Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Hanna Tetteh, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, warned that momentum toward national elections and the creation of unified institutions is faltering, and that the public’s patience is being tested by sluggish progress. She cautioned that some key actors are ignoring the "expectations of the public" about their role in the political process, undermining hopes for timely reform. “There are both national and regional risks to any continued inaction and foot dragging on the implementation of the roadmap and we believe it…

BRUSSELS — The European Union and its member states have signed off on a €75 million contribution to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, cementing the bloc’s position as the mission’s biggest financial supporter. The latest package lifts total EU assistance to a string of African Union-led operations in Somalia over the past 20 years to nearly €2.8 billion, highlighting the bloc’s enduring investment in security efforts across the Horn of Africa. Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political…

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has lodged a formal protest with his South African counterpart after widely shared videos purportedly showing xenophobic assaults on Ghanaian nationals sparked outrage online. Calling the footage “extremely disturbing,” Ablakwa pressed South African authorities to act swiftly. “The South African Foreign Minister has expressed empathy with the victims and promised full-scale investigations into these depressing incidents,” Ablakwa said on social media. He added that…

Rodrigo Duterte is set to stand trial at the International Criminal Court after judges cleared the way for proceedings over crimes against humanity tied to his so-called "war on drugs." In a statement, the ICC said pre-trial judges had "unanimously confirmed all the charges... against Rodrigo Roa Duterte and committed him to trial." The case marks a first for the court: Mr Duterte will become the first former Asian head of state to go on trial before the ICC, which is tasked with prosecuting individuals accused of the…

By Mohamed OladThursday April 23, 2026 With Ethiopia’s 7th National Elections just days away, the political temperature in the Somali Regional State is rising fast. In that charged atmosphere, old networks tied to the Abdi Iley era — including some of his former close advisers — and a diaspora faction of the ONLF have turned to smear politics as their chosen weapon. Their campaign against President Mustafa Omer has grown increasingly loud, multilingual, and contradictory, revealing more about the tactics of its authors than…

Iran has released dramatic footage of commandos boarding a massive cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring its tightening hold on the strategic passage after peace talks broke down. Washington had pinned hopes on the negotiations to reopen what is widely regarded as the world's most vital shipping route. On Iranian state television, masked forces were shown racing up to the MSC Francesca in a speedboat, scaling a rope ladder to a hull door and leaping inside with rifles in hand. The video, set to an…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday opened the new headquarters of the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport, placing fresh emphasis on the government’s push to turn the maritime sector into a pillar of economic growth. Addressing the ceremony in Mogadishu, the president said the federal government is giving priority to upgrading ports, reinforcing maritime security and safeguarding marine resources as part of a broader effort to support long-term national…

A last-minute diplomatic tussle has grounded Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s planned trip to Eswatini, with Taipei accusing Beijing of leaning on other nations to deny overflight permissions—an action it condemned as a breach of international norms and a risk to aviation safety. Taiwan said Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar withdrew Lai’s flight clearances under “intense pressure” and economic coercion from China. Beijing rejected the coercion claim and instead lauded the three Indian Ocean countries, saying it held…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia has renewed its sharp condemnation of Iran’s recent attacks on Arab countries, voicing unequivocal backing for Gulf and regional governments and urging a united front to safeguard Middle East stability. Deputy Foreign Minister Hasan Mohamed Ali set out Somalia’s position at an extraordinary ministerial session of the League of Arab States, held by videoconference on Tuesday. The meeting focused on a draft resolution put forward by Bahrain over Iran’s actions and its…

In a move that escalates a bitter political standoff, the Zambian government says it has taken custody of former president Edgar Lungu’s body—10 months after his death in South Africa—despite the family’s objections. The clash revives a long-running feud between Lungu and his successor, Hakainde Hichilema. The family has responded by filing an urgent application in a South African high court, seeking an order to return the former president’s body to the funeral home where it was originally kept.