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

President Cyril Ramaphosa, moving decisively amid scrutiny of police procurement, has placed National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension. Masemola faces charges under the Public Finance Management Act for allegedly failing to properly oversee a contested $21 million police health services contract. He has denied the allegations. The charges are tied to a 2024 tender awarded to controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala’s Medicare24 Tshwane District to provide health services to police…

Norway is moving to tighten children’s access to social media, with the government saying it will propose a ban for users under 16 and place the burden of age verification on technology companies. "We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement. "Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens. "This is an important measure to safeguard children's digital lives," Mr Stoere said. The…

In a significant move aimed at boosting infrastructure, President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate's approval to secure a $516.3 million loan from Deutsche Bank AG. This lending initiative is backed by insurance from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, part of the Islamic Development Bank. Tinubu emphasized that the funding would be directed towards the construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, a centerpiece project within his Renewed Hope Agenda. The ambitious…

At Least 17 Somali Migrants Die After Boat Sinks Between Algeria and Spain, Envoy Says ALGIERS, April 24 - At least 17 Somali migrants died after a vessel carrying them went down in waters between Algeria and Spain, Somalia’s ambassador to Algeria said on Thursday, underscoring once again the deadly risks Africans face on the journey toward Europe. Ambassador Yusuf Ahmed Hassan told Somali state media that distraught parents had reached out to him in search of news about missing children. Among the dead were 12 men and five…

Friday April 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A boat carrying Somali migrants capsized between Algeria and Spain, killing at least 17 people, Somalia’s ambassador to Algeria said Thursday. Ambassador Yusuf Ahmed Hassan told state media that 12 men and five women drowned after the vessel overturned during the crossing. It was not immediately clear how many passengers were aboard. “I was reached by parents who were looking for their children and wanted to know their whereabouts,” Hassan said. He said he later spoke with Algerian…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is preparing to shed 10% of its global workforce — a move that would amount to about 8,000 jobs. It remains unclear how the planned cuts will affect the company’s Irish business, where roughly 1,800 people are employed. A spokesperson for Meta Ireland declined to discuss the specifics of the redundancies, but confirmed the details of a Bloomberg report that first revealed the worldwide layoffs. The reductions were set out in a memo to employees, which also said Meta will leave thousands…

A fragile truce in the Middle East was given more time on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon agreed at the White House to extend their ceasefire by three weeks, while US President Donald Trump signalled he was willing to hold out for what he called “the best deal” to ⁠end his conflict with Iran. Mr Trump brought together Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s ambassador to the US, Nada Moawad, in the Oval Office for a second round of talks mediated by the United States. “The Meeting went very well!…

Warner Bros Discovery cleared a major hurdle in its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance after shareholders approved the transaction, even as they signaled sharp unease over the executive pay arrangements tied to the deal. Those compensation plans drew a clear rebuke in an advisory vote. Under the proposed packages, CEO David Zaslav stands to collect as much as $887 million if the sale goes through. Proxy adviser ISS had described Zaslav's possible payout as "extremely large". "Management now faces a twofold…

A head-on collision between two commuter trains near the Danish capital left five people critically injured and 13 others hurt, authorities said, in a crash that sent emergency crews rushing to a wooded rural area north of Copenhagen. Police said they could not yet say what caused the accident, which happened near a level crossing about 40km north of Copenhagen, close to the town of Hillerod. "Eighteen people have been injured in the accident. Of these, five are currently considered to be in critical condition," police said…

A promotional stunt for Drake’s upcoming album Iceman came to an abrupt end in Toronto, where firefighters took apart a massive ice sculpture after swelling crowds around the display raised safety concerns. Hundreds of people flocked to the installation, turning the scene chaotic as some fans climbed onto the structure and others tried to chip away at it in hopes of revealing the album’s release date, which Drake had said was concealed inside. Accounts from the scene said one person arrived with a sledgehammer, while others…