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

Tragedy in El-Fasher: A City Under Siege and the Human Cost of Conflict The skies over El-Fasher, once alive with the promise of safety, have turned into agents of peril, as a drone strike claimed the lives of at least 60 people in a displacement camp. This tragic event underscores the grim reality facing the besieged city in western Sudan, where the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified their siege in a brutal conflict that has raged since April 2023. The Heart of Darfur Under Siege Activists from the…

Madagascar at a Crossroads: Youth-Led Protests and Military Tensions The vibrant streets of Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, have been humming with the sounds of discontent and aspirations for change. The nation finds itself at a critical juncture as an “attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power” unfolds, casting a stark spotlight on the delicate dance between democracy and authority. Echoes of History: The Power of Protest The genesis of this unrest dates back to September 25, when a youth-led protest movement…

Somalia stakes a moral claim in The Hague over the right to strike When Somalia’s ambassador stood at the International Court of Justice in The Hague last week, she did more than recite legal positions. Ambassador Khadija Osoble Ali framed a debate about workers’ rights in a country still rebuilding basic institutions after decades of conflict — and, in doing so, offered an argument with implications far beyond Mogadishu. The ICJ held hearings from Oct. 6–8, 2025, on a request for an advisory opinion about whether the…

Somalia and Ethiopia test a fragile thaw in Addis Ababa — and the Horn of Africa is watching On a quiet Sunday in Addis Ababa, far from the sirens that so often announce news in this region, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stepped off a plane at Bole International Airport and into a delicate diplomatic dance. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed greeted him before the two moved quickly behind the National Palace’s tall gates. The choreography was deliberate: a handshake, a short walk, a private conversation. The…

Why Hassan Sheikh’s Addis visit matters: a recalibration in the Horn At a glance When Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Addis Ababa this week for talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the official line was familiar: friendly neighbours discussing “bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.” Behind the diplomatic language, however, lay a fraught effort by Mogadishu to reshape the political map of southern Somalia — and to pull a wary Ethiopia into the middle of a struggle that has implications for…

Somalia’s new passport push is about far more than a booklet Somalia’s decision to tender a “third-generation” e-passport sounds technocratic on the surface — a procurement notice, new materials, a better chip. But in a country where mobility is survival, identity is politics, and trust has been fragile for decades, the stakes are far higher than a redesign. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) has put out a global call for bids to produce a polycarbonate, biometric passport aligned with International Civil Aviation…

U.S. hints at fresh sanctions as Russia steps up strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure WASHINGTON / KYIV — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday his administration "might" impose additional sanctions on Russia, as Kyiv reported a fresh wave of Russian attacks this week targeting energy and rail networks that Ukrainian leaders say are intended to sow "chaos." "I might," Mr. Trump replied to a reporter at the White House when asked whether more measures were coming. Standing alongside Finland’s president, he added that…

Jubaland’s UN complaint lays bare a widening rift in Somalia’s fragile federal experiment KISMAYO — The latest escalation between Mogadishu and the semi-autonomous Jubaland state, culminating in a formal complaint lodged at the United Nations Office in Somalia, is not just another local spat. It is a symptom of a deeper, unresolved contest over power, identity and the shape of Somali federalism — and it raises uncomfortable questions about how fragile post-conflict states manage the tug between central authority and…

Galmudug's Struggle Against Clan Violence: A Call for Community Unity In the heart of Somalia, where the scars of conflict still run deep, a profound battle is unfolding—one that pits the aspirations for peace against the centuries-old cycle of clan-based revenge killings. The Galmudug State Police Command has recently intensified its crackdown on individuals linked to a series of gruesome murders that have left communities reeling and questioning their safety. Tackling the Grim Reality of Clan Violence The announcement,…

Somalia’s Parliament Approves Long-Awaited Human Rights Commission, Signaling a New Chapter for Accountability Mogadishu — Somalia’s Federal Parliament on Saturday approved the country’s first independent Human Rights Commission, a long-promised institution meant to investigate abuses, advise government, and help align the nation’s laws with international standards after decades of conflict and fragile governance. The vote, taken in a packed session chaired by the Speaker, passed overwhelmingly: 142 lawmakers voted in…