Africa

5 killed in jihadi attack on Mali resort outside capital

Islamic extremists who stormed a resort area in Mali popular with foreigners killed five people, including a Portuguese soldier who had been serving in the European Union mission to stabilize this West African country wracked by mounting extremism, authorities said on Monday. The death toll rose after a Malian soldier …

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Macron in Morocco to discuss Libya, Qatar crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron was in Morocco on Wednesday on a 24-hour visit for talks on battling terrorism as well as the Libyan conflict and Qatar’s dispute with its Gulf neighbours. As he stepped off the plane for his first visit to Morocco since his election in May, the French …

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France says UN likely to support Sahel anti-jihadist force

France’s foreign minister said on Thursday he was confident “we will get there” in convincing a reluctant United States to give United Nations backing to an anti-jihadist force drawn from five African countries. Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, which make up the so-called G5 Sahel, have agreed to …

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EU announces $160m to support northeast Nigeria

The European Union has announced a support package of nearly $160m for recovery and reconstruction in Nigeria’s Borno state, which has been devastated by attacks from homegrown Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. The EU said on Thursday the northeastern state is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has …

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EU maritime to continue to seize arms off Libya

The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Monday to allow the European Union’s (EU) maritime force to seize illegal weapons off Libya’s coast for another year, a move aimed at helping restore peace to the deeply divided north African nation. The British-drafted resolution authorises EU ships in Operation Sophia to …

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AU calls for dialogue to solve Gulf crisis

African Union chairperson Alpha Conde on Sunday put himself forward as a mediator in the crisis between Qatar and other Gulf countries, urging dialogue after several African nations also recalled their ambassadors to Doha. Conde, who is president of Guinea which has close ties to Saudi Arabia, said in a …

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UN peacekeeper killed in Mali

The United Nations says a fourth peacekeeper from the West African nation of Guinea was killed in an attack by jihadists last week on a UN camp in northern Mali. UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Monday the peacekeeper was missing after last Thursday’s attack on the camp east …

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US forces conduct strike against Somalia's Al-Shabaab

US forces carried out a strike in conjunction with Somali special forces on Sunday against Al-Shabaab approximately 300km southwest of Mogadishu, according to the Pentagon. The Pentagon said the operation occurred at approximately 0600 GMT “in coordination with regional partners as a direct response to Al-Shabaab actions, including recent attacks …

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Nigeria army says it killed Boko Haram leader

A Nigerian official says a top Boko Haram commander was among many insurgents killed on Sunday as soldiers fought to rescue nine children being trained at a secret camp. Nigerian army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Sani Usman said on Monday that soldiers battled Boko Haram extremists in Jarawa village in Borno …

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Nearly 70 dead in al-Shabaab attack on Somalia military base

Heavily armed al-Shabaab extremists have stormed a military base in Somalia’s semiautonomous state of Puntland, killing close to 70 people, officials said Thursday. Officials called it the region’s deadliest attack in years, highlighting the twin challenges facing security forces from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab and the growing presence of fighters linked …

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