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

Mogadishu (AX) — On a sunny Wednesday, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) passed the baton of the Kuday Forward Operating Base (FOB) to Somali forces. It's a significant leap in the third phase of ATMIS's troop drawdown, highlighting Somalia’s budding prowess in managing its security landscape all by itself. Since 2015, this base, which sits snugly near the strategic port town of Kismayo, has been helmed by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) under ATMIS's wing. As an essential defensive anchor, it has…

FILE PHOTO Mogadishu (AX) — On Wednesday evening, a fierce skirmish erupted between the Somali military and al-Shabab insurgents near Lukugoraw, roughly 20 kilometers from Hudur in the Bakol region. Local folks shared insights, highlighting the clash erupted when al-Shabab launched a daring assault with car bombs on a military outpost, triggering relentless combat for about an hour. In a government broadcast, it was shared that their forces repelled the attack and obliterated a car bomb attempted by the rebels. “The…

The Israeli military has reported the death of Yahya Sinwar, a prominent leader of Hamas and the mastermind behind the devastating attacks on October 7, 2023, which ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to Israel Army Radio, Sinwar was killed during a tactical operation in Rafah, a city situated in southern Gaza. This encounter also resulted in the elimination of three additional militants. At 62 years old, Sinwar was notorious for orchestrating the cross-border offensives that marked the day as one of the…

**MOGADISHU (Xinhua)** -- In an update shared Thursday, a UN relief group noted a drop in humanitarian access issues, falling by 18.6% from the second to the third quarter, landing at 57 compared to the previous count of 70. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) added that three aid workers lost their lives during this timeframe. Interestingly, while these unfortunate deaths coincided with their humanitarian roles, they were not directly tied to their work but were rather outcomes of broader…

In a high-profile meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cemented plans to bolster their countries' trade and investment ties. They also issued a collective plea for peace, urging a halt to hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon.The Egyptian presidency revealed that the duo inked a pact designed to boost and safeguard shared investments. They also witnessed the creation of a supreme coordination council, aiming to tighten bonds between Riyadh and…

Deadly Blast Rocks Mogadishu Amid Foiled Al-Shabaab Plot in Western Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia - A devastating attack on a bustling teashop in Somalia's capital claimed the lives of seven people on Thursday. Eyewitnesses recounted the dreadful moment a suicide bomber unleashed destruction, targeting an establishment popular with both locals and police. Perched near the General Kaahiye Police Academy, the shop became the grim scene where seven individuals perished instantaneously. The blast left another six gravely injured,…

Recent revelations from confidential TikTok documents, unveiled in a U.S. court filing accessed by RTÉ, highlight serious concerns among senior personnel regarding the app's detrimental impact on its young users due to compulsive use. The documents also shed light on the alarming volume of content breaching TikTok’s own guidelines that remains unchecked. Among the statistics presented in the court filings, a staggering 35.71% of material categorized as 'Normalisation of Pedophilia' was found unmoderated. Additionally,…

"The Egyptian Presidential Spokesman threw a post onto the official social media scene, sprinkling news hot off the press about the recent gabfest between Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and PM, Mohammed bin Salman, and Egypt's big cheese." President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi played the welcoming committee at Cairo's bustling airport for the Crown Prince, treating him like royalty as he stepped onto familiar soil in Egypt. Taking the princely guest by the arm, El-Sisi led him over to the Ittihadiya Palace, where they rolled out the…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Efforts to stabilize Somalia’s delicate democracy hit a snag as the National Consultative Council (NCC) discussions ended in dispute on Wednesday, sparking further discord. Sources indicate that the NCC plans to regroup on October 27, but the attendance of Northeastern State's leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, and Jubaland's Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe remains uncertain following their vocal dissent during the recent conference. During the gathering, leaders struggled to reach an agreement on managing the…

Rigathi Gachagua might become the first deputy president to face impeachment since Kenya revamped its Constitution in 2010 . The Kenyan Senate has embarked on impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following a court's confirmation of their legality. The National Assembly, representing the lower house of Parliament, recently voted in favor of impeaching Gachagua on 11 charges, which include corruption, undermining governmental authority, and inciting ethnic conflicts. The 59-year-old leader has…