Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

OP-ED: Trump’s Appraisal, Somalia’s Test: Leadership, Reform, and Global Perception Somalia once again finds itself judged by a sound bite. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks — widely criticized as dismissive — have stirred fresh debate not just about global perceptions of Somalia, but about the country’s own leadership and the substance of international engagement. That debate matters. Language shapes policy, donor priorities and public attention. But rhetoric is not destiny. Somalia’s future will be…

MINNEAPOLIS — The takedown happened in seconds: masked federal agents sprinting toward a 20-year-old Somali American as he stepped from a restaurant, forcing him through a doorway and pinning him against a metal gate. “Why are you running?” one demanded in the bystander video, despite footage showing he had stopped. Moments later, as snow gathered on his jacket, an arm slid around his neck and he was shoved into an unmarked gray SUV while neighbors shouted that he is a citizen. The man, who asked to be identified as Mubashir…

Two U.S. service members and an interpreter were killed in central Syria when an alleged Islamic State gunman opened fire on a joint U.S.-Syrian patrol near Palmyra, U.S. Central Command said, marking a deadly escalation as Washington and Damascus deepen military coordination against ISIS remnants. CENTCOM announced the deaths on X, adding that three additional troops were wounded in what it described as “an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman.” The attacker “was engaged and killed,” the command said. Officials said the identities…

Mogadishu races to deliver voter cards as Dec. 25 Banadir local elections near MOGADISHU — Nearly 200,000 registered voters in Banadir have received official voting cards ahead of the Dec. 25 local council elections, Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) said Saturday, easing fears that delays could keep many Mogadishu residents from the polls. The vote will be the first time Mogadishu residents directly elect their local council and mayor — a milestone the commission has called historic.…

Met Police decline criminal probe into report Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked bodyguard to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre The Metropolitan Police will not launch a criminal investigation into reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked a taxpayer-funded bodyguard to obtain personal information about Virginia Giuffre, the woman who has accused him of sexual abuse, a senior officer said. Central Specialist Crime Commander Ella Marriott said the force has completed an assessment of the claims, which were reported in October…

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko freed 123 prisoners — including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition figure Maria Kalesnikava — after two days of talks with an envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a U.S. statement. In return, Washington agreed to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash, a critical fertilizer ingredient that the former Soviet state produces in large volumes for global markets. The release is the largest announced by Lukashenko since Trump’s administration…

Puntland State maritime force seizes boat with explosives off Eyl, arrests seven GAROWE, Somalia — The Puntland State Maritime Police Force on Saturday intercepted a boat off the coast of Eyl district carrying explosives and materials used to manufacture improvised explosive devices, detaining seven people, according to authorities. Preliminary reports indicated the seized cargo included various chemical substances commonly used in the production of high-impact explosives. The vessel was crewed by two Yemeni nationals and…

Somalia: In Baidoa, a New Income Tax Tests Public Trust in a Time of Insecurity and Joblessness BAIDOA, Somalia — A new personal income tax in Somalia’s South West State is colliding with the hard math of life in Baidoa: few formal jobs, persistent insecurity, and threadbare public services. Authorities say the measure is essential to build a functioning state. Many residents hear it as a bill for services they cannot see. The policy, announced recently in Baidoa — the interim capital of South West State — applies to…

Vermont school district deluged with threats after raising Somali flag in show of support WINOOSKI, Vt. — A small Vermont school district has been hit with racist and threatening calls and messages after flying a Somali flag on campus to support Somali American students following President Donald Trump’s remarks referring to Minnesota’s Somali community as “garbage.” The Winooski School District began displaying the Somali flag on Dec. 5 outside its K-12 building, placing it beneath the U.S. flag and alongside Vermont’s…

KOLKATA, India — Lionel Messi’s much-hyped tour of India lurched into chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium after his appearance at a ticketed fan event ended abruptly, triggering unrest in the stands and on the pitch. Police detained the chief organiser, pledged refunds for ticket holders and said the mishandling would not go unpunished. Messi had been scheduled to spend 45 minutes at the event but departed after roughly 20 minutes. Tickets were priced from about 3,500 rupees (approximately €33), more than half the average…