Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Khartoum International Airport became the focal point of conflict on Monday as Sudanese air defenses intercepted drones, according to reports from military and local sources. This incident marks an escalation in the ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A military source told AFP, "Our air defenses successfully downed drones that were targeting Khartoum airport," asserting that the situation remained under control. Loud explosions and anti-aircraft fire were reported…

A confirmed case of hantavirus on board a cruise ship anchored off Cape Verde has prompted heightened precautions as authorities monitor passengers and crew. Two Irish citizens are among the 149 people aboard MV Hondius. Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the vessel, said strict safeguards have been introduced on board, including isolation procedures and enhanced hygiene measures. Here is a brief chronology of developments: 24 April: The body of a passenger was taken from the ship, with his wife accompanying it. 27…

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who became the face of the city’s response to the September 11 attacks, remained in critical condition as he recovered from pneumonia, according to a spokesman. Giuliani, 81, a one-time close ally of US President Donald Trump, has been removed from a mechanical ventilator and is now breathing on his own, spokesman Ted Goodman said on X. Goodman did not say where the former mayor — once dubbed “America’s mayor” after the September 11 attacks — is being treated or when he was admitted…

A shooting involving law enforcement near the heart of Washington prompted a rapid response Sunday, with the US Secret Service confirming that one person was shot. "Us Secret Service personnel are on the ‌scene of an officer-involved shooting ⁠at ‌15th Street and Independence Avenue in Washington, ⁠DC. "One individual was shot by law ⁠enforcement; their condition is currently ⁠unknown," the Secret Service said in a statement on X. The ‌White House went into a brief lockdown this afternoon. "The scene is ⁠secure. ‌Avoid the…

By Pranav Baskar and Matthew Mpoke BiggMonday May 4, 2026 A brazen seizure off Yemen has renewed fears that Somali pirates are regaining their footing — and raised fresh suspicions that they may be operating alongside Iran-backed Houthi rebels amid upheaval across the Middle East. Maritime police forces from the Puntland State region of Somalia patrolling the Gulf of Aden last year.Credit...Feisal Omar/Reuters Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker off Yemen’s coast on Saturday and steered it into Somali waters, authorities…

The fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States was on the brink on Monday as both sides exchanged fire around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while the United Arab Emirates said it had come under attack for the first time since the truce was declared nearly a month ago. One day after US President Donald Trump announced an operation to escort stranded vessels through the vital waterway, Fox News reported that he warned Iran would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it attacked US ships. Iran, however, gave no…

By Khadar M LeyliMonday May 4, 2026 Symbiotic Antagonists  A familiar political pattern is unfolding around Somali Regional State President Mustafa Omer: longtime rivals are setting aside their own enmities for one purpose only — to attack him. What brings together this uneasy alliance is not a common blueprint for Ethiopia or for the Somali Region, but a shared determination to tarnish a leader they regard as an obstacle to their ambitions.  This coalition of symbiotic antagonists — TPLF loyalists still bitter over their…

Monday May 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Police Force Commander General Asad Osman Abdullahi on Monday hosted a senior Turkish delegation in Mogadishu, in a meeting centered on expanding security cooperation between the two countries. Officials said the talks were aimed at deepening bilateral ties in the security field, with a particular focus on training initiatives and efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Somali Police Force, including its elite Haramcad unit. The meeting comes amid continuing efforts…

Somalia’s politics is shaped by clan history, security conditions and an election process that has often relied on indirect voting. As the country moves through the 2026 electoral cycle, young people—now a large share of the population—are seeking more voice through civic groups, political parties, and candidate engagement, while facing barriers linked to money, access and institutional design.Analysts and election-focused organisations say youth participation is increasingly visible in public forums and voter-related…

An unfolding health emergency aboard a cruise ship off Cape Verde has drawn international concern, with two Irish passengers among 149 people on board after a case of hantavirus was confirmed. Oceanwide Expeditions, the vessel’s operator, said the MV Hondius is carrying 149 people from 23 nationalities and remains in what it described as “a serious medical situation”. The company said strict precautions are being enforced on board, including isolation procedures, hygiene measures and ongoing medical monitoring. A…