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

WASHINGTON, United States (AXADLE) — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has thrown down the gauntlet against Asli Maydi, a purveyor of frankincense headquartered in Hargeisa, North Western State of Somalia. With a spotlight on forced labor concerns, they’ve slapped a withhold release order (WRO) that freezes any imports from the company, as they're deemed to breach U.S. labor regulations, specifically 19 U.S.C. § 1307. In its digital domain on Facebook, Asli Maydi portrays itself as a benefactor to local…

Mogadishu (AX) — Masterminding a move towards renewed governance, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre unveiled fresh appointments on Monday. A new state minister for the Ministry of Planning and Investment and a deputy for the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education took the stage, replacing their predecessors who recently bowed out of the political scene. Stepping up as the freshly minted state minister for Planning is Ahmed Nor Sheikh Mohamed Loxox, while Abdirashid Mohamed Du'ale slides into the Deputy…

Mogadishu (AX) — A delegation from the Somali government, spearheaded by Internal Security Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismael Fartaag, is participating in the 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly from November 4-7, 2024, in Glasgow, United Kingdom. This annual gathering has attracted over a thousand high-ranking law enforcement professionals from around the globe. They have come together to tackle urgent security challenges and to select new leadership for INTERPOL. “I feel privileged to represent the Federal Government of Somalia…

Hamza Abdi Barre, the Prime Minister of Somalia, recently welcomed Tanja Fajon, Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister, for an important dialogue. During their meeting, they delved into strengthening ties between Somalia and Slovenia, with a keen focus on pivotal issues such as climate change, social welfare, security, and human rights. This dialogue gains significance as Somalia embarks on its new role within the UN Security Council, as highlighted by the Somali National News Agency (SONNA). Prime Minister Hamza took the…

Elon Musk's political action committee isn’t just drawing names from a hat for their ambitious $1 million-a-day giveaway aimed at registered voters. According to an attorney representing the billionaire, they are handpicking individuals who can effectively champion their agenda. Chris Gober, Musk’s lawyer, made this assertion while addressing a Pennsylvania judge, attempting to dismiss claims that the giveaway was an "illegal lottery." This lawsuit was initiated by Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner, who aims to…

The U.S. Supreme Court has vacated a lower court’s ruling that had shielded Joseph Clifton Smith, a convicted murderer from Alabama, from execution due to an assertion of intellectual disability. The justices determined that the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals needs to provide further clarification on its previous decision, which deemed Smith's death penalty unjustifiable following a pivotal 2002 Supreme Court ruling. This earlier decision established that executing individuals who are intellectually…

Imagine a world where panic buttons for poll workers, tactical teams stationed on rooftops, and the National Guard on alert become the norm. Well, that’s the scene in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Tensions are running high, prompting unprecedented security measures for Election Day. Fears of civil disturbances, potential election fraud, and violence aimed at election workers have sent the nation into a heightened state of alert. States like Oregon, Washington, and Nevada have officially called in the…

The father of a French student, whose testimony regarding the use of caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammad in a free speech lesson contributed to the gruesome murder of a teacher, is now facing trial on charges of associating with a terrorist network. This chilling sequence of events unfolded in 2020 when Samuel Paty, aged 47, introduced his class to the caricatures. In retaliation, an 18-year-old assailant from Chechnya brutally attacked him outside his school located in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburb of…

Rescue teams dove into flooded garages in a desperate attempt to locate victims of the worst flooding Spain has witnessed in a generation. Heavy rainfall once again wreaked havoc across the northeastern Catalonia region, triggering a transportation nightmare. Currently, the death toll has reached 217, predominantly in the eastern Valencia region. Authorities are anxiously bracing themselves for the grim discovery of additional bodies, as a significant number of individuals remain unaccounted for. Spain’s national weather…

For many, the fascination with horror can appear insensible. With real-life nightmares like school shootings, child abuse, and war rampant in our society, why do we chase after fabricated fears for entertainment? This thought-provoking question raises eyebrows, as noted by Sarah Kollat in an insightful piece for The Conversation Africa. Unlike in some parts of the world, Halloween celebrations are low-key on the African continent. Discussions around "black magic" and "witchcraft" often accompany any mention of the holiday,…