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

by Sagal-Louise HaiderSaturday April 18, 2026 In Mogadishu’s historic Xamar Weyne district, Fakhr ad-Din Mosque endures as a medieval landmark with deep global roots — and mounting vulnerability. A photograph released by the African Union-United Nations Information Support Team shows a view of the Mogadishu fishing harbor from the Aruba Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia, Aug. 6, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Sagal-Louise Haider) At the center of Somalia’s capital, Fakhr ad-Din Mosque sits almost in silence. Dating to no later than 1269,…

Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on a temporary basis after a ceasefire deal in Lebanon, fueling hopes that diplomacy could gain traction, while warning that the vital shipping lane could be shut again if the recent US Navy blockade of Iranian ports continued. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a social media post that the strait, one of the world’s most sensitive arteries for energy shipments, would remain open to all commercial traffic for the duration of the US-brokered 10-day truce. The ceasefire was struck on…

Netflix is heading into a pivotal stretch without the executive who helped build it from scratch, as Chairman Reed Hastings prepares to leave the streaming company he co-founded 29 years ago. Hastings, 65, is stepping away at a difficult moment for the business. Netflix is trying to unlock new growth as sales come under pressure from intensifying competition, while a potentially transformative merger with Warner Bros Discovery collapsed in February. Late yesterday, Netflix projected current-quarter earnings per share below…

A bomb threat targeting the Chicago-area home of Pope Leo XIV’s brother prompted an evacuation and police search, but investigators said they found no explosives or hazardous materials. Media outlets, citing police, reported that the threat was made yesterday evening at the New Lenox, Illinois, home of John Prevost. Prevost lives on the same street identified by police as the site of the incident. New Lenox police did not return a call seeking comment on the report. The episode follows an attack by US President Donald Trump…

Friday April 17, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — After days of commercial strain in Somalia’s capital, authorities in Mogadishu moved on Thursday to enforce an order compelling traders to accept the Somali shilling. Banadir Regional Governor Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab issued the directive in response to mounting complaints that refusal to take the national currency had disrupted everyday business and public transport across the city. Under the order, any trader who declines the Somali shilling will be regarded as violating the…

Friday April 17, 2026 A hard look at how political engineering, donor influence, and institutional frailty are shaping the future of the Somali state By Dr. Ali Said Faqi Two decades on, federalism in Somalia remains less a finished settlement than a work in progress — one whose contradictions now appear to threaten the stability it was meant to protect. Somalia officially embraced federalism in 2004 as a political arrangement designed to help rebuild a country shattered by collapse and civil war. It was widely viewed as a…

Burundi’s presidency says Media and Communication Minister Gabby Bugaga died in an accident, releasing fresh information about the circumstances of his death. The former journalist was discovered lifeless in his car on the outskirts of Bujumbura, a development that has prompted colleagues and observers to seek greater clarity about the incident. In a post on X, President Evariste Ndayishimiye said he was "deeply saddened" by the reports, while commending the minister’s "diligence and dedication" to his role and the nation.

Under intensifying scrutiny, elected members of the City of London Corporation have agreed to write to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and invite him to give up his freedom of the city. The honour was granted to Britain's former prince, the brother of King Charles, 14 years ago. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has faced growing pressure over his conduct and his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "Applications via patrimony are not considered or endorsed…

Friday April 17, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has issued a sharp rebuke of Israel’s decision to name a diplomatic representative to North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared region in northwestern Somalia. In a statement shared Thursday on social media platform X, the OIC said the move amounted to a breach of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, while referring to Israel as the “occupying power.” The organization reaffirmed its full support for the Federal…

In a move that has sparked widespread outcry, activist and opposition figure Zainab Sheriff was sentenced to four years in prison for incitement. Known not only for her political stance but also as a model and musician, Sheriff was arrested in February after she voiced her criticisms regarding alleged electoral fraud at a political event. The contentious results of the 2023 general elections have ignited fierce debate, with numerous opposition leaders challenging the legitimacy of the polls that allowed President Julius…