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

Raphinha hat-trick powers Barcelona past Sevilla to keep La Liga lead Leaders win 5-2 at Montjuïc; Cancelo and Olmo on target as Sevilla concede two early penalties Raphinha scored three times — including two first-half penalties — as Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-2 at home on Sunday to maintain a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. The Brazil winger converted spot-kicks seven minutes apart in the opening period after João Cancelo twice drew fouls in the area. Dani Olmo added a third before halftime, and…

Bruno Fernandes closed in on the Premier League single-season assists record as Manchester United tightened its grip on Champions League qualification with a 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Sunday, while Tottenham halted a damaging losing run by snatching a 1-1 draw at Liverpool. Fernandes set up two of United’s goals at Villa Park to move to 16 assists this league campaign, four shy of the record of 20 jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. The Portugal playmaker, who now has 100 assists as a United player in all…

Intense Clashes Erupt in Sudan's Kordofan Region The Sudanese Kordofan region has become a focal point of intense conflict as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched coordinated attacks on strategic locations. This escalation aims to isolate el-Obeid, a vital hub in the ongoing conflict. RSF targeted North Kordofan city of Bara and South Kordofan city of Dilling. The conflict marks a pivotal phase in the three-year war between the army and RSF. Tens of thousands have been displaced, exacerbating humanitarian…

Oil prices climb past $106 as Hormuz standstill chokes global energy flows Oil prices extended gains at the start of the week as markets saw little prospect of a swift end to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that typically carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil. Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose as much as 3% on Sunday to top $106 a barrel before easing slightly. It traded at $104.63 as of 04:30 GMT Monday, up nearly 1.5%. Brent crude: $104.63 at 04:30 GMT, after briefly topping $106…

Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran is seeking talks with the United States but added that the country’s leaders are “all dead,” a remark that left unclear who he was referring to or what prompted the comment. Trump did not provide details to substantiate the assertion. It was not immediately clear whether he meant specific figures within Iran’s political or security establishment or was speaking hyperbolically. No official response from Tehran was immediately available, and there was no public indication…

Somalia’s NISA says 22 al-Shabaab fighters, including senior commanders, killed in Mudug and Hiran raids MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Sunday its operatives killed at least 22 al-Shabaab fighters, including several senior operational commanders, during two separate counterterrorism operations in the country’s central regions. NISA said the first raid struck a militant gathering in Dumaaye, in the Mudug region, where security forces killed about 15 fighters. Among those the…

Monday March 16, 2026 ARUSHA, Tanzania — Nine Somali representatives were sworn in Monday to the East African Community Legislative Assembly (EALA), marking Somalia’s first formal participation in the regional parliament since joining the East African Community in 2023. The ceremony at EALA headquarters in Arusha followed the resolution of legal challenges that had temporarily delayed Somalia’s entry into the assembly. The East African Court of Justice cleared the way for the lawmakers to take their seats, ending months of…

Two young people die as meningitis cases rise to 13 in Canterbury area, UKHSA says Two young people have died following a meningitis outbreak linked to a cluster in the Canterbury area of Kent, as health officials confirm 13 people with signs and symptoms since Friday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had been notified of 13 cases with signs and symptoms of meningitis between Friday and yesterday in and around Canterbury. Some students at the University of Kent have been given antibiotics as a precaution while…

President Peter Mutharika has been asked to dismiss Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamveka and Attorney General Frank Mbeta and to suspend George Partridge, governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, over their alleged links to the controversial Amaryllis Hotel deal, according to a statement released Friday. The purchase of the luxury Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF) has triggered a high-stakes public finance controversy. Lawmakers on the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament have opened an…

BAIDOA, Somalia — South West State authorities on Monday ordered senior military and security officers not to leave Baidoa, imposing an immediate travel ban that underscores rising tension with Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu. The emergency directive, issued by the South West State Ministry of Internal Security, requires all designated security officials to remain in the regional capital “until further notice.” The ministry framed the measure as necessary to “guarantee general security and stability” amid reports…