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

Somalia fuel prices jump 77% in 72 hours as Middle East conflict disrupts supply MOGADISHU, Somalia — Fuel prices in Somalia’s capital have surged about 77% within three days, an abrupt spike tied to the escalating Middle East conflict that is rattling energy markets and shipping lanes through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Market observers in Mogadishu said the retail price of petrol jumped to about $1.15 per liter from roughly $0.65 earlier this week, with the steepest increases posted by Friday evening. The surge…

South Africa’s proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) — billed by the government as the country’s most sweeping health overhaul since the end of apartheid in 1994 — is effectively frozen amid court challenges and constitutional clashes. Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism spoke with health economist Susan Cleary to explore whether the NHI is a wise way forward. The debate now centers on capacity, cost, equity and the political will required to remake a deeply unequal health system. The case for NHI is straightforward…

New York — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday appointed U.S. diplomat James Swan as his new Special Representative for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO, placing an experienced Africa hand at the helm of one of the U.N.’s most challenging peace operations. Swan succeeds Bintou Keita of Guinea, whom Guterres thanked for her leadership and service during a difficult period for the mission. The appointment lands at a pivotal moment for MONUSCO,…

NEWBURY PARK, Calif. — Britney Spears was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Wednesday night after California Highway Patrol officers received reports of a black BMW 430i traveling erratically at high speed on U.S. 101, authorities said. The 44-year-old singer was taken into custody after she “showed signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests” during a traffic stop near the Borchard Road exit in Newbury Park at about 8:48 p.m., a CHP spokesperson said. Chemical test results are…

Australia orders porn sites to block minors as sweeping child-safety rules take effect Australia’s online regulator has ordered pornography websites to block people under 18 starting Monday, enforcing age verification under sweeping new restrictions aimed at shielding children from harmful content across the internet. Some adult sites in Australia had already barred non-members and halted new registrations in recent days ahead of the deadline, as platforms prepare to deploy age checks that go beyond simple self-declaration.…

Somalia adopts revised constitution; President Mohamud hails ‘historic achievement’ amid opposition boycott MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday hosted an iftar dinner for members of both houses of parliament, praising lawmakers for approving Somalia’s revised constitution after months of heated debate and years of stalled review. The gathering at a Mogadishu hotel came a day after a joint sitting of the House of the People and the Upper House voted to adopt amendments that complete a…

Nigeria's Historic Settlement Paves Way for Oil Development President Bola Tinubu has presided over the successful conclusion of a historic settlement agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria, ENI, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAEL), resolving the long-running dispute about Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245. The agreement brings to a close 15 years of legal battles over OPL 245, paving the way for the development of one of Nigeria's most significant deepwater resources. This resolution is viewed as a…

‘The streets are empty, the windows are gone’: Iranians describe life under bombardment as war enters second week As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran approach the end of their first week, residents in Tehran describe a capital of shattered glass, shuttered storefronts and competing emotions — fear, exhaustion and, for some, a fragile hope that the Islamic Republic’s grip may finally loosen after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a series of interviews with Axadle Times, Iranians living inside the country spoke on…

EU says US missiles insufficient to cover Gulf and Ukraine as Middle East war enters seventh day The European Union said there are not enough U.S. missiles to meet simultaneous needs in the Gulf and Ukraine, a stark assessment delivered as war in the Middle East entered its seventh day and pressure mounted on Western stockpiles across multiple fronts. The brief statement underscored growing concerns about the capacity of transatlantic partners to sustain parallel security commitments. It also highlighted a difficult…

The Zimbabwean government’s decision to allocate US$25 million to a new football tournament has ignited a debate about priorities and transparency, underscoring tensions between high-profile state-sponsored projects and urgent public-sector needs. President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the Munhumutapa ZIFA Cup in Harare, a five-year competition that will include men's, women's, developmental and futsal categories. Organisers say the men's champions will receive US$1 million and a berth in the CAF Confederation Cup, details…