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

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Wednesday put its security sector under the microscope, as government officials and international partners gathered in Mogadishu for a senior-level review centered on reform, accountability and the long-term viability of the country’s armed forces. The session brought together federal government representatives, the World Bank and other international partners to take stock of progress and pinpoint the remaining weak spots in critical institutions. Discussions centered on…

James Comey is facing new criminal charges after a North Carolina grand jury indicted the former FBI director on allegations he threatened US President Donald Trump, reviving a legal fight that returns just five months after an earlier case against the longtime Trump critic was dismissed. The indictment centres on an Instagram post Mr Comey, 65, shared in May last year showing the numbers "86 47" arranged in seashells. In an interview with Fox News at the time, Mr Trump said "86" was slang for kill and that "47" referred to…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 A casual remark by Kenya’s president has ignited a transcontinental debate, after William Ruto was quoted as saying Kenyans “speak some of the best English in the world” and that Nigerians can require “a translator” when speaking English. Kenya's President William Ruto. / Reuters Are Kenyans better English speakers than Nigerians, or have national pride and online banter simply taken over? That question has dominated social media in recent days after remarks attributed to Kenyan President William…

In a decisive move to bolster national security, Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers approved a draft law on April 24 aiming to establish a military reserve comprising 100,000 personnel by 2026. Defense Minister Célestin Simporé emphasized the initiative as a means to engage citizens actively in safeguarding the nation, stating it would "embed Patriotic Defense within a logic of citizen participation." The government has long relied on a significant number of civilian volunteers known as the Volunteers for the Defense of…

A diplomatic dispute over control of key canal ports has prompted a show of support for Panama from across the Americas, with the US, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago backing the country's sovereignty and warning that China is trying to turn maritime trade into a political weapon while encroaching on the independence of governments in the hemisphere. "We are monitoring with vigilance China's targeted economic pressure and the recent actions that have affected Panama-flagged vessels," the…

BY MARK VANCLEAVE AND ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, ASSOCIATED PRESSWednesday April 29, 2026 Federal investigators swept through multiple locations in Minnesota on Tuesday, carrying out searches and removing boxes of records and other material in what authorities described as an ongoing fraud probe into publicly funded programs for children. State and federal agents were seen at childcare centers in the Minneapolis area, though officials released no information about the suspected crimes. KSTP-TV reported that one team arrived with…

In a significant legislative move, the House of Representatives has granted approval for President Bola Tinubu's proposal to secure an external loan of $516.3 million aimed at constructing key segments of the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway. This ambitious project, spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers, is set to connect the states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos, commencing in Illela, Sokoto, and culminating in Badagry, Lagos. This green light comes on the heels of robust recommendations from various…

What happens when you stop eating added sugar Board-certified sports dietitian Tara Collingwood says your body doesn’t need a “sugar detox,” and changes after cutting added sugar can include steadier blood sugar, shifting cravings, and adjustments in energy and taste. According to Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a board-certified sports dietitian and co-author of Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies, the idea of a “sugar detox” is unnecessary because the body already has a detox system. “What happens is your…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A string of hijackings off Somalia’s coast has revived one of the region’s most unsettling security threats, with three vessels seized in a single week and fresh concern rippling through the shipping world. The most recent incident involved the commercial vessel Sward, taken on April 26, just days after pirates captured the oil tanker Honour 25 on April 21. The tanker was carrying 18,000 barrels of oil, according to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean, the European Union’s naval monitoring center.…

Wednesday April 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is poised to widen its seafood exports after China unveiled a zero-tariff policy for imports from 53 African countries, a move that could reshape the country’s fisheries sector and give a lift to economic growth. The policy, which takes effect on May 1, will allow Somali marine products to enter Chinese markets duty-free, removing a major obstacle that has long held back direct trade. Fisheries Minister Ahmed Hassan Aden said the arrangement opens a direct route to one of…