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

Somalia suspends Mogadishu–Baidoa flights amid Southwest rift Somalia’s federal government suspended civilian flights between Mogadishu and Baidoa on Tuesday as tensions with Southwest State escalated, local officials and sources said. Local sources said that as of Tuesday morning, commercial passenger aircraft were unable to land in Baidoa following the decision, with only United Nations and cargo flights permitted during the suspension. Officials in Southwest State condemned the measure and said travelers were left…

Cuba works to restore power after nationwide blackout Cuba began restoring electricity after a nationwide blackout, with officials saying about two-thirds of the island had power by morning as authorities investigated the cause and reported no immediate damage from a separate offshore quake. Cuba was working to bring electricity back online following a countrywide outage, the government said, without specifying the cause. As of this morning, about two-thirds of the country had power again, according to the government. There…

Iran asks FIFA to shift 2026 World Cup matches to Mexico Iran’s football federation is discussing with FIFA about moving its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico over player safety concerns, federation president Mehdi Taj said. Taj said on Monday that Iran is seeking to relocate its group fixtures from U.S. venues to Mexico, citing security risks for the team. He posted the comments on the Iranian embassy in Mexico’s X account. “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the…

Activists challenge official assurances after study flags hormone-disrupting chemicals in menstrual products Activists say dismissing a University of the Free State finding does not equal proof of safety, urging clarity on possible risks in menstrual products. Activists said authorities’ assurances on menstrual product safety do not settle concerns raised by research from the University of the Free State that reported hormone-disrupting chemicals in some items. The University of the Free State, a South African public…

Cuba grid collapse leaves millions without power; 14 detained after unrest Cuba’s national grid collapsed, the country’s grid operator said, leaving about 10 million people without electricity as officials reported arrests after protesters stormed a Communist Party office. The grid operator said the national electric system had collapsed, plunging much of the island into blackout. The scale of the outage was not immediately detailed beyond an estimate of around 10 million people without power. The island of 9.6 million…

Zimbabwe civic group urges international bodies to block bid to extend presidency and Parliament terms The Defend the Constitution Platform called on international organisations to stop proposed constitutional changes that would extend the tenure of Zimbabwe’s presidency and Parliament, citing reports of intimidation and violence around the debate. The Defend the Constitution Platform has urged international organisations to block planned amendments to Zimbabwe’s constitution that would lengthen the terms of the presidency…

Explosions in Maiduguri Leave Over 20 Dead, Sparking Renewed Fears A series of devastating explosions in Maiduguri has resulted in more than twenty deaths and numerous injuries, unsettling a city that had recently experienced relative calm. More than twenty people were killed and many others injured in a series of explosions that targeted multiple locations in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Tuesday. Key sites affected included the entrance to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Post Office,…

WFP warns Middle East war could push 45 million into hunger The U.N. World Food Programme warned that if the Middle East war continues through June, price shocks could push an additional 45 million people into acute hunger. By Ali MusaWellness Desk – Health & Nutrition Monitoring. Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), said the outlook was dire as the agency contends with rising costs and disrupted supply chains. He delivered the warning at a press conference in Geneva. “If the Middle…

South Africa faces April 2026 hikes in electricity tariffs and fuel prices, adding pressure on households Electricity tariffs and fuel prices in South Africa are expected to rise in April 2026, with per‑litre fuel costs potentially increasing by up to R5, though final figures have not been confirmed. Electricity tariffs and fuel prices were expected to increase in April 2026, with the per‑litre rise at the pump possibly reaching as high as R5, a development that would further stretch household budgets. The anticipated…

Baidoa flights halted in Mogadishu, stranding hundreds as Somali aviation agency denies issuing ban South West State officials call the stoppage a “political travel blockade” by the federal government; the Somali Civil Aviation Authority says it issued no suspension order. Flights to the South West State capital were halted at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of passengers — including regional officials — waiting for clarification. Halted departures to Baidoa stranded travelers…