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

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A former NISA chief has urged the government to lift travel restrictions on lawmakers seeking to reach Baidoa, adding another layer of controversy to the political crisis in South West State. The appeal also carries implications for members of the House of the People, whose access to the region now intersects with wider questions about security power, parliamentary oversight, and political legitimacy. Sanbaloolshe called on the government to lift restrictions affecting federal lawmakers, naming MP…

A Colombian Air Force Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 transport plane crashed just after takeoff in the country's southern Amazon, killing at least 34 of the 125 people on board, authorities said. "Unfortunately, the information is of 34 deaths," Luis Emilio Bustos, the mayor of the nearby ‌town of Puerto ⁠Leguizamo, told journalists. Jhon Gabriel Molina, governor of the Putumayo department, told local news outlet Caracol Noticias that 34 people had died and 21 remained unidentifed. The accident occurred as the aircraft…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Southwest State is spilling into the security arena, with regional authorities warning that fresh troop deployments could ignite wider conflict and compound an already precarious humanitarian situation. In a statement released Monday from Baidoa, Southwest State officials said the arrival of Somali National Army forces in the region amounts to a military escalation rooted in political disagreements—issues they argued should be…

A Colombian Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130 military transport carrying 125 people crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern Amazon, leaving one person dead and 77 others in hospital, officials said. President Gustavo Petro confirmed one fatality and said 77 people had been admitted to medical facilities following the accident. The defence ministry identified the aircraft as a Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 that went down during departure procedures. Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez said the plane went down as it lifted…

Monday March 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s next elections are now being pitched as a pivotal test of inclusion and public confidence, with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation saying Sunday that the country is moving into an “inclusive electoral phase” and that the federal government intends to press ahead under national law. In a press statement, the ministry described voting as a constitutional right for every Somali citizen and cast the election process as central to bolstering trust in…

France's National Rally (RN) fell short of its ambition to capture Marseille and Toulon in yesterday's municipal ballots, a setback that offered a boost to embattled mainstream parties as they eye next year's presidential contest. In a separate high-stakes race, Socialist Party candidate Emmanuel Gregoire prevailed in the Paris mayoral contest, defeating conservative ex-minister Rachida Dati and keeping the French capital under left-wing control. These municipal votes were watched nationwide for signals ahead of the 2027…

Bernd Debusmann Jr & Anthony ZurcherMonday March 23, 2026 Trump said that both the US and Iran were looking to make a deal, although Tehran has denied talks took place In a sudden shift in tone amid Operation Epic Fury, US President Donald Trump has held out the prospect of “good” and “productive” talks with Iran — language that stands out as his most conciliatory since the campaign began, even as it raises fresh doubts about what, if anything, is actually being negotiated. Before dawn on Monday, and only hours before US…

As climate shocks stack up, Malawi’s economy is buckling under their weight. An aggregation of official post-disaster assessments points to a steady drumbeat of losses over eight years: $335 million from the 2015 floods, $365.9 million during the 2016 drought, $220.2 million after Cyclone Idai in 2019, and $506.7 million in the wake of Cyclone Freddy in 2023. Analysts say the heavier toll comes after the storms pass, in the grind of reconstruction and recovery. Across the same period, needs have climbed past $2.04 billion,…

Authorities in Cuba scrambled to restore electricity across the island on Monday after the country suffered a second nationwide blackout in under a week, a failure officials blame on aging infrastructure and a US oil blockade that has tightened fuel supplies. While sections of Havana reported the return of power, other neighborhoods remained without electricity a day after the energy ministry said the nation’s electrical system experienced a "total disconnection" in the country of nearly 10 million residents. Energy and…

Trump delays planned strikes on Iranian power grid for five days WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said Monday he has directed the US military to hold off for five days on planned strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing “good and productive conversations” with Tehran. “I am pleased to report that the United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the…