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

Toby MannTuesday May 26, 2026 A US-AF F-35 Lightning II fighter jet pictured in April 2026 The United States said it carried out fresh strikes in southern Iran, hitting missile positions and boats it said were trying to lay mines, in the latest sign that tensions remain high despite talk of a ceasefire. US Central Command said the operation was conducted in "self-defense" and aimed "to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces". Capt Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, said the military "continues to…

BP has removed Irish chairman Albert Manifold with immediate effect, saying today that the decision followed concerns over governance standards, oversight and conduct, just months after he was brought in to help steer a strategic reset. His exit, after roughly eight months in the role, adds to a turbulent period for the oil major, which has been rocked by scandal and repeated upheaval at the top. Less than three years ago, former BP chief executive Bernard Looney was dismissed after misleading the board about personal…

Tuesday May 26, 2026 Dabbasa Dambi and Gurracha Dambala Addis Abeba – Two Borana elders from Kenya’s Marsabit County, held for nearly two weeks on suspicion of ties to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), have been freed after a court accepted a property bail totaling 14 million Kenyan shillings, or about 17.3 million Ethiopian Birr, their defense lawyer told Addis Standard. The men — Dabbasa Dambi, a former administrator of Gololle village, and Gurracha Dambala, a respected elder from Sololo — walked out of custody yesterday…

Tuesday May 26, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Supreme Court has upheld the results of Southwest State’s House of Representatives election, endorsing the figures released by the electoral commission after reviewing complaints and supporting documents tied to the vote. In a ruling issued Monday, the court said it had considered objections to the electoral process, written submissions and reports from the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission before determining that the outcome was consistent with Somali…

The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm over a rapidly deteriorating Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning that relentless violence and a deepening humanitarian emergency are undermining efforts to contain the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the epicenter lies in Ituri Province, a conflict-hit area where nearly five million people live amid persistent insecurity and a severe humanitarian crisis. Ongoing attacks are forcing civilians to flee alongside health…

Vast stretches of Mozambique’s farmland remain untouched, and a new Agriculture and Livestock census is putting hard numbers on just how much potential lies idle. According to the survey, only 18% of the country’s 36 million hectares of arable land is currently under cultivation, underscoring both the scale of opportunity and the obstacles farming families face in boosting crop production. Speaking at the launch of the report, Minister of Planning and Development Salim Vala said the findings point to a central reality for…

A dangerous chemical scare that forced tens of thousands from their homes in southern California eased on Sunday, with officials saying conditions had improved enough for many residents to return. Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said authorities were able to shrink the evacuation area after reviewing fresh data and consulting subject matter experts. "For those that remain impacted, I know this may be frustrating. That number is approximately 16,000 of you. Please understand that we are doing this for your safety, and…

Tuesday May 26, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s attorney general said Monday that detained bajaj driver and activist Sadia Moallim Ali Hassan will soon appear in court, declaring that her case has now moved into the final phase of investigation and prosecution. Attorney General Suleyman Mohamed Mahmoud said the proceedings have followed legal procedures and dismissed criticism of the justice system as misinformation. He said Ali was taken into custody on April 21 and presented before a court within 48 hours, in line with…

In a surprising turn of events, Senegal's Parliament has appointed Ousmane Sonko as Speaker, just a few days following his dismissal from the government by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political rift between the two former allies and comes after months of escalating tensions within the administration.

A Spanish national evacuated from a cruise ship earlier this month and now quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid has tested positive for hantavirus, Spain's Health Ministry said, sharpening concern around an outbreak that began at sea. The case is the second positive result among 14 Spanish nationals flown to the Spanish island of Tenerife from the luxury liner MV Hondius. The ship was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was first reported to the…