Africa

French President Francois Hollande begins on Thursday a three-day visit to Africa to reinforce France’s commitment to the continent and to the fight against rising extremism in several countries, Hollande’s office said.

Libya’s neighbours are offering to help the country control its borders, collect heavy weapons and reconcile rival political forces as security in the North African nation deteriorates. Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki told a conference that Libyan authorities have agreed to create joint border control forces.

Libya’s government said on Tuesday it was considering calling for international forces to help re-establish security after deadly clashes closed Tripoli airport, severing air links with the outside world.

The French Presidency announced on Tuesday the death of France’s ninth solider in the Mali conflict which began 18 months ago. President Francois Hollande’s office said that a non-commissioned officer was killed Monday while on a reconnaissance mission and he expressed “deep sadness” upon learning of the report and sent …

The United Nations Security Council called for “de-escalation” on Saturday evening, in the latest wave of the militarised conflict playing out in the Gaza Strip. The council “expressed serious concern regarding the crisis related to Gaza and the protection and welfare of civilians on both sides”. It called for a …

Egypt declared an emergency state on the border with Gaza on Wednesday following Israeli airstrikes on the strip, a security source told Aswat Masriya. The source added that army forces have stepped up caution in the Sinai Peninsula which falls on the border of Israel. Egypt’s presidential office said on …

Egyptian President Abdulfattah Al-Sisi directed his Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry on Thursday to head to the Iraqi capital and convey Egypt’s stance in support of Iraq. The current Iraqi crisis comes as the forefront of priorities for consultations on ways to restore national reconciliation between all parties involved in Iraq, …

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian headed to the Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday for a two-day visit to take stock of the situation after a rise in violence involving the French deployment in that country. Defence Ministry sources said that Le Drian will be visiting troops serving in …

Tunisia said Monday it will host a meeting of foreign ministers from the six countries neighbouring Libya, to discuss ways of helping it deal with political turmoil and rising lawlessness. A meeting of Maghreb countries on the situation in Libya had been scheduled for early June but it was delayed indefinitely because of the lack …

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Libyan counterpart Mohamed Abdulaziz on Sunday, when they addressed the latest developments in the neighbouring country. Abdulaziz arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss his country’s security challenges with his Egyptian counterpart. During the meeting, Abdelaziz discussed Libya’s parliamentary elections, which were held earlier in …