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

South Africa will begin offering the twice-yearly HIV prevention shot lenacapavir (LEN) on June 5, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced, hailing a major step forward in the fight against the virus. For individuals who are HIV-negative, the long-acting injection has proven to be almost completely effective at preventing sexual transmission. But new drugs alone won’t end the epidemic, argue Mitchell Warren, executive director of the international health advocacy group AVAC, and Wawira Nyagah, executive director of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A reported plan by North Western State of Somalia to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem has drawn sharp condemnation from the Arab League, after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit spoke by phone about the region’s increasingly tense geopolitical climate, officials said. The conversation focused on stability in the Horn of Africa and what both sides described as the need for a coordinated response to the move by the breakaway region. Both leaders…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Health on Thursday stepped up Ebola preparedness efforts after new outbreaks were reported in East and Central Africa, warning that the country must remain vigilant as the virus spreads in the region. State Minister of Health Dr. Maryan Mohamed Hussein said federal authorities are concentrating on early detection, public education and closer coordination with regional health workers to keep the disease from entering Somalia. “Today, we are working on the…

Outrage spread across Western capitals after Israel’s far-right security minister released a video showing Gaza-bound flotilla activists pinned to the ground, a scene that quickly deepened into a diplomatic row when two detainees later alleged they were physically assaulted in custody. The handling of the activists by police officers operating under Itamar Ben-Gvir’s authority also prompted criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and from the United States, Israel’s staunchest ally. The activists had been…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said the deadly attack was a stark reminder of what happens when Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate are allowed to spread unchecked. The US House of Representatives held a moment of silence for the victims of the recent shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego. On the House floor, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said she spoke "with a heavy heart" as she paid tribute to Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, who were killed when two teenage gunmen opened fire at the mosque…

Mount Everest saw an unprecedented rush of climbers yesterday, with a record 274 people reaching the summit from the Nepali side in a single day — the most ever to stand atop the world’s highest mountain in 24 hours. Rising 8,849 metres, Everest sits on the border between Nepal and China’s Tibet region, and expeditions can approach the peak from either side. But expedition operators said no climbers attempted the mountain from the Tibetan side this year after Chinese authorities did not issue permits. Among those who reached…

For the first time in Mali's turbulent north, the military, alongside Russian forces, has commenced the use of cluster munitions amid ongoing conflicts involving jihadist factions, separatist groups, and governmental troops that have persisted for over a decade. Sources on the ground, security experts, and human rights organizations have confirmed that these bombs were deployed during recent counter-terrorism operations. Reports indicate that the initial strike took place in Oubder, situated near In-Gouzma within the…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal government on Wednesday denounced North Western State of Somalia’s plan to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, describing the move as invalid under law and as a deliberate affront to the Arab and Islamic worlds. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the proposed mission carried no legal weight because Mogadishu considers North Western State of Somalia part of Somalia’s sovereign territory. “The Federal Republic of Somalia reaffirms its unwavering…

SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite company, has filed for what could become the biggest initial public offering ever, outlining plans to raise as much as $75 billion from public investors. If the deal goes ahead on those terms, the company’s market debut would eclipse every previous IPO on record. The filing states that after the offering, Mr Musk would serve as chief executive, chief technology officer and chair of the board. US media reports said SpaceX is seeking to raise $75bn and secure a valuation of up to $1.75…

In a milestone moment for victims of Libya's long-running violence, the International Criminal Court has opened a three-day hearing for Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, who stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. El Hishri is the first individual from Libya to be brought before the ICC since the United Nations Security Council sent the Libyan situation to the court's prosecutor in 2011, marking a significant step in efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for atrocities committed during the country's…