Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

By Shola LawalFriday May 1, 2026 A fresh wave of hijackings off Somalia is rattling shipping lanes and reviving memories of the piracy crisis that once made the Horn of Africa one of the world’s most dangerous maritime corridors. At least three vessels have been targeted this week, according to reports, prompting fears that the region may be sliding back toward the turmoil that plagued global trade in the early to mid-2000s before an international naval response helped bring the threat under control. According to the World…

Somalia’s economy is entering 2026 with improving reform momentum, but growth plans remain tightly linked to political decisions, security funding, and the stability of external support. International assessments point to a central theme for 2026: when politics disrupts institutions and public finance, it can slow investment, weaken revenues, and reduce social spending—affecting household demand and jobs. This explainer reviews what major official forecasts say about 2026, and why political…

Five years after Myanmar’s military seized power and placed Aung San Suu Kyi in detention, the United States is pressing the junta to free the ousted civilian leader without delay, even as authorities say she will be transferred to house arrest. A senior source in her disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) told AFP that she was expected to remain under arrest at a residence in the capital, Naypyidaw. Min Aung Hlaing, the junta chief, overthrew Ms Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021 and ordered her detention on a raft…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Rising tensions tied to Iran’s regional conflict are now reverberating far beyond the Middle East, with a new Bloomberg report saying the turmoil has helped drive a piracy comeback off Somalia’s coast. European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) personnel in the area say the instability has opened a security gap that Somali pirate groups are moving quickly to exploit. With oversight strained and maritime patrols stretched, pirates are again targeting some of the busiest shipping corridors in the region. The…

Sareen HabeshianFriday May 1, 2026 President Donald Trump has informed Congress that US hostilities with Iran have "terminated" because a ceasefire remains in place, while insisting he did not need lawmakers' approval to carry out the conflict. "There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026," the president wrote to congressional leaders. "The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have terminated." It came on the 60th day since he formally notified Congress of strikes…

A man accused of carrying out a knife attack that left two Jewish men wounded in Golders Green has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on attempted murder charges linked to Wednesday’s stabbings in north-west London. Essa Suleiman, 45, is alleged to have tried to kill the two victims, aged 34 and 76. Prosecutors say he was armed with a black-handled knife during the assaults in Highfield Avenue, Golders Green. He is also charged with the attempted murder of a third man in a separate incident earlier that day at…

Ismail DilawarFriday May 1, 2026 The collage created on April 30, 2026, shows (left) Syed Hussain Yousuf’s daughter looking at his photo on a mobile phone, pleading for his safe return, and (right) a photo of Syed Hussain Yousuf. (AN Photo) A family in Karachi is living through every parent’s worst fear after a pirate assault off Somalia stranded a Pakistani tanker crew member at sea and pulled his 12-year-old daughter out of school. Syeda Masooma Batool has not been attending classes since the MT Honour 25 was seized on…

A promised rollback of US tariffs on Scotch whisky has raised hopes — and fresh uncertainty — for Irish distillers, as the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) called for a broader return to duty-free spirits trade across the Atlantic. In a statement, the IWA, which represents whiskey producers across the island of Ireland, said it welcomed "any move towards restoration of tariff-free transatlantic spirits trade" after US President Donald Trump announced he would remove tariffs on Scotch Whisky imports. The group said it shares…

by STAR REPORTERFriday May 1, 2026  Justice Mohamed Abdulahi Warsame  Justice Mohamed Abdulahi Warsame has been nominated by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for appointment to the Supreme Court of Kenya, ending a competitive process launched to replace the late Justice Mohammed Kadhar Ibrahim. The Commission said the decision followed deliberations on applicants who had sought the position of Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya, with the selection exercise now complete. The nomination now proceeds to the President for…

Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sharply condemned the recent expulsion of Representative Yekeh Kolubah from the House of Representatives, characterizing the action as a serious infringement on free expression. She emphasized the importance of upholding the Liberian Constitution, calling on lawmakers to adhere to the rule of law, which she highlighted as vital for "good governance." This contentious expulsion stemmed from allegations against Kolubah, including breach of duty, official misconduct, and a violation…