Africa

Chad’s former foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat assumed office as head of the African Union Commission on Tuesday, pledging to reform the institution and tackle the continent’s many crises. Faki takes over leadership of the 54-country continental bloc days after the United Nations announced that the food emergencies in four …

Western ambassadors have called for calm in Libya following bloody clashes between rival factions at the oil terminals. The envoys from the US, UK and France urged Libya’s warring parties to recognise the authority of the Libyan National Oil Corporation and said that revenues must be channelled to the UN-backed …

General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee visited Cairo, Egypt on 6-7 March 17. During his visit he met with the Chief of staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces, General Mahmoud Hegazy. The Generals discussed global security and regional challenges, with a special focus on the current situation …

The Geneva Peace talks on Syria and the worsening situation in Libya were the two topics that dominated headlines in the region’s papers. The talks in Geneva ended with the modest hope that the two sides to the conflict realise that dialogue is the only viable option left to settle …

Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Alfonso Maria Dastis Quecedo on Wednesday has hailed Algeria’s role in North Africa and in the Mediterranean region. “Spain and Algeria are neighbouring countries and strategic partners. Spain attaches great importance to Algeria’s role as a pole of stability in North Africa and …

Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Maria Dastis Quecedo stressed Wednesday enhancing bilateral relations with Algeria. At the invitation of his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, Quecedo arrived in Algiers Wednesday for a two-day visit.

A former South Sudanese general has announced the formation of a new rebel group aimed at overthrowing the government after more than three years of civil war. Lieutenant-General Thomas Cirillo Swaka quit last month issuing a stinging indictment of President Salva Kiir’s regime, which he accused of carrying out a …

Morocco is “more determined than ever” to develop the Western Sahara, Interior Minister Mohamed Hassad said on Wednesday on a two-day visit to the disputed territory. Rabat insists the former Spanish colony is an integral part of its kingdom, but the Algeria-based Polisario Front demands a referendum on self-determination there.

The risk of genocide in South Sudan has “considerably diminished” though much fighting there continues, the United Nations secretary-general said on Wednesday. Antonio Guterres made the comment in response to a reporter’s question about a new UN report saying warning signs for genocide are in place in South Sudan.

East Libyan forces carried out a fifth day of air strikes on Tuesday against a rival faction that overran the major oil ports of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, officials and residents said. The eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) have been battling for control …