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

With the war grinding into a fifth year, Volodymyr Zelensky won fresh backing in London from the leaders of Britain, France and Germany for his push to open direct ceasefire talks with Russia, according to a joint statement released after defence discussions. Mr Zelensky joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at 10 Downing Street, where the four met as the conflict continued to exact a heavy toll across Ukraine. The leaders said they "supported the…

In a significant setback for the sport, Somali referee Omar Artan, poised to become the first official from Somalia to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals, has been excluded from the upcoming 2026 tournament following an incident at Miami International Airport. Artan, who earned recognition as the 2025 CAF Men's Referee of the Year, was traveling with valid credentials, including a diplomatic passport intended to streamline his earlier visa issues. However, FIFA has confirmed that he will not participate in the tournament,…

MOGADISHU – Somalia said on Friday it had been unable to secure the reversal of a U.S. decision that blocked Somali international referee Omar Artan from entering the country to take part in the FIFA World Cup, despite a coordinated diplomatic push involving several government offices. In a statement, the Ministry of Youth and Sports said it regretted the circumstances that kept Artan out of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The ministry said it moved quickly after Artan was…

Tuesday June 9, 2026 Somalia will not take the field at the FIFA World Cup, but Somali football will still be represented on the game’s grandest stage. Five people of Somali heritage are due to feature in the tournament as players and officials, even as one of them, referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, has been barred from entering the United States. (Photo: Handout) Miami, US – (AX) — A number of footballers with Somali roots are preparing to appear at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while Somali…

A deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao has killed at least 32 people and injured dozens more, disaster officials said, as Manila intensified search-and-rescue efforts across the region. The quake struck early in the morning about 20 km off the coast of Sarangani province, setting off tsunami warnings in several countries. Powerful tremors were felt across Mindanao and as far as Manado, 420 km away on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island. In General Santos City, the hardest-hit area and home…

The United States is providing critical health assistance, albeit with a significant caveat: broad access to surveillance data and rights to pathogen samples for pharmaceutical development, according to a recent assessment by Human Rights Watch. This evaluation scrutinizes seven bilateral health agreements established in late 2025 with Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Liberia, and Uganda. These agreements have sparked substantial concerns regarding the potential misuse of individuals' private health…

WASHINGTON – The United States has blocked entry to a high-profile Somali referee chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, intensifying concerns that Washington’s travel rules could complicate the build-up to football’s biggest event. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Omar Artan was refused admission even though he held a valid visa. Artan landed at Miami International Airport in South Florida on Saturday, only to be stopped after security screening and turned away from the country. A DHS spokesperson said…

Tuesday June 9, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Olympic Committee has thrown its weight behind referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after U.S. authorities denied him entry just as he was set for a historic role at the FIFA World Cup. In a statement released Monday, the committee said Artan’s selection for an international tournament in the United States marked a national honor and a major step forward for Somali sport. “The selection of a Somali official for such a prestigious platform is not just a personal achievement,…

Hopes for a Middle East breakthrough surged after US President Donald Trump said negotiators had entered the “final throes” of efforts to secure a peace deal, following a pause in fresh fighting between Iran and Israel that had threatened to reignite the months-long war. Trump has repeatedly insisted an agreement with Tehran is close at hand. But diplomacy has repeatedly lost momentum, and the two sides have continued to exchange fire despite a ceasefire that has formally been in place since 8 April. Iran and Israel “were…

by BRIAN ORUTAMonday June 8, 2026 Abdullahi Mohamed Nuur, a former security minister in Somalia/HANDOUT A security raid at one of Mogadishu’s better-known hotels has sharpened worries that Somalia’s political battle is starting to spill into the private sector, unsettling investors and raising fresh questions about the safety of businesses tied to opposition figures. The Elite Hotel incident in the capital has quickly become a symbol of the country’s widening political rift. Analysts say the standoff between the federal…