At least 23 people died in weekend clashes triggered by tribal rivalry in the Democratic Republic of Cocentral Tshikapa region, the deputy governor of Kasai province said on Monday. Fighting from Friday to Sunday between police and troops on the one hand and members of a local militia on the …
Read More »Libya pro-government forces say seize Sirte from IS
Libyan loyalist forces have seized full control of the coastal city of Sirte from the Islamic State jihadist group, an official spokesperson said on Monday. “Our forces have total control of Sirte,” after more than six months of fighting, Reda Issa, a spokesperson for pro-government forces, told AFP. “Our forces …
Read More »China sends another 120 army peacekeepers to South Sudan
China has sent 120 troops to South Sudan as part of a 700-member UN peacekeeping force, deepening its commitment to the troubled East African nation. Once the entire battalion is deployed, they will replace Chinese peacekeepers currently in place, who suffered two dead in fighting between the government and rebels …
Read More »Greece Plans to Reopen Embassy in Tripoli
Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is set to make an official visit to Libya on Monday. Some reports suggest that the Greek government plans to reopen its embassy in Tripoli and rebuild diplomatic ties with Libya. Greece closed its embassy in July 2014 after violent clashes and civil unrest rocked …
Read More »Libyan forces face deadly IS defense in Sirte holdout
Libyan forces faced fierce resistance on Saturday from Islamic State militants defending a final strip of land in their former stronghold of Sirte, losing at least five men, officials said. Forces led by fighters from the city of Misrata and backed by U.S. air strikes have taken all but a …
Read More »Egypt upholds Morsi's 20-year prison sentence
An Egyptian appeals court has upheld a 20-year sentence for the deposed president Mohamed Morsi. Saturday’s ruling is the first final verdict against Morsi on charges arising from the killing of protesters during anti-government demonstrations in 2012. London-based Amnesty International has denounced the initial trial as a “travesty of justice”.
Read More »Egyptian FM, Kerry to discuss regional issues
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed to Washington on Tuesday to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on bilateral relations and several regional issues, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. “The visit will aim at strengthening the Egypt-U.S. relations and stress the importance of achieving …
Read More »4 militants surrender to security authorities in southern Algeria
Algerian Defense Ministry said Sunday that four armed militants surrendered to security authorities in the southern part of In Amenas near the Libyan border. “Following the considerable counterterrorism efforts of the People’s National Army, four terrorists surrendered on Sunday to security authorities in the border area of Tarat, the military …
Read More »Tunisian-Algerian Joint military exercises off Tabarka
The Tunisian and Algerian armed forces conducted joint military exercises off Tabarka from November 22 to 28, baptised “Morjane 2016”, announced Monday the National Defence Ministry. In a statement, the department said that these manoeuvres are part of the joint training of the Tunisian and Algerian navies to face the …
Read More »Egypt foreign ministry denies troops deployed in Syria
Egypt on Sunday denied Arab media reports claiming that it had a military presence in Syria, days after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed his support for the Syrian army. “These claims only exist in the imagination of those who promote them,” the foreign ministry said in the statement. On Thursday, …
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