Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Mogadishu launches first one-person, one-vote municipal polls in more than 50 years Thursday December 25, 2025 MOGADISHU — Voting began Thursday morning across all 16 districts of Mogadishu in the Banadir Regional Local Council elections, marking the capital’s first one-person, one-vote balloting in more than half a century. Thousands of residents formed early lines at neighborhood polling stations, underscoring the historic nature of the vote in Somalia’s largest city. Election officials said turnout was steady as polls…

Concerns Over Media Freedom Ahead of Somali Elections The Somali Media Association (SOMA) recently gathered for a crucial meeting focusing on gender issues in media and the overarching challenges within the Somali media sector. This assembly underscored the importance of gender equality and robust journalism practices while signaling deep concerns about recent actions that threaten media independence ahead of the upcoming local council elections in Benadir Region. Discussion focused on gender equality and professional…

Somali Media Association Raises Alarm Over Electoral Interference The Somali Media Association (SOMA) has convened to address pressing challenges regarding gender equality and media independence in Somalia ahead of the upcoming local council elections. The meeting highlighted the threats posed by recent actions of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) to journalistic freedom. Focus on gender equality within the media sector. Concerns raised about media freedom ahead of local council…

DOJ finds more than a million additional Epstein documents, pushing full release back by weeks The U.S. Justice Department has identified more than a million additional documents potentially tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, delaying a full release of records for weeks as officials carry out legally required redactions to protect victims, the department said. The disclosure, made in a statement and echoed in a Justice Department social media post on Tuesday, further complicates a congressionally mandated…

Over 100 journalists trained in Somalia on election coverage, safety and disinformation Mogadishu — More than 100 Somali journalists have completed specialized training on professional election coverage, journalist safety and countering disinformation, in a program led by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the National Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission of Somalia (NIEBC). The two-day training, held Dec. 16-17, 2025, brought together 102 reporters, editors and media practitioners from both private…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, on Thursday condemned the Banadir Regional Council elections scheduled in Mogadishu, calling the process neither free nor fair and accusing the government of staging a one-party vote. Speaking at a press conference in the capital, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said the planned Banadir elections lack constitutional grounding and fail basic democratic standards. He argued that what began as a competitive process had narrowed to a lopsided…

Russia, China decry U.S. ‘cowboy’ tactics on Venezuela at UN Security Council; Washington defends moves UNITED NATIONS — Russia and China sharply criticized the United States for military and economic pressure on Venezuela during an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting requested by Caracas, denouncing what they called “cowboy” conduct and “intimidation” as Washington defended its actions as necessary to protect the hemisphere. Backed by Moscow and Beijing, Venezuela accused the United States of waging an unlawful campaign…

Putin briefed on Trump envoys’ Ukraine peace proposals as Zelensky outlines concessions Russia is evaluating a U.S.-led draft framework to end the war in Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin was briefed on contacts between Kremlin representatives and envoys for U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin envoy, updated Putin following a trip to Miami for talks with Trump’s team. Peskov declined to detail the proposals or Russia’s response,…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), working with the National Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission of Somalia (NIEBC), has trained 102 journalists in professional election coverage, safety and countering disinformation ahead of the Banadir Regional Council elections set to start Thursday in Mogadishu. The two-day program brought together reporters, editors and media practitioners from 27 accredited outlets across the capital, spanning private and state-owned media. Organizers said the…

Russia plans nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036 as space powers race to build permanent bases Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036 to supply energy for its lunar program and a joint Russian-Chinese research station, accelerating a new phase of competition over the earth’s only natural satellite. Roscosmos, the state space corporation, said it has signed a contract with aerospace firm Lavochkin Association to develop the project, which would support rovers, a lunar observatory and the…