Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Nigerian state police say more children abducted last month from a Catholic school in Niger state have been released, adding to a partial liberation earlier in December but leaving key details unclear. Sister Mary T. Barron, the superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, which manages St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary schools in Papiri, said she learned of the development in the evening. She said details were not immediately clear and that more information was expected in the morning. The…

Tabaarak ICT Solutions earns ISO 9001:2015, signaling a higher bar for Somalia’s digital transformation MOGADISHU, Somalia — Tabaarak ICT Solutions has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification for its Quality Management System, a milestone announced on Nov. 17, 2025, at a high-level event in Mogadishu attended by government officials, academic leaders and partners from across the public and private sectors. The recognition formalizes the company’s commitment to internationally accepted standards of quality, accountability and…

Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Tottenham was overshadowed by a worrying injury to Alexander Isak, who left the field with an apparent left ankle problem less than 15 minutes after coming on and moments after putting his team in front in the Premier League on Saturday. The Sweden striker, described as British soccer’s record signing, was introduced at halftime and broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with a crisp left-foot finish. As Isak struck, Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven slid in and caught the forward’s ankle. Isak did…

Political Tensions Rising in Somalia: Analyzing the Kismayo Confrontation The recent National Consultation Conference held in Kismayo serves as a crucial litmus test for Somalia's political future. This section delves into the key players involved, the stakes at hand, and the implications for the country's governance structure. The conference gathered a diverse coalition, highlighting significant political rifts. Concerns over governance failures and delayed elections have been voiced. The directive for an…

Somali police launch manhunt after father beheads daughter in Baardheere BAARDHEERE, Somalia — Somali authorities launched a manhunt Saturday after a father beheaded his daughter on the outskirts of Baardheere in the Gedo region, officials and residents said. The killing occurred around midday near the Iftin camp for internally displaced people, according to local authorities. The motive was not immediately known, and investigators are working to determine what led to the attack. Baardheere District Commissioner Adam Mohamed…

MOGADISHU — A Kenyan doctor working with a United Nations medical evacuation team in Somalia says the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab has held him and other colleagues for more than a year after their helicopter crashed in militant-held territory, according to a new video appeal. In the message addressed to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Kenyan President William Ruto and the Kenyan public, the doctor, Ambrose Kimiti, says their aircraft went down on Jan. 10, 2024, during a medical evacuation flight. He says fighters from…

South Africa Pub Shooting: Nine Dead and a Manhunt Underway A devastating shooting incident in South Africa has claimed nine lives and left 10 people injured. The tragic event unfolded in Bekkersdal, a township west of Johannesburg, marking the second such occurrence in the country within weeks. The shooting happened shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday. Suspects fired indiscriminately at pub patrons and in the streets. A manhunt is underway for the 12 suspects involved. Details of the Incident The chaotic scene…

CAIRO — Egypt will step up efforts to safeguard Red Sea maritime routes and back a new African Union mission in Somalia, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Friday, framing the Horn of Africa’s stability as inseparable from regional and global security. Addressing African ministers and delegates gathered in Cairo for the second ministerial forum of the Russia–Africa Partnership, al-Sisi called the Red Sea corridor “strategically vital” and said Egypt is working with partners to keep the waterway secure. The shipping lane…

Sunday December 21, 2025 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia and China on Tuesday marked the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a ceremony in Mogadishu, pledging to elevate cooperation and pursue shared interests across infrastructure, public services and state-building as both countries reaffirmed long-standing political support. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called the milestone “a testament to enduring friendship” rooted in mutual respect and sovereignty. “We gathered to celebrate a truly historic milestone,…

Op-Ed: Somalia’s Election Standoff Is a Referendum on Its Post-Transition State Somalia’s election standoff is not just another dispute over timelines or term limits. It is a referendum on the country’s post-transition order—and on whether the political norms forged during debt relief and state-building can withstand a powerful presidency. The opposition-aligned National Consultation Conference in Kismayo has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of constitutional violations, governance failures, and abandoning the fight…