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Tunisia calls for ban on radical Islamist party

Tunisia’s government has asked a military court to outlaw the radical Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir movement, which has been regularly accused of “undermining public order” since its legalisation in 2012, an official said Wednesday. “A request to ban was submitted recently. We are awaiting the decision of the military investigative judge,” …

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Rival Boko Haram groups clash in Nigeria

In-fighting has broken out in Boko Haram after the Islamic State group announced a new leader of its Nigerian affiliate, according to reports in the country’s remote northeast. IS said last month that Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the son of Boko Haram’s founder Mohammed Yusuf, had replaced Abubakar Shekau at the …

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South Sudanese lawmakers call for 'restrictions' on troop deployment

While most lawmakers in South Sudan have welcomed government’s decision to accept the deployment of a regional protection force, some lawmakers have called on conditions to be placed on such a commitmen. The South Sudanese government had initially opposed the move to have troops deployed to the region but caved …

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Malian army retakes town from jihadists

The Malian army has regained control of a central town briefly held by a hardline armed group, according to UN and Malian security sources, but the fighters have allegedly left with a local official they were keeping hostage. Boni – home to several thousand people – was seized by the …

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Inter-Libyan meeting hosted in Tunis

A new round of UN-sponsored talks on Monday and Tuesday are scheduled to take place in Tunis-Gammarth in efforts by the commission for inter-Libyan dialogue to solve the crisis in Libya. The meeting, according to a statement released by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), will focus on …

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French Defense Minister warns IS could spread from Libya to Egypt and Tunisia

The French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned Monday that it is quite likely that IS radical groups remaining in Libya would flee to Egypt or Tunisia after being pushed and defeated in their Libyan stronghold of Sirte, “We should begin to look seriously at the question of the spread …

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Algeria, UN envoy discuss ways to defeat IS in Libya

Visiting UN Special Envoy for Libya Martin Kobler said here on Saturday that he discussed with Algerian officials the situation in Libya and the growing threat of the terrorist group of Islamic State. Kobler held in Algiers talks with Algerian Minister for Maghreb Affairs, the African Union and the Arab …

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Mali defence minister fired after jihadists seize town

Mali’s defence minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly was fired on Saturday, officials told AFP, a day after jihadists briefly took control of a town in the country’s centre. A decree released by the government stated his post had been revoked after militants stepped up attacks in the country’s centre in recent …

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Central Mali town falls to suspected jihadists

A central Malian town was under suspected jihadist control on Friday after administrative buildings were attacked and the army was driven from the area, an elected official and a security source said. “At the moment jihadists are in control of the town of Boni. They infiltrated the town and today …

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Libya forces facing 'fierce' IS resistance in Sirte

Libyan pro-government forces are facing “fierce resistance” from Islamic State group holdouts in Sirte and it could take several days to gain full control of the city, a spokesperson said on Sunday. Forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) launched a new attack on Saturday against ISIS in …

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