Magreb

The African Union on Wednesday threw its weight behind Italian and US-led moves to stabilise Libya that include arming a national unity government to fight Islamic State militants. Western powers are also keen to see Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj’s fledgling administration establish its authority over the whole country so it …

Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid, on Friday, paid an unannounced visit to Libya, the first of a premier of a foreign State after the installation of the Government of National Accord Presidency Council in Tripoli. Prime Minister-designate Faez al-Sarraj pointed out the symbolism of this visit, saying it will undoubtedly …

French President Francois Hollande will fly to the Central African Republic (CAR) next week in a move to further “support stability and peace in the country,” his office announced Friday. Hollande will visit the CAR on May 13 to express support for the peace efforts before heading to Nigeria, according …

Morocco has tightened control of its borders with Algeria to ward off terrorist threats coming from Libya, local media reported on Saturday. Citing security sources, Al Massae said that these measures come following the arrest of several people with links to Islamic State (IS) branch in Libya.

Tunisia is confident that trade at the main border crossing with Libya will resume “very soon”, local authorities said, nearly a week after the Libyan side imposed a blockade. “This problem will be resolved very soon,” Tahar Matmati, the governor of Medenine, which lies on the principle route between Tunisia …

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined Wednesday that the 28-member Alliance stands ready to help and assist the new Libyan government. “I spoke with the new Prime Minister just a couple of weeks ago. And we have a very clear mandate from our Heads of State and Government that NATO …

Algerian Minister of Maghreb and AU Affairs Abdul Gader Msaahel and his Tunisian counterpart Khamis Al Jheinawi have discussed developments in Libya. The Ministers said their viewpoints were identical on the need for supporting the political track to restore peace and stability in Libya. The meeting also dealt with the …

Algeria, Egypt and Italy on Sunday called for a political solution in Libya, on the eve of UN-mediated talks aimed at forming a unity government in the war-torn country. Libya plunged into chaos after a 2011 Nato-backed uprising toppled and killed veteran dictator Muammar Gaddafi, with heavily armed former rebels …

French President Francois Hollande heads to Algeria on Monday as the two nations, once bitter foes, work ever closer to resolve the political turmoil and jihadist threat in Mali and Libya. The trip will be Hollande’s second to Algiers since a 2012 visit during which he recognised France’s century of …

A militant leader who joined the Islamic State jihadist group was killed in an army operation west of the Algerian capital, a security source said on Monday. Mouloud Baal, also known as Abou El Moundhir, was a former member of the extremist Armed Islamic Front (GIA) which battled the Algiers …