Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Somalia braces for a decisive political test as May 10 approaches, with the country’s leadership, opposition and international partners all watching a meeting that could shape the next phase of its transition. MOGADISHU — As the four-year term of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud nears its end, the spotlight has shifted to May 10, a date many now view as critical to the country’s political future. Mohamud has officially invited members of a national consultative forum to a high-level meeting set for that day. The…

Sunday May 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s opposition leaders say the country is drifting into dangerous political territory, warning that an approaching electoral transition could trigger a constitutional showdown. At a press conference in Mogadishu on Saturday, the politicians said they had spent recent days consulting widely with traditional elders, scholars, women, young people, media figures, and civil society activists about the country’s political climate and the road to elections. “We agreed to safeguard the…

President Donald Trump has intensified a brewing dispute with key European allies, declaring the planned withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany is only the start as tensions widen over the Middle East war. The Pentagon unveiled the 5,000-troop drawdown on Friday, but Mr Trump signalled on Saturday that the cut would go deeper. "We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000," he told reporters, without offering further details. The latest move comes after a public clash between Mr Trump and…

Sunday May 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — With his term set to expire in less than two weeks, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called members of the Somali Future Council to a high-level meeting in Mogadishu on May 10, 2026, as political friction deepens over the country’s next steps. In a statement released Saturday, the presidency said the invitation came after the president consulted with a range of social groups in recent days. The planned gathering is expected to examine major national issues, among them Somalia’s…

MOGADISHU, Somalia 3 May 2026 – As Somalia observes World Press Freedom Day, journalists across the country and in North Western State of Somalia say they are working under growing threats and constraints, with reporters increasingly targeted as the nation navigates political uncertainty and electoral tensions. Operating already amid severe challenges, media workers in Somalia and North Western State of Somalia are reporting a rise in arbitrary arrests, threats and intimidation by state actors. That pressure has fostered a…

A suspected extortion plot involving baby food took a significant turn on Thursday, when Austrian police said they arrested a 39-year-old man linked to a case in which rat poison was placed in jars of baby food. Authorities previously said five "manipulated" jars of the same HiPP baby food product were recovered safely last month in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia before anyone could consume them. German ‌police said ⁠at the time that a sixth jar believed to have been in Austria has still not been located. "Today we…

A Peter Kay performance at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena was abruptly cut short and the crowd evacuated on Thursday night after what was reported as a potential suspicious bag, though British police later said their searches uncovered nothing опасious. West Midlands Police said a 19-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax offence remains in custody. The comedian’s set was stopped after the discovery of what was described as a "potential suspicious bag". In a statement issued this morning, police said: "Following…

Saturday May 2, 2026 The Kenya African National Union (KANU) has appealed for calm and restraint after a surge of insecurity along the Mwingi–Garissa Road corridor in Kitui County. KANU chairman Gideon Moi said the recent violence was a matter of serious national concern and sent condolences to the families who have lost relatives. “Resource-based disputes must never be allowed to descend into violence, senseless killings, or wanton looting,” Moi said. “The loss of life and destruction of property only deepen divisions and…

An oil tanker was hijacked by unidentified assailants off Yemen’s coast in the Gulf of Aden and forced toward Somalia, according to Yemen’s coast guard. The agency said the tanker EUREKA was taken near Yemen’s Shabwa province by a group that “boarded, took control of it, then steered it ... in the direction of the Somali coast”. ]The coast guard, aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, said it would investigate the assault. “The location of the tanker has been determined, and work is under way to monitor…

Saturday May 2, 2026 A Filipino pilgrim presents her paperwork at immigration at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah late on Thursday. (SPA) MADINAH: The first Hajj flights from the Philippines, Algeria, Somalia and Morocco touched down on Thursday at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, marking the start of inbound pilgrim arrivals as the kingdom steps up preparations for the annual pilgrimage, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to SPA, the…