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

In Nairobi, Kenya, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has raised the alarm about Yeshihasab Abera, a journalist who disappeared after security forces whisked him away on September 30 from his workplace in Amhara State—a region that's been boiling over with turmoil since 2023. Yeshihasab, the second-in-command at the state-run Bekur newspaper, was nabbed at the Amhara Media Corporation’s headquarters in Bahir Dar, as recounted by his spouse, Meseret Hunegnaw, and echoed in various news pieces. According to Meseret,…

In the latter part of October, a ship is set to anchor near Somalia's shore to perform seismic surveys for potential oil and gas reserves!Casting off from Istanbul this Saturday, Türkiye's own research vessel, Oruc Reis, is prepped for a Somali voyage, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar waving it off.The boat's on track to hit Somalia's waters before October fades. There, it'll hunt for oil and gas in three zones where Türkiye's bagged exploration rights, according to official chatter…

Mogadishu (AX) – On Saturday, Abdukhadir Mohamed Noor, Somalia’s Defense Minister, firmly stated that Ethiopian troops would not join the forthcoming African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) unless Ethiopia exits the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with North Western State of Somalia.During a media briefing in Mogadishu, Minister Noor explained that Somalia is considering different contingencies to replace the Ethiopian forces if there's no withdrawal from the MoU.“Ethiopian troops won't participate in…

Somalia Prepares for AUSSOM as ATMIS Heads for Departure MOGADISHU, Somalia - With keen anticipation, the United Nations and the U.S. look forward to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) evolving into the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). They stress how crucial early groundwork is for a seamless transition. ATMIS is scheduled to transfer responsibilities to AUSSOM this upcoming January, and troops have begun their exit from Somalia. However, this shift occurs amid…

Mogadishu (AX) — Jubaland's big cheese, Ahmed Madobe, has turned his thumbs down on Somalia's federal scheme to roll out a straightforward one-person, one-vote setup. He’s concerned about election tardiness and the chance of officials sticking around longer than they should. During the ongoing National Consultative Council (NCC) huddle in Mogadishu, Madobe's dissent poses a real spanner in the works for the country's electoral makeover, stirring up doubts about timely implementation of the one-person, one-vote system."Back…

Footage captured in Asheville, North Carolina, vividly documented the devastating moment when sections of a building, along with a shipping container, were swept away by fierce floodwaters linked to Tropical Storm Helene. As the tumultuous waters surged, debris from the Asheville Tea Company building collided with an electrical pole, disintegrating upon impact. The shipping container crumpled over the pole, a stark reminder of nature's overwhelming force. Tragically, the death toll has now surpassed 210, following Helene’s…

The assistant prosecuting attorney stated they've examined the driver's dashcam recordings and cannot confirm with absolute certainty that Ali assaulted the passenger. This is a surprising development, considering authorities initially asserted having strong evidence pointing to Ali's involvement. Their case was supported by GPS data, and allegations that Ali prematurely completed the ride before driving the woman far from her destination, where her family later discovered her unclothed in Ali's vehicle. The police…

Somalia's Political Roadblock: Leadership Gridlocked Over Term Extension During Key Election Reform Deliberations MOGADISHU, Somalia - A hush-hush conclave involving Somalia's President and Prime Minister, alongside Ahmed Madobe from Jubaland, concluded in a standoff on Friday, as noted by Axadle's unimpeachable sources. This stalemate is a serious setback for the Federal Administration's electoral reform strategy, which faces considerable pushback. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud advocates for a sweeping change to the…

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison, slapped a lawsuit on a property development outfit in Hennepin County for allegedly fleecing Somali families eager to buy homes. The case centers on accusations against Nolosha Development LLC, run by Abdiwali Abdullahi, claimed to have pulled the wool over consumers' eyes with dodgy sales pitches regarding a community project in Lakeville, according to an official release. According to the lawsuit, Nolosha allegedly spun tales about single-family homes, offering…

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un asserted that his nation would not hesitate to deploy nuclear weapons if provoked by South Korea and its ally, the United States, as reported by state media. The relationship between the Koreas has plunged to a remarkably low ebb, with South Korea recently showcasing its military prowess in a parade that featured the formidable "monster" missile designed for penetrating bunkers. During this event, President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a stark warning to Kim, suggesting that any nuclear…