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

A grim wave of vigilante killings has left at least 60 people dead, driven by panic over rumours that men’s genitals were being “shrunk” or “stolen.” Eyewitnesses said accusations alone were enough to spark instant fury, with crowds rapidly coalescing into mobs that beat or killed the alleged culprits. The unrest erupted in mid-April in Cabo Delgado province and has since spilled into other parts of the country. Authorities have responded with hundreds of arrests. People who claimed to be victims of the purported attacks…

With three deaths already linked to a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that efforts to contain the virus were still unfinished as authorities carried out evacuations from the stricken cruise ship. The vessel has triggered international concern after the rare virus killed three passengers and left a French woman in critical condition. There is no vaccine against hantavirus and no specific treatment, raising the stakes as health officials race to…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The families of crew members aboard the hijacked commercial vessel “MT Eureka” say Somali pirates have raised their ransom demand to $10 million, deepening fears for the sailors being held off the Somali coast. Amiira Mohamed, the wife of Egyptian engineer Mohamed Radi, who is among eight Egyptian sailors on the ship, said her husband was briefly allowed to call her by phone. “He told me the situation is very difficult and pleaded for anyone who can help to intervene for their release,” she said.…

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Teargas billowed through Nairobi’s city centre on Tuesday as Kenyan police moved to break up dozens of anti-France protesters who tried to push toward the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the venue for the Africa Forward Summit. Police in Kenya fired teargas to stop surging protesters from reaching a conference centre in Nairobi, where France summit was being held on May 12. / Reuters Teargas billowed through Nairobi’s city centre on Tuesday as Kenyan police moved to break up dozens of…

French authorities have placed more than 1,700 passengers and crew under confinement on a cruise ship in Bordeaux after an elderly traveler died, officials said, while stressing the incident was not tied to the hantavirus alarm. Dozens of people aboard the Ambition also reported stomach troubles. The vessel, carrying 1,233 passengers — most of them from Ireland and Britain — arrived in the western French port of Bordeaux yesterday with 514 Indian crew members on board. Health officials said the situation bore no link to the…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A tense round of talks between Somalia’s Federal Government and the opposition “Council of the Future” ended in deadlock on Wednesday, with the country’s long-running electoral dispute once again exposing a widening political rift, sources familiar with the negotiations said. Held behind tight security at the heavily fortified Halane base, the meeting broke up without a breakthrough after hours of sharp exchanges over the stalled voting process. The two sides remained far apart on the central issues and…

Wednesday May 13, 2026 Egyptian diplomats moved quickly after pirates seized a commercial cargo vessel with an Egyptian crew off the Somali coast, as Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad Ambassador Haddad El-Gohary laid out the steps taken to safeguard the sailors and push for their release. Speaking by phone on Al-Hayat TV, El-Gohary rejected claims that the pirates had singled out the Egyptian crew. He said such attacks are typically indiscriminate, with pirates boarding vessels before…

Tragic news has emerged from the Nigerian film industry as beloved Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has passed away at the age of 40 after a prolonged battle with cancer. His absence from social media and public appearances in recent months had raised alarms among fans and colleagues alike. The last update shared by Ekubo on his social media accounts dates back to December 2024. Alexx Ekubo captivated audiences with his performances in a variety of romantic comedies and dramatic films, including noteworthy titles such as Ladies…

Keir Starmer moved quickly to steady his premiership, holding talks with Health Secretary Wes Streeting after a bruising stretch in which four ministers quit and at least 80 Labour MPs urged the British prime minister to resign. Despite the turmoil, Mr Starmer remained in office at 10 Downing Street and fended off the immediate danger to his leadership, with reports indicating that the leading figures tipped to replace him do not yet have the support required to force a contest. Mr Streeting is widely regarded as one of the…

BAIDOA, Somalia — Pressure is building in Somalia’s South West State as leading presidential contenders accuse rivals of preparing to manipulate the vote, warning they will reject any outcome they believe is tainted by fraud. In remarks to reporters late Tuesday, candidate Ilyaas Ali Nuur singled out his opponent, Aden Madobe, saying any win for Madobe under the current setup would amount to nothing less than a "theft" of the electoral process. "If the results of the South West election are not what we expect, we will step…