Africa

Mali’s Prime Minister Modibo Keita urged a swift agreement in negotiations with rebels restarting this week in Algiers, saying progress was “looking very good” toward a definitive peace deal in the north. Attempts to reach an accord between Mali’s government and the mostly Tuareg rebel movements demanding more autonomy in …

Troops loyal to Libya’s internationally backed government launched a new offensive to seize the extremist-held city of Benghazi, as witnesses saw corpses on the streets Sunday and ambulances racing by. Information over what was happening in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, remained unclear, though a medical official at al-Jalaa hospital, one …

THE United States, Britain and France said yesterday they were closing their embassies in Yemen amid the turmoil in the wake of the Shiite rebels’ takeover of the country. The closures, which came as Yemen marked four years since the start of its own uprising that eventually ousted its longtime …

Over 500 Boko Haram fighters have been killed by Niger’s defence forces supported by Chadian troops between last Friday and Tuesday, eyewitnesses have said. The eyewitnesses and workers of humanitarian agencies said over 200 decomposing bodies of Boko Haram militants were seen strewn all over near Kamadougou river which marks …

The State Department has confirmed that it has closed the US Embassy in Yemen and evacuated its staff because of the political crisis and security concerns following the takeover of much of the country by Shiite rebels. The department announced it had suspended operations at the embassy in Sanaa and …

Niger’s parliament has voted unanimously to send troops to Nigeria to join a regional fight against Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, lawmakers said. “The resolution was passed unanimously. All 102 lawmakers present voted favourably,” lawmaker Mohamed Ben Omar said yesterday. Another member of parliament said the resolution authorises the country …

The Malian government will hold an information and consultation meeting on Saturday in Bamako with the living forces of the nation on the “Draft agreement for peace and national reconciliation in Mali” in view of the resumption of inter-Malian inclusive dialogue in Algiers in February, a Malian official source said …

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern on the Houthi takeover in Yemen. However, in an official statement, ministry spokesperson Badr Abdelatty called on respecting the Yemenis’ will in achieving their legal democratic aspirations. He added there should a political resolution instead of escalating the violence, to respect the National …

Egypt has condemned the latest “heinous act” committed by Boko Haram in Cameroon and Niger, which left over 100 dead, according to a statement Saturday by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The ministry spokesman stressed Egypt’s stance in solidarity with Niger and Cameroon in their fight against terrorism. Islamist Boko Haram …

Nigeria’s electoral commission has postponed the Feb 14 presidential election by six weeks over concerns about the security situation in the country, a media report said Sunday. Commission chief Attahiru Jega said he has been informed that the troops would not be available to help patrol the ballot because they …