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

Puntland State President Announces Somalia State-Building Conference in Garowe AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni said his administration will convene a conference in Garowe to examine Somalia’s state-building challenges and propose practical, evidence-based solutions, signaling an expert-led approach amid a protracted political standoff with the federal government. Deni said the gathering will bring together Somali experts and academics to look beyond factional interests and offer research-driven…

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 GAROWE, Somalia — A Puntland State-appointed committee investigating the death of traditional elder Omar Abdillahi Abdi concluded that he was the sole casualty of a U.S. airstrike near Ceel Buh on Sept. 13, contradicting U.S. Africa Command’s assertion that the operation did not harm civilians. The committee’s report, compiled from Puntland State security agencies and witness testimonies, said Omar — widely known as Chief Omar — left Ceel Buh in the Sanaag region on Sept. 13 bound for Badhan district…

Puntland State inquiry says U.S. airstrike killed respected elder, not militant GAROWE, Somalia — A Puntland State investigative committee has concluded that a U.S. airstrike killed traditional elder Omar Abdillahi Abdi as he traveled to clan peace talks in the Sanaag region, finding no evidence he had ties to criminal or militant activity. The committee’s report, based on Puntland State security agency records and witness testimony, details the final hours of the elder known locally as Omar. It says he left the town of Ceel…

A skydiver was left dangling from an aircraft thousands of meters above northern Australia after a reserve parachute snagged on the plane’s tail during a planned formation jump south of Cairns, according to dramatic footage and findings released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The jumper cut free with a hook knife and later landed safely, while the aircraft suffered substantial tail damage before its pilot made a safe emergency landing. The incident occurred in September during a planned 16-way formation skydive…

Australia’s transport safety watchdog has released dramatic footage showing a skydiver left dangling thousands of meters in the air after a reserve parachute snagged on a plane’s tail during a high-altitude stunt south of Cairns. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) published the video after concluding its investigation into the September incident, which unfolded within seconds of a planned 16-way formation jump at about 4,600 meters. The footage, recorded by a parachuting camera operator, captures the chaos as the…

Myanmar air strike hits hospital in Rakhine’s Mrauk-U, killing more than 30 as junta pushes pre-election offensive A Myanmar military air strike on a general hospital in Mrauk-U killed more than 30 people on Wednesday evening, an on-site aid worker said, intensifying a pre-election offensive in Rakhine state where the Arakan Army holds near-total control. The AA’s health department said at least 10 patients were “killed on the spot” when the strike hit around 9 p.m. The attack struck the main hospital in Mrauk-U, an ancient…

M23 Rebels Seize Key City in Eastern DR Congo Amid Rising Tensions Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have reportedly entered the eastern DR Congo city of Uvira, an essential military base located near the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. This unforeseen advancement has triggered panic among residents, forcing thousands to flee in fear. Witnesses stated that the M23 forces marched in without opposition, declaring they had "liberated" the city, although local officials maintained that government troops still controlled the area. This…

Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels Capture Strategic City in Eastern DR Congo Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have reportedly entered the eastern DR Congo city of Uvira, a crucial military base located near the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. The takeover has triggered widespread panic and forced thousands of residents to flee, raising alarms about the regional stability. Witnesses reported that the M23 rebels marched into Uvira unopposed, claiming to have "liberated" the city. However, government officials insist that their troops remain…

Nicholas Zakaria, a pioneering figure in Zimbabwe’s sungura music and a founding member of the Khiama Boys, has died. He was 66. Zakaria — widely known by his stage name "Madzibaba" — was celebrated for his deft guitar work and a voice that helped shape the rhythmic, guitar-driven sound that defines sungura. His family said he was a "talented musician and beloved member of our community" who left an indelible mark on Zimbabwean music. As one of the early members of the Khiama Boys, Zakaria performed with and influenced a…

AFGOYE, Somalia — At least 12 al-Shabaab militants were killed in an overnight operation near Afgoye, a key supply corridor outside the capital, the Somali government said, underscoring stepped-up pressure on the insurgent group across multiple fronts. Security officials said the operation unfolded in the vicinity of Jambalul, close to Afgoye, where forces targeted bunkers the militants were preparing to use. The raid escalated into a fierce firefight. Militants responded with mortar fire that caused civilian casualties,…