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

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…

5 Chain Restaurant Salads With a Day’s Worth of Calories Some chain “salads” can top out at 1,420 to 1,950 calories, potentially exceeding a typical adult daily calorie recommendation in a single meal. Calorie recommendations vary by age, health and activity levels, but the article notes general rules of thumb of 1,600 to 2,400 calories for adult women and 2,200 to 3,000 for adult men. It highlights five chain restaurant meals that may sound healthy but can put diners over their daily calorie limit. Applebee’s Oriental…

In a shocking incident that has raised alarm across Mali, prominent lawyer and government critic Mountaga Tall was abducted from his home in Bamako by unidentified gunmen. A full month has passed since this brazen attack, yet the Malian authorities have remained tight-lipped regarding Tall's fate. They have not confirmed whether he is in their custody, nor have they disclosed any details about his whereabouts, legal standing, or well-being.

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre is set to head to Dhusamareeb, the seat of Galmudug state, as tensions intensify between regional President Ahmed Abdi Karie (Qoorqoor) and the federal government in Villa Somalia. People familiar with the plan said Barre’s trip is intended to help bridge the widening political divide and push both sides toward a settlement in Galmudug. Over the past several days, the prime minister has held a string of consultations in Mogadishu aimed at easing the standoff,…

Monday June 1, 2026 Seoul, South Korea (AX) — Somalia and Egypt used a high-level gathering in Seoul on Monday to press ahead with closer ties, as Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali met his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, for talks on expanding strategic cooperation. The discussion took place on the margins of the Korea-Africa Ministerial Meeting, giving the two ministers a chance to review the state of relations and look at areas where the partnership could be strengthened. The ministers explored ways to broaden…

Five Restaurant Salads With More Calories Than Cheeseburgers Several popular restaurant salads can top 1,000 calories—according to calorie counts cited by Eat This—while one listed option reaches 2,540. Salads are often marketed as lower-calorie meals, but the calorie total can rise quickly when dressings, sauces, cheese and fried or breaded toppings are included, Eat This said in a roundup of restaurant salads with high calorie counts. Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad Eat This reported that The Cheesecake Factory’s…

Trust from communities on the front lines will determine whether health officials can rein in a fast-moving Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned, underscoring that public cooperation is as vital as medical expertise in crises like this. Speaking in Bunia, the outbreak’s epicentre, Tedros stressed the need to listen to local voices and promote early treatment as response teams confront the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola,…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopians headed to the polls Monday for a general election unfolding under the shadow of armed conflict, political friction and the absence of entire regions from the ballot, deepening questions about how representative the vote can be in Africa’s second-most populous country. It is Ethiopia’s seventh election since the military regime was ousted in 1991, but the contest comes at a moment of renewed unrest across parts of the country. Millions of people are unable to vote, including residents of the…