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

MOGADISHU, Somalia – FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday described the reported denial of entry to the United States for Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan as “unfortunate,” while making clear that football’s world governing body has no power to override decisions made by governments or security agencies. At a press conference, Infantino said FIFA was handling the matter through dialogue and diplomatic channels after reports surfaced that the internationally recognised Somali referee had been blocked from entering…

By: Joshua FreemanThursday June 11, 2026 Mayor Olivia Chow appears at an event on May 19, 2026. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says a Somali referee blocked from entering the United States for World Cup duties would be welcome to officiate in Toronto instead. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that a Somali national who had planned to referee at the World Cup was found inadmissible to the U.S. “During processing, the traveller underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers…

A late-night assault ripped through an informal settlement near Johannesburg, where gunmen opened fire and killed 12 people, South African police said. The attack unfolded shortly before midnight in a poor community of corrugated-metal shacks near an area occupied by illegal miners, according to police. Police spokeswoman said about 10 assailants were driven to the Jumpers settlement, dropped off, and then swept into the area. "The suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through both entrances and moved through…

In a bid to fortify the frontline against Ebola, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) will set up joint medical camps on the Congolese side of their shared border, a move intended to strengthen the response and speed treatment for suspected patients. President Yoweri Museveni announced the plan in an address on the Ebola situation, saying the effort is designed to bring healthcare closer to affected communities and deter risky cross-border travel that can accelerate transmission. He emphasized that…

Thursday June 11, 2026 World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday threw his support behind Somali referee Omar Artan after reports emerged that he had been refused entry to the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup. “Omar Artan didn’t just make the FIFA World Cup, he made history as the first Somali referee to get there, and as Africa’s best. That milestone stands no matter what,” Tedros said on X. He said Artan had reached the pinnacle of his profession and, in the process,…

Diyar GuldoganThursday June 11, 2026 FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday brushed aside mounting criticism over travel and visa disputes tied to the 2026 World Cup, urging detractors to “chill, relax” while defending the governing body’s response to the denial of entry to a Somali referee and other restrictions affecting teams, journalists and fans. Addressing reporters in Mexico before the tournament, Infantino said the US decision to deny entry to Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was…

A startling discovery from the depths of the Indian Ocean has uncovered what scientists say is the world’s largest whale graveyard, where a sweeping field of both recent and ancient carcasses is nourishing dense communities of deep-sea life. The site is also believed to be the deepest and oldest whale graveyard ever identified, according to research published in Nature, with some fossils traced to 5.3 million years ago. Peering out from a cramped submersible, the Chinese team encountered a cast of unusual creatures — many…

A new wave of US strikes hit multiple sites in Iran overnight, the American military said, sharpening a crisis that had already been edging back toward open war just hours after President Donald Trump warned of further attacks if no ⁠peace dealis secured. "The strikes are in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression," the military's Central Command said in a post on X, adding the strikes began after midnight in Tehran. Iran's top joint military command answered with a warning of its own, saying it would fire on…

AXADLE, Somalia – Puntland State Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor has drawn a hard line, warning that the semi-autonomous state will not tolerate military recruitment campaigns or political meetings it считает could weaken security and administration in the territory. His remarks came amid fresh tensions between Puntland State and Somalia’s federal government, with Lugatoor saying authorities in the northeast would block any effort to form federal military units or hold gatherings viewed as threatening to stability.…

By Matthew Mpoke BiggReporting from Nairobi, KenyaWednesday June 10, 2026 Khaled Desouki/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A Somali referee said Tuesday that the most important dream of his professional career had been cut short after U.S. authorities refused him entry to the country, barring him from the World Cup in North America. Omar Abdulkadir Artan was among 52 referees chosen for the tournament this summer. He was one of seven officials from Africa selected and would have become the first Somali referee to work a…