Africa

Libya’s internationally recognised parliament, declared invalid by the country’s top court, reconvened on Sunday and sacked the key state Muslim cleric, Libyan media reported, fuelling a major power struggle in the country. The House of Representatives met in the eastern city of Tobruk and voted to remove Sheikh al-Sadeq al-Ghariani, …

The United States is considering imposing sanctions on Libya’s combative factions to try to prevent a proxy conflict fuelled by regional powers from erupting into full-blown civil war and force militant leaders to negotiate, US officials said. Three years after Muammar Gaddafi’s downfall, outside intervention has exacerbated the fighting, with …

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted a meeting in Cairo with the attendance of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Saturday and announced a new regional energy cooperation deal among Egypt, Greece and Greek Cyprus. Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo, Greek …

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with United Nations special envoy to Iraq Nikolay Mladenov to discuss the current political and security situation in Iraq and efforts made to confront the extremist ‘Islamic State’ group, known as ISIS. During the meeting, Shoukry and Mladenov also discussed the steps done by …

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 …