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

Wednesday April 8, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni has placed the region’s security forces on full alert, citing a mix of threats that he said range from terrorism and piracy to infiltration from within. Addressing senior officers and troops on Monday in Qardho district, Deni said Puntland State was fighting what he called a “just war” to protect its people and its territory. “Puntland State is waging a just war to defend its people and its land,” Deni said. “We will not give our forces wrong…

By Manuel NtoyaiWednesday April 8, 2026 A sweeping security raid in Nairobi has uncovered what investigators suspect is a dangerous terror supply line, after officers seized dozens of bales of alleged Al-Shabaab combat uniforms concealed in Eastleigh. The nighttime, intelligence-driven operation around the busy KBS Garage area brought together a multi-agency team led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Starehe and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), who moved in on a consignment thought to be part of a broader…

Zimbabwe’s human rights watchdog has warned that public hearings on proposed constitutional changes are being undermined by intimidation and the exclusion of critics, with opponents of the bill reportedly singled out. The Zimbabwean Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) noted strong turnout at the sessions and praised Parliament for widely promoting the hearings and inviting written submissions. However, it flagged serious risks to participants’ safety. Commission Chairperson Jessie Majome said that "whilst those in support...…

After a week in captivity in Baghdad, US journalist Shelly Kittleson has been freed by Iraq's powerful armed faction Kataeb Hezbollah, according to statements from the Iranian-backed group and the United States. News of her release came just hours before the United States and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement, ending more than a month of war. "In recognition of the national stances of the outgoing prime minister, we have decided to release the American defendant Shelly Kittleson, on the condition that she leave the country…

Anthony ZurcherWednesday April 8, 2026 For now, at least, the crisis stepped back from the brink. At 18:32 Washington time, President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform that the US and Iran were "very far along" toward a "definitive" peace agreement and that he had accepted a two-week ceasefire to keep talks moving. It was not quite the final bell, but it came close: Trump’s deadline of 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT on Wednesday) had been looming, with the warning that if no deal emerged, the US would unleash major…

The aspirations of former Senegalese President Macky Sall to ascend to the role of UN Secretary-General have hit an impasse following the African Union's (AU) decision to withhold formal endorsement. On March 27, the AU announced that 20 out of its 55 member nations either opposed Sall's candidacy or sought an extension on the tightly constrained 24-hour deadline. Djiby Sow, a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), emphasized that this outcome does not reflect discord among African nations. Instead,…

Monday April 6, 2026 Türkiye is pushing back hard against an online attempt to tie it to the downing of a U.S. F-15 fighter jet over Iran, with the country’s official anti-disinformation body saying the claims are part of a broader campaign to draw Ankara into the war. The Directorate of Communication’s Center for Combating Disinformation dismissed allegations that Turkish air-defense systems shot down a U.S. F-15 and that Ankara is arming Iran with advanced anti-aircraft and UAV missiles. In a statement on…

A single social media post set the tone for a day of global alarm: the president of the United States appeared to threaten the destruction of Iran itself. "A whole civilisation will die tonight," he wrote, "never to be brought back again". In Washington, the backlash was immediate and fierce. "Unhinged," "deranged," "lunatic," and "genocidal" were among the terms used by political opponents, with many demanding he be removed from office. Many Republicans, by contrast, sought to soften the impact of the comments, urging the…

Wednesday April 8, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A fresh political row has broken out over seat HOP204 in Somalia’s House of the People after incumbent lawmaker Isaaq Ali Subag said the post was put to vote while he was still serving in office and had never stepped down. The indirect election, held Tuesday in Baidoa, produced Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport Abdulqadir Mohamed Nur Jama as the winner with 96 votes from delegates. But the result has quickly raised questions about whether the seat was properly declared vacant…

A pair of deadly attacks in southern Lebanon that killed three UN peacekeepers last month were most likely caused by Israeli tank fire in one case and a Hezbollah improvised explosive device in another, according to preliminary findings from a United Nations investigation shared last night. "We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers," Stephane…