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

The High Court of Botswana has officially ruled that four out of five presidential hopefuls possess the necessary backing to vie for the nation's highest office, as stipulated by law. Among these contenders is Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is eyeing a second term in the presidency. Joining Masisi in this political contest are Duma Boko, the head of the opposition coalition known as the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC); Dumelang Saleshando, representing the Botswana Congress Party (BCP); and Mephato Reatile from the Botswana…

US Raises Alarm Over Growing Islamic State in Northern Somalia PENTAGON — The Islamic State's presence in Somalia has surged almost twofold over the past year, according to the chief of U.S. Africa Command. “Northern Somalia's situation is increasingly worrisome with ISIS numbers on the rise,” Gen. Michael Langley, AFRICOM commander, shared in an exclusive with VOA. While Langley refrained from specifying the exact number of fighters, he noted the group's size had approximately "doubled" in the last…

Mogadishu (AX) — On a tragic Sunday, a young girl named Maryan Mahad Ado, just five years old, met a harrowing end after being thrown from a five-story building in Mogadishu's Abdiaziz District. Authorities have confirmed that a number of arrests have been made in connection with this heartbreaking incident. Maryan's family shared the devastating news that she passed away on Monday morning, mere hours after the incident. Her mother revealed that Maryan had been on her way home from Quranic school when she was thrown from…

Visceral fat is one of the most harmful types of fat, as it surrounds your internal organs and poses serious health risksincluding an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions. Unlike subcutaneous fat, which is stored directly under the skin, visceral fat is located deep in the abdomen, making it more difficult to burn off. To combat this stubborn fat, high-intensity workouts are very effective, as they raise your heart rate, engage…

Mogadishu (AX) – Djibouti's intriguing suggestion as a potential remedy for the ongoing diplomatic rift between Somalia and Ethiopia remains unanswered by Ethiopia, Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf disclosed. In a tête-à-tête with VOA, Youssouf shared that the ball is still in Ethiopia’s court regarding the management and use of the Tojorah port, nestled in Djibouti's northern expanse. This port has been proposed by Djibouti as an alternate maritime gateway for landlocked Ethiopia, heavily dependent on…

The initiatory step in this journey is the submission of a formal motion by a coalition of MPs, igniting spirited debate in Somalia's Parliament. Take the case of Foreign Minister Ahmed Macalin Fiqi—over 46 MPs have rallied, accusing him of neglecting Somalia's sovereignty amid a tense diplomatic tussle with Ethiopia. They're also up in arms about a Somali company's exclusion from the 2025 Japan trade expo, where an Italian-owned business snagged a spot instead. MP Jeesoow, among the most ardent advocates for the motion,…

The World Health Organization (WHO) is ramping up efforts to provide medical assistance to Rwanda in its fight against the Marburg virus disease (MVD), a lethal hemorrhagic fever that has tragically resulted in nine fatalities to date. According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, authorities have pinpointed around 300 individuals who were in close contact with confirmed cases and are currently under vigilant observation. MVD, a severe virus primarily spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of…

Mogadishu (AX) — Sub-Saharan Africa's arms trade is witnessing a seismic shift. Traditional suppliers, Russia for example, are losing their stronghold to rising competitors like China and Turkey. A fresh series of reports from the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), titled "Importing (In)security: The Evolving Arms Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa," outlines this transformation, spotlighting China as a burgeoning force in the region's arms market.In a significant shift, many Sub-Saharan African countries…

In a remarkable turn of events, the individual who has held the title of the longest-serving death row inmate globally has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his supporters. This outpouring of appreciation comes on the heels of a groundbreaking decision by a Japanese court that last week annulled his long-standing murder conviction. After an arduous journey for justice, primarily spearheaded by his devoted sister, the 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada was finally exonerated of the quadruple homicide for which he endured an…

In a striking turn of events, the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) has made history by clinching a significant win in the recent Austrian parliamentary elections. However, this victory has left the party somewhat in a lurch, balancing precariously under the scrutiny of a prominent adversary: the president, who holds the reins in guiding the search for a workable coalition government. For the first time ever, the Eurosceptic and pro-Russia Freedom Party garnered 29% of the vote, yet this figure falls short of securing a…