Africa

The EU Friday decided to extend the military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA) until 15 March 2015. This follows a request by the authorities of CAR and a renewed mandate from the UN Security Council, said an EU statement.

Libya’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the June election that produced an internationally recognised legislature and government was unconstitutional, further deepening a political divide that has fuelled months of militia fighting. The court issued its ruling from the capital Tripoli, which is controlled by Islamist-allied militias from the powerful …

An Islamist Libyan militia on Sunday said it had captured the main airport in the capital Tripoli from a rival militia. “The forces of Libya’s Dawn have been able to enter the airport after taking control of the strategic Naqlia base,” Alaa al-Heweik, a spokesperson for the militia, told independent …

Cairo Criminal Court postponed Monday the trial of former president Mohamed Morsi and fourteen others in the Presidential Palace trial until Wednesday. The court will continue hearing the defense statements in the coming session, according to state media. The defendants are accused of inciting the murder of protesters during clashes …

A military spokesperson says the government forces have entered Benghazi, where fighting raged between Islamist militias and pro-government forces over control of the eastern Libyan city. Meloud al-Zewi, spokesperson for Libya’s special forces, said on Wednesday that after forces swept Benina, where Benghazi’s airport is located, they have taken control …

A Libyan medical official says at least 210 people have been killed in fighting in Benghazi since troops loyal to the country’s elected government launched an attempt to re-take the city from Islamist militias two weeks earlier. In comments on Sunday, the official would not identify those killed. The battle …

Egypt Minister of Defence Sedki Sobhi met Saturday with his Italian counterpart Roberta Pinotti to discuss international developments in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, including terrorism and its impact on security and stability, as well as clandestine migration. Sobhi is also the commander in chief of Egypt’s armed …

The Egyptian, Cypriot and Greek foreign ministers met in the Cypriot capital Nicosia Wednesday to discuss shared interests and issues relating to energy, security, and tourism. The meeting took place in preparation for a new round of talks in Cairo on 8 November. A statement released by the Cypriot foreign …

The Egyptian government has decided not to extend a comprehensive free trade agreement signed with Turkey during the rule of the ousted ex-President Mohamed Morsi. Ties between the two countries have been strained since Morsi’s ouster last year, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeatedly condemning the “coup” and describing the military …

Sudan said on Tuesday that Libya’s internationally recognised premier has accepted its proposal to bring together different groups in his strife-torn North African nation for talks on ending the conflict. Mounting unrest across Libya has virtually confined the internationally recognised government to the eastern city of Tobruk, and last month …