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

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…

A fresh wave of Russian missiles and drones tore into Ukraine's Kharkiv region, killing four people and injuring more than 20, officials said, as authorities in Russia-annexed Crimea reported they were fending off drone attacks. The bombardment comes after weeks of heavy cross-border strikes by both Russia and Ukraine. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for an end to the war and suggested direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, with the United States and Europe actively involved. The newest attacks…

Wednesday June 10, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — In a dramatic turn on Wednesday, Southwest State presidential candidate Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden pulled out of the election in Baidoa, saying the process had been compromised by what he described as breaches of an agreement meant to safeguard ballot secrecy and the credibility of the vote. At a news conference, Sharif Hassan said he, the electoral commission and the acting president had previously agreed that lawmakers would not be allowed to take mobile phones into the election hall.…

More than 460 former European leaders and senior officials are urging the EU to harden its stance on Israel, warning that the bloc is failing to respond forcefully enough to the intensifying military campaign in Gaza and the West Bank. The signatories include a broad cross-section of political heavyweights — former prime ministers, European Commissioners, government ministers, ambassadors, MEPs and senior EU officials. Among them are former taoiseach Leo Varadkar, former tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and former president of the…

Wednesday June 10, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Somalia’s Lower House Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe secured the presidency of Southwest State on Wednesday in a vote in Baidoa that unfolded after a leading contender pulled out, citing alleged election irregularities. The Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced that Madobe won 88 votes. Abdiasis Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawaari, his remaining rival, received one vote, and one ballot was ruled invalid. Ninety members of the Southwest House of…