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

Thursday May 21, 2026 Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, on Wednesday issued a sharp condemnation of any plan by North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared authorities in Somalia’s northwestern region, to open an embassy in occupied Jerusalem. In a statement, Aboul-Gheit said such a step would have no legal standing and would amount to a blatant provocation to the Arab and Islamic worlds. "Such rapprochement seeks to solicit illegitimate recognition of Israel from entities and regions…

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday sharply condemned reports that the self-declared “North Western State of Somalia” region intends to open an embassy in al-Quds, a move that would further signal growing ties between the Israeli regime and the breakaway territory in the Horn of Africa. In a press statement, the OIC General Secretariat said it was deeply alarmed by media reports about plans by “North Western State of Somalia” to establish a so-called “embassy” in occupied Jerusalem. It…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Health said Thursday it is stepping up emergency readiness after Ebola outbreaks were reported in East and Central Africa, with officials moving quickly to reinforce surveillance and public awareness before any case reaches the country. State Minister of Health Dr. Maryan Mohamed Hussein said the federal government is prioritizing early detection, public education and coordination with regional health workers to help keep the disease out of Somalia. “Today, we are…

A defendant embroiled in the alleged coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu in late 2025 has disclosed a chilling tactic: plans to cut off electricity to the Presidential Villa during the assault. Another accused individual shared insights on a recruitment strategy targeting personnel within the villa, aiming to enlist soldiers and officials from the State Security Service. Multiple defendants, including high-ranking army officers, are facing trial in a federal court located in Abuja. They confront a serious 13-count…

South Africa will begin offering the twice-yearly HIV prevention shot lenacapavir (LEN) on June 5, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced, hailing a major step forward in the fight against the virus. For individuals who are HIV-negative, the long-acting injection has proven to be almost completely effective at preventing sexual transmission. But new drugs alone won’t end the epidemic, argue Mitchell Warren, executive director of the international health advocacy group AVAC, and Wawira Nyagah, executive director of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A reported plan by North Western State of Somalia to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem has drawn sharp condemnation from the Arab League, after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit spoke by phone about the region’s increasingly tense geopolitical climate, officials said. The conversation focused on stability in the Horn of Africa and what both sides described as the need for a coordinated response to the move by the breakaway region. Both leaders…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Health on Thursday stepped up Ebola preparedness efforts after new outbreaks were reported in East and Central Africa, warning that the country must remain vigilant as the virus spreads in the region. State Minister of Health Dr. Maryan Mohamed Hussein said federal authorities are concentrating on early detection, public education and closer coordination with regional health workers to keep the disease from entering Somalia. “Today, we are working on the…

Outrage spread across Western capitals after Israel’s far-right security minister released a video showing Gaza-bound flotilla activists pinned to the ground, a scene that quickly deepened into a diplomatic row when two detainees later alleged they were physically assaulted in custody. The handling of the activists by police officers operating under Itamar Ben-Gvir’s authority also prompted criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and from the United States, Israel’s staunchest ally. The activists had been…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said the deadly attack was a stark reminder of what happens when Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate are allowed to spread unchecked. The US House of Representatives held a moment of silence for the victims of the recent shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego. On the House floor, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said she spoke "with a heavy heart" as she paid tribute to Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, who were killed when two teenage gunmen opened fire at the mosque…

Mount Everest saw an unprecedented rush of climbers yesterday, with a record 274 people reaching the summit from the Nepali side in a single day — the most ever to stand atop the world’s highest mountain in 24 hours. Rising 8,849 metres, Everest sits on the border between Nepal and China’s Tibet region, and expeditions can approach the peak from either side. But expedition operators said no climbers attempted the mountain from the Tibetan side this year after Chinese authorities did not issue permits. Among those who reached…