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

Saturday May 16, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s intelligence service says an airstrike in the Hiiraan region wounded at least three senior al-Shabab figures and destroyed vehicles and facilities used by the militant group. The National Intelligence and Security Agency said Friday that the operation, conducted with international partners, targeted the Buq Aqable area, where al-Shabab was reportedly gathering new recruits. NISA identified the wounded commanders as Ali Hussein, described as a militia leader behind attacks in…

A fragile pause in the fighting between Israel and Lebanon is set to last a little longer after the two sides agreed to extend their ceasefire by 45 days, according to the US State Department. "The 16 April cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress," State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said. US officials described Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington over the past two days as "highly productive", saying the two countries will return to the table for further negotiations on 2 June and…

A Russian missile strike on a Kyiv apartment building has killed at least 24 people, including three children, after Ukrainian authorities raised the death toll from yesterday’s attack. The updated figure makes the assault one of the deadliest single Russian strikes on a Ukrainian city in recent months. Across the capital, more than 20 sites were hit by Russian drones and missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The barrage came only days after Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference in Moscow…

A rare visit by a North Korean football club to South Korea has triggered a rush for seats, with tickets disappearing in less than half a day, according to Seoul's football association. All 7,087 general admission tickets for the 20 May meeting between Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang Women's FC were gone roughly 12 hours after sales opened on Tuesday, a Korea Football Association official said. Suwon FC players celebrate a goal at the AFC Women's Champions League quarter final in China The teams will face off in the…

A desperate search stretched into a second day in the Maldives as rescue teams combed the waters for four missing Italians after what officials described as the country's deadliest diving accident. Italy's foreign ministry said last night that five Italian citizens had died while diving, with Maldivian authorities recovering one body. Maldives Minister of Tourism Mohamed Ameen said coast guard officers and security forces were sweeping remote seas near the area where the divers were reported missing yesterday afternoon. "I…

As nicotine pouches surge in popularity, the World Health Organization is pressing governments to tighten controls, warning that the highly addictive products are being "aggressively marketed" in ways that hold particular appeal for younger people. The small pouches, placed under the lip to deliver a nicotine buzz, have quickly emerged as a crucial growth area for major tobacco companies as cigarette smoking continues its long decline. That rise, however, has drawn mounting criticism from campaigners and researchers over the…

Collapse of Halane Talks Deepens Somalia’s Election Standoff Three days of high-stakes political talks in Mogadishu have ended in failure, sending Somalia deeper into uncertainty as a bitter dispute over elections and the legitimacy of the federal leadership intensifies. The negotiations brought together the opposition coalition known as the Future Forum, represented by former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni. Representing the government were outgoing Somali President…

Donald Trump departed China today without securing a major trade breakthrough or concrete backing from Beijing to help bring the Iran war to an end, capping a two-day visit marked more by lavish ceremony and warm words for Xi Jinping than by substantive gains. The trip to America’s principal strategic and economic rival — the first by a US president since his ⁠own visit in 2017 — was meant to produce tangible outcomes that could bolster Mr Trump as he confronts slipping approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections. Though…

Friday May 15, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali government forces said Friday they killed at least 50 al-Shabab fighters and armed militia members in a coordinated operation on the outskirts of Baidoa, in one of the latest clashes to hit the volatile Southwest region. The Ministry of Defense said the action came after an early Thursday ambush on government troops patrolling the area, an assault that left senior Somali military commanders dead. Government forces later mounted a counteroperation, killing dozens of fighters and…

From the stage of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, President Paul Kagame delivered a sharp critique of global sanctions, saying they are wielded unevenly and weaponized against weaker states. He argued that the way sanctions are imposed reflects raw power rather than justice, advantaging countries with greater strategic or economic clout. During a session moderated by CNN anchor and correspondent Eleni Giokos, African leaders were pressed on how they are navigating escalating geopolitical strains — from disputed mineral…