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

Russia accused Ukraine of using naval drones to attack and sink a Russian liquefied natural gas carrier off Libya, an incident that, if confirmed, would mark the first known strike by Kyiv on a Russian LNG vessel. Libya’s port authority said the Arctic Metagaz tanker suffered “sudden explosions followed by a massive fire,” leading to its complete sinking overnight. The vessel went down roughly 130 nautical miles north of Sirte, within Libya’s search-and-rescue zone, the authority said. Russia’s Transport Ministry said the…

Ireland charters Oman flight to repatriate citizens as airlines add Dubai–Dublin services amid Middle East airspace shutdown Ireland will repatriate up to 280 citizens stranded across the Middle East on a government-chartered flight from Oman in the coming days, as commercial carriers add limited services and thousands of travelers race to leave the region following days of US-Israeli strikes on Iran that have effectively shut down much of the region’s airspace. Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee called the Oman charter…

Macky Sall Nominated by Burundi for UN Secretary-General Position Former Senegalese President Macky Sall has received a formal nomination from Burundi to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term is set to conclude in 2026. This nomination comes at a time when the composition of the UN Security Council is particularly favorable for Sall, as it currently includes three African nations: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Somalia. Supporters of Sall have highlighted his commitment to advocacy…

Zimbabwe imposes immediate, indefinite ban on export of lithium concentrates Zimbabwe announced an immediate and indefinite ban on the export of lithium concentrates and other unprocessed ores on Wednesday, saying mining companies rushed to ship raw lithium ahead of a planned 2027 restriction and that large volumes of the mineral have been illegally stockpiled outside the country. Mines Minister Polite Kambamura said the decision followed reports that some firms accelerated extraction and exports instead of investing in…

UAE, Qatar say they downed waves of Iranian missiles and drones as Tehran’s cross-border campaign entered a fifth day on Tuesday, while Iran’s opaque succession process quickened after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Israel expanded strikes across Iran and Lebanon. The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defence said its air defenses “successfully engaged” three ballistic missiles and detected 129 drones, intercepting 121 while eight fell on Emirati territory. Qatar’s military said it intercepted all 10 drones…

Somalia’s election test: dialogue over deadlock as May vote nears Somalia is not simply approaching an election. It is entering a three-month test of political maturity that will define its democratic trajectory well beyond 2026. On Feb. 26, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened talks with the Somali Future Council to break a stalemate over the electoral framework and constitutional reforms ahead of the May elections. The talks failed, exposing a fragile consensus and the depth of disagreements that have simmered beneath…

Florida executes Billy Kearse by lethal injection for 1991 killing of police officer A 53-year-old man convicted in the killing of a police officer during a 1991 traffic stop was executed by lethal injection in Florida, the state’s third execution of the year and the fifth in the United States. The Florida Department of Corrections said Billy Kearse was pronounced dead at the state prison in Raiford. Kearse was sentenced to death for fatally shooting Officer Danny Parrish after wrestling away his gun during a roadside stop…

BRUSSELS — An EU expert group will begin work this week on whether to restrict or ban social media access for children, aiming to deliver recommendations by summer, the European Commission said. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend the panel’s inaugural meeting on Thursday, underscoring the political weight behind the effort she launched in September. Brussels is weighing a minimum age to use social media across the 27-nation bloc, taking cues from Australia, which in December ordered TikTok, YouTube,…

Belgian Authorities Arrest Leaders Linked to Cameroon War Crimes Belgian prosecutors have announced the arrest of three individuals as part of a probe into possible crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Cameroon due to the country's secessionist rebellion. The arrests underscore the expanding international efforts to address human rights violations associated with the conflict. The suspects are believed to be leaders of the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), a militia advocating for the independence of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali police arrested a senior advisor to the president of Puntland State during a late-night raid at an airport-area hotel in the capital, prompting allegations of intimidation and physical assault against federal lawmakers and sharpening political tensions across the country. Authorities identified the detainee as Ahmed Abdi Mahamud Hurre. Witnesses and local reports said Hurre was meeting several members of the Somali Federal Parliament at the Airport Hotel in Mogadishu when police moved in and took…