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

WASHINGTON — The United States and Israel this week launched Operation Epic Fury on Iran, a move that has coincided with the conflict spreading throughout the Middle East and prompted European officials to warn that this is a dangerous moment for the continent. The operation, announced as tensions mounted across the region, has raised urgent questions about how far the confrontation could widen and what it means for security beyond the immediate theaters of conflict. The widening scope across the Middle East underscores the…

Saturday March 7, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A political party led by former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to prioritize a broadly agreed electoral process as Somalia nears the end of the current term and digests sweeping constitutional amendments that extend federal mandates to five years. In a statement issued Friday, the Himilo Qaran party called on the president to devote the remainder of his mandate to organizing elections anchored in consensus among all political…

Justice Department releases mistakenly withheld FBI records on Trump-Epstein allegations The U.S. Department of Justice has released additional FBI documents that include interviews with a woman who alleged Donald Trump sexually assaulted her after she was introduced to him by Jeffrey Epstein. The department said the records were not made public under previous congressionally mandated disclosures because they were mistakenly marked “duplicative.” In a post on X, the department said the newly posted records were among 15…

Israel launched a new “broad-scale” wave of strikes on targets in Tehran as President Donald Trump said only Iran’s “unconditional surrender” would end the escalating war that has engulfed the Middle East and roiled global energy markets. The Israeli military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory overnight and that air defenses were activated to intercept them. “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said, as air raid alerts in Israel’s north were lifted…

Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo Escalates International Concern Amid ongoing cease-fire violations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, several global powers, including the U.S. and the European Union, are urging a return to negotiations. The resurgence of violence, particularly involving the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, has intensified a humanitarian crisis and disrupted vital economic activities. M23 rebels captured key cities such as Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira in 2025 and 2026. The conflict is regarded as…

Escalating Conflict in Southern Sudan’s Kordofan Region The death toll rises as fighting intensifies between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Kordofan region. Recent clashes indicate a significant shift in the long-standing conflict. At least 51 people have been killed over two days. The army recaptured the strategic city of Bara. Humanitarian conditions worsen amidst continuous warfare. Dilling: The Epicenter of Violence Intense artillery and drone strikes have…

MOGADISHU — Somalia has extended the mandates of its federal institutions to five years under a newly adopted constitution, effectively adding one year to current terms, Speaker of the House of the People Aden Mohamed Nur Madoobe announced Thursday. The move, unveiled at an iftar gathering in the capital, immediately deepened political fault lines in a country already grappling with drought and humanitarian strain. Madoobe said parliament and other constitutional bodies would now operate under the revised charter, which…

Militant Raid and Kidnapping in Northeastern Nigeria Armed militants carried out a devastating attack in the town of Ngoshe, Borno state, resulting in the abduction of over 300 residents. This article examines the implications and background of the assault. More than 300 residents abducted, including women and children. Attack potentially in retaliation for military operations against Boko Haram. Part of a broader pattern of insecurity in Nigeria. Details of the Ngoshe Attack On Friday, militants stormed the…

CANBERRA, Australia — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he cannot rule out Canada’s military participation in the escalating war in the Middle East, even as he reiterated that the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran launched last weekend appeared “inconsistent with international law.” Asked in a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese whether there was any scenario in which Canada would get involved, Carney called the question hypothetical but left the door open. “One can never…

Somalia's Livestock Insurance Initiative Provides Relief Amid Drought Crisis This section details the financial assistance provided by the Somali federal government to pastoralists affected by drought. The funds aim to ameliorate the impact on livelihoods and promote resilience in pastoral communities. Somalia disbursed $3.88 million in livestock insurance payments. 17,734 pastoralists benefited from the payouts. The initiative is backed by the World Bank through the DRIVE project. Background on the Drought…