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

Israel says it has killed Hamas's newly installed armed wing commander in Gaza, only days after killing his predecessor, as it ramps up military pressure in the enclave and broadens its campaign in Lebanon. The Israeli military said Mohammad Odeh was killed in an operation in Gaza tomorrow. Hamas has not issued an official statement, though a message from Odeh's family said he was killed alongside his wife and son. Gaza health officials said six people were killed in the same Israeli strike, including at least one woman, and…

Wednesday May 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s political standoff has entered another waiting period, but mediators say the effort to bring the federal government and opposition back to the table is still alive. On Tuesday, traditional elders involved in the process met with leaders of the Somali Future Council, saying the talks have been slowed by logistical and procedural hurdles rather than derailed. Garaad Jamac Garaad Ali, who is part of the mediation team, said the main setback has been the incomplete formation of…

In a troubling revelation, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has reported that around 30,000 armed Fulani militants are currently active in Nigeria, exacerbating issues of insecurity and threatening religious freedoms throughout the nation. The USCIRF's latest report, titled "Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants," characterizes these armed groups as among the most lethal non-state actors engaging in violent activities, particularly in the Middle Belt and…

Europe is sweltering through a punishing heatwave this week, with temperatures surging to levels rarely seen this early in the year. The continent is heating faster than any other on Earth, and its reach into the rapidly warming Arctic is helping drive the trend. Record May temperatures were shattered in Ireland, France and the UK on Monday and yesterday, and forecasters say the intense heat is far from over as even hotter conditions loom in the days ahead. At the center of the episode is a so-called "heat dome" — a mass of…

Wednesday May 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Independent Human Rights Commission has launched a preliminary probe into reports that civilians were killed in the Lower Juba region. In a statement issued Tuesday, the commission said the incident occurred on May 20 in the Diigta Margoos area of Kamjiroon, where armed men were reported to have killed civilians. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. “The commission is gathering information on what happened and the circumstances surrounding the…

With tensions simmering in South Africa and protesters demanding tougher action on immigration, Ghana has started flying home its nationals in a move aimed at heading off the threat of xenophobic violence. Ghanaian authorities began repatriating the first group of citizens from South Africa as fears grew over anti-immigrant demonstrations and the possibility of attacks on foreigners. Around 300 people were expected to depart from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, and 800 Ghanaians have registered to return…

A surge in Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon killed 31 people yesterday, Lebanon’s health ministry said, as Israel signaled it was stepping up its campaign despite a truce in the war with Hezbollah. At the same time, Hezbollah said its fighters were confronting Israeli troops who had moved into the southern town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, while the Israeli military said it was widening its ground offensive. In a statement, the health ministry said 31 people were killed in the attacks and 40 wounded, among them at least…

Wednesday May 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s top leadership joined worshippers in the capital Wednesday morning as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre attended Eid al-Adha prayers alongside government officials and hundreds of others at the Mosque of Islamic Solidarity in Mogadishu. After the prayers, Mohamud extended holiday greetings to Somalis and offered prayers for peace, prosperity and lasting development in every part of the country. “We will never forget to remind ourselves of…

In a groundbreaking move for regional connectivity, the Republic of Congo has declared that, starting January 1, 2027, all African citizens will enjoy visa-free entry into the country. This initiative aims to simplify cross-border travel and enhance regional integration across the continent. This new policy is set to facilitate travel for various purposes, including business, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges. It embodies the Republic of Congo's commitment to the African Union's broader integration agenda and…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has put the National Assembly on notice: if lawmakers push ahead with an impeachment process over his conduct in the Phala Phala saga, he says he will be “compelled” to ask the Western Cape High Court for an interdict to stop it. The warning revives a controversy that has dogged Ramaphosa since 2022, when an independent panel concluded he might have committed serious misconduct linked to the theft of large sums of cash that had been hidden in a sofa at his private farm. Ramaphosa has repeatedly…