Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

By  MOGOMOTSI MAGOMEThursday April 16, 2026 Julius Malema, one of South Africa’s most prominent and polarizing opposition figures, was handed a five-year prison sentence Thursday after being convicted of violating firearm laws for firing a rifle at a political rally in 2018. He was released while he awaits the outcome of an appeal, which will be heard at a later date. If the conviction and sentence are ultimately confirmed, Malema would lose his seat in Parliament. Under South African law, anyone sentenced to more than 12…

A shocking new survey highlights a distressing trend in Liberia: a staggering 90% of women reportedly use antibiotics monthly to address their menstrual issues. This revelation has alarmed health experts, who label the findings "frightening" and express deep concern about the potential for escalating antibiotic resistance within the nation. Antibiotic misuse has long been a significant issue plaguing Liberia's healthcare system. Health officials are increasingly worried that the very medications essential for treating…

With diplomacy and battlefield rhetoric colliding, Israel's security cabinet met tonight to weigh a possible ceasefire in Lebanon, according to a senior Israeli official, more than six weeks after a war with Hezbollah spun out of the wider US-Israeli confrontation with Iran. Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump suggested the war with Iran might be nearing an end, telling the public to brace for an "amazing two days". Another senior Israeli official said Benjamin Netanyahu's government was facing intense pressure…

AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State’s ministerial council on Thursday pressed Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to use the last month of his tenure to forge a broad political settlement, warning that uncertainty is deepening as key federal mandates run out. The appeal came after a cabinet session led by Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni, where officials examined the country’s political situation. The debate has sharpened since the federal parliament’s mandate officially expired on April 14, 2026. "The Council…

Malawi’s opposition leader Simplex Chithyola Banda says his arrest marks a “deeply instructive chapter” in his life—one that has tested but not shaken his resolve. Addressing reporters after securing bail, the usually combative politician struck a notably restrained tone and urged Malawians to pray for the country. Banda was detained on allegations of abuse of office tied to a contentious fertilizer-for-soya exchange arrangement involving the Romanian company East Bridge Estates. The saga has gripped public attention,…

An apparently AI-generated image of Jesus embracing US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy around the Republican leader, coming just two days after he removed another post that drew backlash for seeming to liken himself to Christ. Reposted on Mr Trump's Truth Social account, the image depicts Mr Trump with his eyes shut, leaning temple-to-temple with Jesus, who is shown in the same pose. Mr Trump appears behind a microphone, with an American flag visible in the background. The original post carried the caption:…

Thursday April 16, 2026 A tense standoff at one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors escalated sharply after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the United States and Iran ended without an agreement, prompting Washington to announce a blockade. A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province on April 12, 2026. / Reuters Tehran quickly responded with its own threat, warning that if the US naval blockade persists, Iran could move to choke trade routes through the Red Sea as well as the…

The African Development Bank Group is set to convene its 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from May 25 to 29. The event will focus on the theme: "Mobilising Africa's Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World." For further details, visit the AfDB section on AllAfrica.

Steven Spielberg gave CinemaCon in Las Vegas an early jolt with new footage from his upcoming sci-fi feature Disclosure Day, telling the audience there is “more truth than fiction” behind the film’s premise. The Oscar-winning filmmaker introduced the project during Universal’s presentation at the annual convention of cinema owners and industry executives. With Disclosure Day, Spielberg returns once again to alien-themed storytelling, almost 50 years after Close Encounters of the Third Kind first brought his fascination with…

Thursday April 16, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Thursday sharply criticized Israel’s appointment of an ambassador to North Western State of Somalia, saying the decision infringes on Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Israel’s move to name an ambassador to the self-declared breakaway region in northern Somalia amounted to “a direct breach of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” and ran counter to international law, including the…