Eurasia

Clashes in northern C Africa threaten security plan

Plans by Central African Republic’s beleaguered government to reassert control in the north of the country were in difficulties on Monday after clashes marred the return of the state’s top representative to a key city. Colonel Augustin Tombou was formally installed on Saturday as prefect in the town of Kaga-Bandoro …

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US drone strikes al-Shabaab near Somali capital

A US military drone strike on a vehicle carrying explosives in Somalia has removed “an imminent threat to the people of Mogadishu” by the al-Shabaab extremist group, the US Africa Command said on Tuesday. The airstrike was carried out early on Tuesday morning about 65km southwest of Somalia’s capital, the …

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Macron, Abadi agree solving dispute with Irbil must be via dialogue

French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi Saturday agreed that solving differences between Baghdad and Iraq’s Kurdistan region should be through dialogue and respect of territorial unity. Macron, in a phone call with Abadi, reaffirmed that France believed in unity and safety of Iraqi territories, and that …

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France calls for constructive national dialogue in Iraq

France calls for a constructive national dialogue in Iraq to have a “strong and integrated” Iraq and a “respect for pluralism” in the country’s Kurdish region, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Saturday. The dialogue must be built around four fundamental elements, in full compliance with the 2005 Constitution of …

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Algerian troops discover massive weapons bunker near Mali border

A bunker full of war weapons has been discovered by Algerian army troops near the border with Mali, the Defense Ministry said in statement on Wednesday. The bunker was discovered by counterterrorism troops deployed in the southernmost locality of Bordj Badji Mokhtar, on the border strip with Mali, after a …

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Egypt, US discuss counter-terrorism efforts

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met Saturday with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in the Egyptian capital Cairo to discuss strategic cooperation and joint counter-terrorism efforts. “Sisi stressed the strength of the Egyptian-U.S. relations and their distinguished strategic aspects, urging to enhance all aspects of cooperation between the two sides …

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1 peacekeeper killed, 3 wounded in CAR

Mainly Christian anti-Balaka forces attacked a UN police checkpoint in Central African Republic on Monday, killing one UN peacekeeper and wounding three others, the United Nations said. The attack took place at the entrance to a camp for displaced people in the southeastern town of Bria after peacekeepers intervened to …

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AU to help evacuate 15 000 migrants from Libya this year

The African Union and member states will repatriate more than 15 000 migrants stranded in Libya by the end of the year amid outrage over recent footage that showed migrants being auctioned off as slaves, the AU’s deputy chairperson said on Tuesday. Between 400 000 and 700 000 African migrants …

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French President Macron visits Algeria

French President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Algeria for a one-day working visit aimed at boosting the security and economic cooperation between the two countries. Macron plans to walk the streets of Algiers city center on Wednesday before meeting with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

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US withdraws over 400 troops from Syria

Over 400 US Marines involved in battling the Daesh militant group in Syria are being withdrawn as part of a cut in forces after the capture of militant”capital” Raqqa, the US-led coalition said on Thursday. “The Marines supported Coalition partner forces with precise artillery strikes in the fight against Daesh,” …

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