and turn livestock from a raw export into a premium global brand.The Gap: Why Our Hard Work Earns LessAt present, there is a deep mismatch between what the Somali bush produces and what international buyers…

Israel's parliament has approved a law creating a special military tribunal to prosecute hundreds of Palestinian militants involved in the 7 October 2023 attack on ⁠Israel, a move supporters say is intended to deliver justice and help the country confront its trauma. The assault, led by fighters from the Palestinian militant group Hamas, marked Israel's deadliest single day and was the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. At least 1,200 people were killed in Israel, the majority of them civilians. Israel responded with…

CASABLANCA, Morocco — Six Moroccan men who were cleared by courts in Somalia’s Puntland State State of Somalia have returned to Morocco after spending more than two years behind bars, according to relatives and human rights advocates on Monday. The men landed at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca last week, only to be taken into custody by Moroccan authorities for questioning about how they traveled to Somalia and the events that followed, family members and campaign groups said. From the airport, they were…

Tuesday May 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and the European Union opened their first-ever partnership dialogue in Mogadishu on May 10, 2026, setting the stage for talks on political stability, security cooperation, migration and investment, officials said. The discussions took place under Article 3 of the Samoa Agreement, which establishes structured engagement between the EU, its member states and partner countries. This round was held under the banner “A sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.” Somalia’s…

Climate scientists are warning that 2026 is shaping up to be a year of punishing extremes, with a real chance it could rank as the second warmest year ever recorded — or even take the top spot. The World Weather Attribution group said sea surface temperatures are nearing their highest level on record, while wildfires have already scorched more than 150 million hectares in the first four months of the year. That figure is 50% above the recent wildfire average and twice the area burned over the same period in 2024. Researchers…