Eurasia

Burundi opposition calls for president to step down

Kigali – Peace will only return to Burundi if President Pierre Nkurunziza steps down and respects the two-term presidential limit, the country’s main opposition party said Friday. The opposition is ready to talk but only if fresh elections are held without Nkurunziza taking part, said Leonard Nyangoma the chairperson of …

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France seeks UN action to halt Burundi killings

New York -France on Monday presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council aimed at toughening the international response to the violence in Burundi, where fears of Rwanda-style mass killings are rife. The measure threatens targeted sanctions against Burundian leaders who foment violence or hamper efforts to end the …

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Somali: Ending Yemen conflict crucial to stop extremists

New York – Somalia’s prime minister says ending the crisis in Yemen is “crucial” to preventing al-Shabaab rebels from exploiting their recent allegiance with the Islamic State extremist group and forming a “terror network” that threatens Somalia and the region again. Omar Sharmarke told the UN Security Council on Monday …

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West Africa conference focuses on threat posed by jihadists

Dakar – Islamic extremists are expanding their reach in West Africa, using porous borders and exploiting political chaos to further their attacks, security experts said on Monday at the opening of a regional conference on the jihadist threat. At least 800 security officials and analysts from across the region are …

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Libya army says 13 security personnel killed by 'terrorists'

Benghazi – At least 13 members of Libya’s army were killed by “terrorist” violence on Tuesday in the east of the war-torn country, an army spokesperson said. “Most of the soldiers were killed by landmines planted by terrorist organisations,” spokesperson Miloud al-Zawi told LANA, the official news agency of the …

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UN sending extra troops, police to CAR

New York – The UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic is adding hundreds of troops and police before next month’s elections, but their arrival is expected to be too late for Pope Francis’ visit to the violent country. A UN official said on Tuesday the mission and the Vatican …

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Egypt vows security boost

Cairo – Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday vowed to enhance security in the country amid suspicions that a bomb caused the crash of a Russian passenger airliner in Sinai more than a week ago. “We will make more efforts in order to ensure security and safety for each visitor …

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Tunisian Defence minister stresses need for security cooperation with Algeria

Tunisian Defence Minister Farhat Horchani stressed Tuesday “the need for cooperation with Algeria” in the field of fight against terrorism as Tunisia’s security is linked to that of Algeria. Speaking on the sidelines of the 33rd session of the National Defence Institute, Horchani said that “the cross-border and transcontinental nature …

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UK Defence Secretary, Egyptian President discuss security threats

The Defence Secretary has met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss collaborating together to tackle common security threats. The meeting today between Michael Fallon and the Egyptian President allowed the leaders to discuss shared security concerns and thoughts on defeating terrorism and countering extremism in the region, particularly in …

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Egyptian security forces kill leading IS member in Cairo

Egyptian security forces killed on Monday a leading Islamic State (IS) militant in a gunfight in Cairo, according to the Interior Ministry. Ashraf Ali el-Gharabli is a leading member of IS-affiliated Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis group, which carried out a series of attacks in the North African country, the ministry said …

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